Join WSU, Institute of Gerontology and the Alzheimer's Association Michigan Chapter for our annual Issues in Aging conference.

We're back in-person!
Monday, April 24, 8 am - 3:30 pm

This program is for health care professionals (Earn 6 CEs, details below), service providers, administrators and researchers working in the field of aging and caring with older adults. Students, older adults and family caregivers are welcome are also welcome to attend.

Our 2023 theme is
Fair Enough: Equity, Care & Safety for Our Most Vulnerable
2023 ISUES IN AGING FLYER

TALKS:

• Alzheimer’s Disease in African Americans: Current knowledge, challenges and keys to prevention
  
• New Methods to Assess Financial Vulnerability, Exploitation and Wealth Loss in Older Adults
  
• Sharing What We Learn: Talking with older adults about the results of Alzheimer’s testing
  
• Healthcare Help for Family Caregivers of Frail Older Adults

COST (Breakfast & buffet lunch are included):
$65 for Professionals Earning CEs: REGISTER HERE
$40 for Students, Older Adults & Family Caregivers: REGISTER HERE
Breakfast & buffet lunch are included!

LOCATION:
VisTaTech Center Schoolcraft College 18600 Haggerty Rd. Livonia, MI 48152

AGENDA

8:00-8:30AM  Light Breakfast, Vendor Tables

8:30-10:00AM,  75 minute lecture, 15 minute Q & A
Alzheimer’s Disease in African Americans: Current knowledge, challenges and keys to prevention
presented by
Lisa L. Barnes, PhD
Alla & Solomon Jesmer Professor of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine 
Associate Director, Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center,
Rush, Alzheimer’s Disease Center

Existing research suggests that older African Americans are at greater risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. The disparity is often linked to a combination of factors including low socioeconomic resources, low education, and a higher prevalence of vascular conditions like diabetes and hypertension among African Americans. This presentation will present what is currently known about the reasons for the increased risk in this population and some of the current challenges that limit our progress in understanding reasons for the disparity. We will also discuss factors linked to being a racial minority that may account for some of the disparities. Finally, we will present some key prevention strategies that can be incorporated to help prevent the loss of cognition in old age. 

Objectives:

• Discuss evidence that suggests African Americans have greater risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s dementia
• Describe risk factors for cognitive impairment in older African Americans
• Evaluate key prevention strategies to protect your brain health in old age

BREAK 10:00-10:25, Networking, Vendor Tables

10:30-12:00PM, 75 Minute Lecture,  15 minute Q & A
New Methods to Assess Financial Vulnerability, Exploitation and Wealth Loss in Older Adults
Peter A. Lichtenberg, PhD, ABPP
presented by
Peter A. Lichtenberg, PhD, ABPPDirector, Institute of GerontologyDistinguished Service Professor of Psychology, Wayne State University

New evidence-based tools can help identify who is at heightened risk for financial vulnerability and for wealth loss. This presentation will focus on the development and validation of these tools and how they can be put into your practice. A new model of financial capacity will also be presented and illustrated through case studies.

Objectives

• Describe how financial decision-making factors influence vulnerability to financial exploitation
• Examine the Financial Vulnerability Survey and how to implement it into clinical practice
• Discuss the WALLET study and the identification of factors related to wealth loss

LUNCH – 12:00-12:45PM

12:45-2:00PM, 75 Minute Lecture,  15 minute Q & A
Sharing What We Learn: Talking with older adults about the results of Alzheimer’s testing
presented by
Annalise Rahman-Filipiak, PhD
Assistant Professor & Clinical Neuropsychologist, University of Michigan
Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

How health information is communicated, such as a new diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia – Alzheimer’s type, is an important predictor of wellbeing and how well medical recommendations are followed.  The sensitive disclosing of these results can also be a tool for building rapport with patients and research participants, especially when it enlists bi-directional communication and partnership. Dr. Rahman-Filipiak will review the current literature about providing neuropsychological and diagnostic feedback to older adults and their families. She will also discuss ethical and practical challenges in disclosing information about Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers to a range of patients from cognitively symptomatic to asymptomatic.  The discussion will focus on how social determinants mandate person-centered and culturally informed protocols rather than a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.

Objectives: Following this talk, audience members will be able to:

• Identify two ethical challenges involved in the assessment and disclosure of biomarker testing for Alzheimer’s disease.
• Discuss strategies for communication of cognitive, diagnostic, or biomarker results to diverse audiences.
• Explain how return of results aligns with community engaged research practices.

2:00-3:30PM, 75 Minute Lecture, 15 minute Q & A
Healthcare Help for Family Caregivers of Frail Older Adults
presented by
Terri Harvath, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA
Clinical Professor, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota

Family caregivers of frail older adults often find they must interact with healthcare professionals more than usual.  These stresses can strain personal and professional relationships and impact quality of care.  How can healthcare professionals partner more effectively with family caregivers of frail older adults? Dr. Harvath will describe how to identify a family caregiver, how to assess the caregiver to determine what assistance or support is needed, and how to help them navigate some of the ethical dilemmas they encounter in their family caregiving role.

Objectives: Following this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Identify how to determine if one of their patients is or has a family caregiver.
• Describe how to assess caregiver preparedness.
• Apply an working framework to assist family caregivers with ethical decision-making.
• Title: Cognitive, Diagnostic, and Biomarker Disclosure as Strategies for Trust-Building in Geriatric Care and Research

3:30PM  CLOSING, RAFFLE DRAWINGS

CREDITS:

NURSING: This nursing continuing professional development activity was approved by the Ohio Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.(OBN-001-91)

SOCIAL WORK: The Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, is an approved provider with the Michigan Social Work Continuing Education Collaborative. Approved Provider Number: MICEC-0066. 6 CEs for one day, 12 CEs for two days.

Certificate to be issued after attendance at 100% of presentations.

For more information or to exhibit at the conference, please contact Donna MacDonald at 313-664-2605 or e-mail donnamacdonald@wayne.edu.

Thank you to the following organizations for their support of this conference

PREMIER PARTNER
Alzheimer’s Association of Michigan

SUPPORTERS
Allegria Village
Area Agency on Aging 1-B
BrightStar Care
Center for Financial Planning
CorsoCare & Affiliates
Heart to Heart Hospice
Henry Ford Health Systems
Jewish Family Services Jewish Senior Life
PACE of Southeast Michigan
Presbyterian Village of Michigan
ProMedica Senior Care
Senior Caregiver Resource Network
Waltonwood Senior Living Communities

Wayne State University has been designated as an Age-Friendly University (AFU), yet another important step toward ensuring that opportunity remains equitable campus-wide. The Age-Friendly University Global network is an innovative consortium dedicated to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within higher education and confirms that combating ageism is an important dimension of that strategy.