2021 APP POSTER SUBMISSIONS

Loneliness Among Rural and Underserved Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Lindsay R. Wilkinson, Julie Masters, Christopher M. Kelly, Miechelle McKelvey, Ladan Ghazi Saidi, and Toni Hill.

Designing Healthy Homes for Patients in Nursing Homes during COVID-19

Andrea Thompson

Measuring cognitive and brain changes in COVID-19 survivors using neuropsychology and neuroimaging

Thomas A. DeCesare, Lillian Behm, Connor J. Phipps, Marco A. Gonzales-Castellon, Matthew White, Maximiliano Hawkes, Vaishali Phatak, David E. Warren.

 

Thank you for attending the Eighth Biennial Aging with Passion & Purpose Conference! We look forward to seeing you in 2023!  

 

 

Thank you to all who participated in and attended this year’s virtual conference where we discussed the implications of COVID-19 on older adults from a biopsychosocial perspective, including disparities across cultural groups, and provided an overview of where we’ve been, the current status of the pandemic, and an up-to-date view of where we are headed. Conference participants gained hope from lessons learned and insights on future outlooks from healthcare and human services experts as well as personal experiences from those on the frontline. Those lost to COVID-19 were honored during the conference with a meaningful memoriam. This event was hosted by the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Continuing Education contact hours were provided by Nebraska Methodist College Professional Development. 

2021 FEATURED SPEAKERS

Steve Wengel, MD, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Campus Wellness, UNMC and UNO		Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, Chancellor, UNMC and UNO		Adi Pour, PhD, Health Director, Douglas County Health Department

VIRTUAL PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Monday, March 15, 2021
9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. CST

 9:00 a.m. – Welcome

 9:05 a.m. – Loneliness and Isolation versus Resilience and Wisdom: How are older adults faring in the  pandemic and what can we learn from them?  ~ Steven Wengel, MD, Psychiatry, UNMC; AVC for Campus Wellness, UNO & UNMC (1 CE)

This is a one-hour presentation covering four primary objectives: review surveys of older adults' mental health during the pandemic, discuss ageism as it applies to the pandemic, review ways to reduce social isolation and its effects on the well-being of older adults, and list helpful resources for enhancing psychological well-being. Dr. Wengel effectively and efficiently covers a lot of ground as he offers facts, figures, stories, and practical and timely advice. A great way to open the conference, as there is truly something for everyone here. 

10:04 a.m. – APP:  A Community Benefit ~ Tom Adams, BSW (retired), APP Co-founder

                                                    ~ BREAK ~

10:18 a.m. – Through the Glass: A Father-Daughter Journey through COVID-19 ~ Cathy Pacholski, Daughter, Caregiver, Advocate (.5 CE)  followed by Panel Discussion (1 CE)

As a daughter who felt compelled to see her father, especially during these unprecedented times, and a conference planning committee member, Cathy agreed last year to share their journey through the glass. The 25-minute presentation begins with a brief introduction of her father, followed by their experiences through six windows and three sets of doors. A live panel discussion, moderated by Pacholski, will feature four of the professionals on her father's care team who can provide reflections and lessons learned. 

11:42 a.m.  – In Memoriam: APP's Tribute to Those We've Lost

                                                   ~ BREAK ~

12:00 p.m. – Where We Are, How We Got Here ~ Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, Chancellor, UNO & UNMC (1 CE)

Chancellor Gold will discuss the short history of COVID-19. He will describe how the outbreak started, why its transmission in the U.S. was as widespread as it is, and where current efforts are in terms of "flattening the curve" and disseminating the vaccines. He will discuss this both from a national and state perspective. A live Q&A session will follow his presentation. 

 1:05 p.m. – Well-Being in the Time of COVID ~ Denise Hyde, PharmD, Community Builder, The Eden Alternative® (.5 CE), followed by Panel Discussion Facilitated by Lakelyn Hogan, PhD (1 CE)

This is a 30-minute presentation highlighting The Eden Alternative® Domains of Well-Being: Identity, Connectedness, Autonomy, Security, Meaning, Growth, and Joy. The presentation is informative and engaging as Denise encourages participants to reflect on how COVID-19 has impacted their own lives. A panel discussion with experts in home health and caregiving will follow. 

                                                   ~ BREAK ~

  2:49 p.m. – So, Where Do We Go From Here? ~ Adi Pour, PhD, Health Director, Douglas County Health Department (.5 CE)

During this 30-minute presentation, Dr. Pour takes us back to the beginning of the pandemic, reminding us how we arrived where we are today, adding that it's been a study in humanity. She also provides an update on the vaccines, specifically the efforts currently underway. And, she concludes with a quote to get us thinking about the lessons learned in this pandemic as we all move forward from here. 

  3:17 p.m. – Thank you and Transition to Zoom Session

                                                     ~ BREAK ~

  3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. –  Poster Session (.75 CE)

  4:15 p.m. -5:00 p.m.  – Virtual Happy Hour

*Continuing education contact hours will be provided to participants by the Nebraska Methodist College Professional Development.  Nebraska Methodist College Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Midwest Multistate Division, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

2021 CONFERENCE PLANNING PARTNERS

2021 CONFERENCE SPONSORS 

About the biennial Aging with Passion & Purpose Conference

The first biennial Aging with Passion & Purpose Conference was held in 2007. Each year's conference has a unique theme reflecting a trend in aging.  The theme of the inaugural conference was “Spirituality and Creativity Programming for Older Adults;” the focus highlighted cutting edge efforts to address the needs of older adults utilizing alternative and complimentary strategies within the arts and spirituality arenas that have been shown through research to improve older adults quality of life.  In 2009, the conference theme was “Social and Spiritual Dimensions of Aging and Caregiving” and emphasized support efforts for caregivers that aimed to better the quality of care provided to older adults and self-care of the caregiver.  The 2011 theme of "It Happens" reflected the reality that the first of the baby boomers were turning 65 and entering retirement. The 2013 theme of "Aging Well in the Age of Technology" brought participants together to learn about the growing field of gerontechnology and its impact on the quality and way of life of aging individuals. The 2015 theme of "Generations Working Together" helped participants better understand the unique characteristics of each generation and how they manifest in the workplace. The 2017 theme was "Next Generation Services" and introduced attendees to new ways of doing business in a new age.  2019 brought the theme of “No One Left Behind,” which focused on the unique needs of diverse populations of older adults.

The conference is organized and conducted by a team of planning partners representing a wide-range of organizations concerned about aging issues and is hosted by UNO.

View the privacy policy of the UNO Department of Gerontology on our events page.