UNO Conference to Focus on Aging Wellness

OMAHA - While aging is an undeniable fact of life, there still remains confusion about what it means to age and how one can keep themselves – and those they care for – in a state of physical, emotional and financial wellness.

These topics, and the importance of aging wellness and proactive care, will be the focus at the 6th Biennial Aging With Passion and Purpose Conference: Next Generation Services.

Tickets for the conference, which will be held Tuesday, March 21, on the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) campus are currently on sale for $125. Cost includes the conference sessions, materials, continuing education opportunities, parking and lunch.

The conference will be held at the Thompson Alumni Center, on UNO's Dodge Campus, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This year's Aging with Passion and Purpose Conference will feature presentations from experts on the following topics:

Whole-Person Healthcare
Successful Aging
Palliative Care
Geriatric Assessment
All-Inclusive Care

Speakers from local, state and regional organizations will be in attendance. Each will share their philosophy and approach to providing long-term care services to those with chronic conditions.

“Aging isn’t an event, it’s a process,” explained Julie Masters, Chair of the UNO Department of Gerontology. “The CDC has reported that 86 percent of all health care expenses in this country are to treat chronic conditions and seven of the top 10 causes of death in recent years have been chronic illness. The earlier you can plan for and address these issues, the more prepared you will be to prevent certain conditions and care for yourself and your loved ones.”

Glenn Van Ekeren, president of Vetter Health, and Paul Hogan, co-founder and chairman of Home Instead Senior Care, will be two of the conference's featured speakers.

Vetter Health provides services such as short-term rehabilitation, assisted living, indepdendent living, nursing and dementia support for a five-state area inclusing Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa.

Founded in 1984, Home Instead Senior Care is a world-wide network that includes more than 1,000 franchise offices in 17 global markets, providing in-home care for aging individuals.

“This conference really is a must for all professionals in the health care industry, insurance industry, or who provide services to the elderly or those with chronic conditions,” Masters said. “Even for those who are just curious about how to care for those people closest to them, this is a fantastic opportunity to identify ways to make decisions now that will significantly impact quality of life in the years to come.

Other keynote speakers for this event represent such organizations as UNMC EngAge Wellness, Immanuel Pathways, Methodist Hospital and Think Whole Person Healthcare.

More information about the conference can be found at the UNO Department of Gerontology webpage.

For media requests, please contact:

Charley Reed, UNO Associate Director of Media Relations
unonews@unomaha.edu
402.554.2129