Northeastern Pennsylvania's elder population is aging ahead of the curve nationally, and it appears the trend will continue.
Professionals from local institutes of higher education and the health care industry will convene next week for the University of Scranton/the Commonwealth Medical College 2013 Northeastern Pennsylvania annual Conference on Aging, hoping to address the needs of that aging population.
The conference will take place on April 11, and include presentations on aging in place, preventive health care, caregiving, medication safety and other topics. Keynote speaker Linda P. Fried, M.D., Ph.D., is a leader in the field of geriatrics, according to co-chair Herb Hauser, Ph.D.
"It's a way for the academic institutions to act in a responsible manner to essentially create a forum whereby students, professors and health care providers can come together, include social service agencies and discuss the pressing issues facing elders today and how best to use the resources available to serve their needs," he said.
He said by bringing together different professionals, best practices and new techniques and technologies can be shared, noting that the rest of the aging nation should follow suit.
"What we do right now is probably a model of what is going to happen in the rest of the U.S.," he said.
Co-chairman Brian Conniff, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Scranton, said working together with professionals around the area is crucial because aging cannot be looked at through one academic discipline.
"Different schools with different specialties are addressing a common concern," Dr. Conniff said.
He said the collaboration of the groups will benefit the professionals sharing ideas, as well as the students in attendance.
"There's some real opportunity there to bring all of our research expertise and use it as an educational tool, especially for our students," Dr. Conniff said.
Both men are looking forward to the speakers and the awards ceremony at the event. To register, call 941-5860 or visit scranton.edu/academics/cas/aging-conference.
"What you're seeing there is something that needs to happen if you're going to address the needs of the community," Dr. Conniff said.
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