Synopsis of the TCGEC’s 24th PDI Held
at UTMB in Galveston, February 14-15, 2003
Colleagues,
for those of you not present, I want to recount the highlights of the wonderful
PDI we just had. First, we owe a deep debt of gratitude to Dr. Judy Drew and her
great planning committee for putting on one of the very best PDI’s I can
recall – from the wonderful reception at the splendid Rosenberg House on
Thursday evening all the way through noon on Saturday, the weather wasn’t bad,
the food was good, and the facilities and speakers were first-class all the way.
Way to go Judy!
The
theme of “Senior Friendly
Communities” was put into play with the first presentation: Dr. Tom Cole’s
story about senior’s in a writing group telling the stories of their lives,
the pathos and the joy, reminded us that the conventional notion of
“successful aging” being that of good health is good, but is only a means to
an end – i.e., being able to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We sometimes forget that, and we shouldn’t. So having health care
professionals hear that message was a good teaching/ learning point and a good
way to start the day.
Then
we heard a dynamic, humorous “pep talk” from Dr. Paul Villas on the
underpinnings of training promotoras:
they aren’t the “ugly ducklings” of health education, but rather beautiful
swans and that they can teach the young and old alike that they can accomplish
those “healthy” life goals Dr. Cole and his writing group taught us are key
hallmarks of a senior friendly community.
Ms.
Christi Holland, a doctoral student at UTMB, gave us a fascinating glimpse into
her research on the mindsets of spouses of those with mid to late AD. Learning
how this group of older people learns to cope with this insidious disease
underscores the adage that having AD is to die twice – the personhood dies
before the person does. Spouses and other loved ones and caregivers have to deal
with that sad fact.
We
next heard the upbeat optimism of Ms. Alice Williams telling us how Libbie’s
Place came into being as one of Galveston’s first adult day services centers.
It was most heartening to know that 30 lucky older Galvestonians receive care
there that benefits them and their families. In the 4000 other adult day service
centers across the country, knowing that there are between 150,000 and 200,000
such persons being given options to staying home, often alone in darkened rooms
in front of a TV, was also heartening.
Then
we were regaled with Ms. Sue Mayfield-Geiger’s poignant reading of stories by
authors like her in the book Love is
Ageless: Stories about Alzheimer’s Disease. She told us about her own
experiences with her father that led to her writing the piece that was the only
one from a Texas author in the book. I was most taken with this exhortation of
the book to those of us not afflicted: “if you’re sick, you’re sick; if
you’re not, get up and dance.”
Another
person to whom we owe a debt of gratitude is Dr. Cruz Torres, a former TCGEC
co-project director from UT-Pan Am and who is now with TAMU’s Department of
Rural Sociology, subbing for the sick Judy Warren. Cruz, got the word on
Wednesday and showed up for the reception on Thursday evening. She gave an
excellent presentation on the project Dr. Warren and others at TAMU are working
on, “The Aging Texas Well” program that employs concept mapping of
indicators of what constitutes senor friendly communities that are planning on
the bolus of Medicare-eligible baby boomers that will hit our health and human
services departments statewide from 2011-2029. There is much to be gleaned from
this treasure trove of data about what GECs like ours need to know to inform the
practice community about the special needs of these future older people. So
thanks to Cruz and to Judy, “get well soon, good friend.”
Then
Dr. Stan Ingman of UNT, whose idea it was to have “Senior Friendly
Communities” be the leitmotif of this TCGEC PDI, gave us an eye-opener about
how the lives of older people are inextricably intertwined with the communities
in which we live and how important it is to focus on a sustainable world,
community by community, neighborhood by neighborhood. We’re all in this
together.
Every
so often, we need to be reminded of why it is so important for all of us to
appreciate the world of geroethics -- advance
directives, timely communication between and among family members, planning for
eventualities and the end of life. And Dr. Susan Wittjen of our project at TWU
gave us just that, a great reminder with her case study and discussion. It was
most illuminating.
And
last, Dr. Henry Ostermann and I felt like one bearing bad tidings when we
presented on the scary world of bioterrorism and how not all those involved in
homeland security and preparedness have a full appreciation of what the special
needs are of frail elders living alone in the event of a dastardly attack by
terrorists with their biological, chemical, and radiological agents of hate.
Those present Saturday morning also served as a focus group on what health care
professionals think that older people are most concerned about in this area:
their consensus being the areas of communicating with families, seeking medical
care, and knowing what to do first.
All
in all, over 40 health care professionals from north to south Texas learned a
great deal and left imbued with the altruism of our desire that the Chambers of
Commerce of all communities could truthfully recruit new citizens to move to
their towns because they are senior friendly. And guess what, if they are senior
friendly, they are just plain friendly for everybody.
The
PDI was videotaped, and we’re working to see what can be done to stream this
onto a web site so anyone not there could get the essence of the great
presentations. And I would like to suggest that the TCGEC Executive Committee
meet sometime soon to debrief the PDI and plan the next one, Senior Friendly
Communities II, for perhaps next fall, either back in Galveston or at some other
suitable location.
The
only bad news to come out of the PDI is that our long-time colleague, Anke
Runge, is retiring. That is bad news, indeed, as Anke as been a mainstay for
almost the entire time we’ve been in existence. She could always be counted on
to contribute, was always the first one in with her reports and never missed a
single meeting. We will miss you Anke and wish for you and your husband that you
have the happiest of times pursuing your life’s goals. Older Texans are the
better for having had her be part of the TCGEC.