Boosting Functions in Older Adults

  Practical Assessments and Interventions

Date:   Friday, August 21, 2015

Time:  8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Lumpkin Family Center for Health Education

1000 Health Center Drive

Mattoon, IL  61938

This one day intensive will present the components of effective functional screening and assessment of older adults with special attention to sensory functions that affect participation in meaningful activities.  This great educational opportunity will provide a myriad of multi-sensory activities and interventions with corresponding modifications and accessible resources to enhance an older adult’s functions in a variety of settings.

Upon completion of this program, you should be able to:

• Identify components for effective and efficient functional screening and assessment of older adults.
• Establish a variety of ways through which sensory systems affects health, well-being, and participation in meaningful activities.
• Discuss the basic principles to apply when facilitating increased engagement for older adults regardless of disabilities.
• Recognize a variety of multi-sensory activities that can be modified and utilized to enhance older adult person’s functions.
• Explain the resources for obtaining information, materials, and/or supplies to implement multi-sensory assessment and programming to maximize functions.
• Describe process for organizing and utilizing resources in establishing and implementing multi-sensory assessment and programming.

Faculty:

Ruth J. Bixby, MA, OTR/L, is a seasoned practitioner and educator with thirty-seven years of clinical practice in Occupational Therapy.  Ms. Bixby is Founding and Current Director and Faculty Member of Lincoln Land Community College and Occupational Therapy Assistant Program as well as Founding and Current Director of Occupational Probonal Clinic at Lincoln Land Community College.  She is the developer of “Sensory Forum”, a multi-media educational resource for professional and non-professional caregivers focused on multi-sensory activities for wellness, well-being, and occupational engagement for individuals and groups of all ages.

Ms. Bixby has been recognized in numerous presentations and consultations throughout the State of Illinois and regions on issues of Fall Prevention, Cognitive Stimulation, Multi-Sensory Programming, and Dementia Care and Safety, and has extensive professional affiliations and appointments in Occupational Therapy and Alzheimer’s complimented by numerous local and regional awards and recognition for professional and community work.

William Gingold, PhD, MHA, CSA, CHE, QMPH, is a Psychologist, Gerontologist, Certified-Senior Advisor, and Certified Health-Care Executive with extensive experience as a Clinician, Teacher/Trainer, Researcher, Published Author, and Health Services and Hospital Administrator. Dr. Gingold is a recognized authority on functional geriatric screening and assessment and leader in the geriatric field, having presented at State, National, and International Conferences and Programs over the past 30 years.  He continues his active commitment to many State and National Professional Organizations and collaborates with institutions through Illinois and the United States by bringing current and practical engaging programs and services to communities.

Dr. Gingold continues to be a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Family Medicine Research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and in addition he is founder/President of Dr. G’s BrainWorks:  The Brain Fitness Store and More, which is a firm that provides a broad array of cognitive products and services for all ages.

Conflict of Interest Policy Statement:   Faculty participating in this program are expected to disclose to the program audience any real or apparent conflict(s) or unlabeled use related to the content of their presentations.