Posted on May 26: Addressing Issues of Aging

Look in the newspapers these days and you'll read stories about eliminating mandatory retirement, changing the licensing system for older drivers, building senior friendly houses, and treating ailments in the elderly.

The Canada Safety Council has projected that Canadians aged 65 and older will make up nearly 23 per cent of the population by 2041. Today, Canada has about 10 million baby boomers.

With the aging population come significant social and economic issues. Participants in the twentieth annual McMaster Summer Institute on Geronotology are meeting between May 26 and June 6 to address some of these issues.

The purpose of the Summer Institute is to provide an intensive theoretical and practical learning opportunity in the field of aging. The Institute is designed to promote excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration in gerontological practice.

The interdisciplinary education that participants receive is an important part of the McMaster Institute. Gail Elliott, Coordinator/Planner of the McMaster Centre for Gerontological Studies, explains that most conferences focus on either health or social sciences issues, while McMaster takes a broader approach. “We identify issues that haven't been addressed,” she states.

Sometimes, this means that the Institute is ahead of its time. Ten years ago, organizers offered a theme about ethics, and had difficulty finding participants. Today, ethics is a key part of any program on aging.

Due to its innovative programs, the Institute has become a forum for practitioners and researchers to network, talk about the current issues, and learn the newest information.

The program consists of lectures, workshops, panel presentations, small group discussions, and case presentations. This year's themes include Client-Centred Case Management, Vulnerability in Later Life, and Geriatric Mental Health. Topics are determined by participants in previous Institutes and professionals in the geronotological fields.

The high-calibre of sessions ensures that participants are committed to the Institute. Explains Elliott, “With budget cuts, it's hard for people to come, but they do. People use their vacation time to come to the Institute.”

This year, due to concerns about SARS, enrolment numbers are down. However, no sessions are being held in the hospital.

Anju Joshi, Associate Professor of Geronotology and Program Chair for the Summer Institute, sees the May 27 public lecture as representative of the programs offered at the Institute. This presentation, titled “Dichotomies of Caregiving: The Inevitable Contradictions” addresses caring for the elderly from a personal perspective. Presenter Karen Henderson, Founder and CEO of the Caregiver Network, will discuss feelings and emotions of caregivers, provide how-to advice, and offer valuable resources.

Concludes Elliott, “We try to equip people with information that they can go back and use in practice, education, and even research. We say, “Here's a new idea that has to be grappled with,” and we provide new ways of thinking about an issue.”