OXFORD,
Miss. A daylong free, public fair offering information on aging and
caregiving issues is scheduled April 29 at the University of
Mississippi. Highlights of the eighth annual Caring for Aging Relatives Effectively Fair and Workshop include presentations by a representative from the Washington, D.C.-based National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, a national live teleconference of the Hospice Foundation of America titled "Diversity and End of Life Issues" and a Virtual Dementia Tour.
The C.A.R.E. Fair takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Ole Miss Student Union lobby. Focused on aging and caregiving resources, the fair includes a wide range of exhibits with representatives on hand to answer questions on such issues as retirement communities and housing options, legal services on wills and living wills, local and state aging services, Alzheimer's disease and support services, home based care, health issues and retiree volunteer opportunities.
In conjunction with the fair, a professional workshop will be held on the fourth floor of the Union. The keynote speaker at 9 a.m. is Laura Feldman, a grassroots organizer, educator and activist with the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, who will address "The Politics of Aging" and offer additional sessions on Social Security and Medicare.
The Hospice Foundation teleconference airs from 12:30 to 3:15 p.m. and features moderator Frank Senso, professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University and special correspondent with CNN.
Also, special to this year's event, Kathy VanCleave and Dianne Arnold from the state Department of Mental Health will offer the Virtual Dementia Tour, providing a glimpse into the world of an individual who suffers from sensory and memory loss. And Edna Clark with the Mississippi Division of Aging and Adult Services will discuss the status of elder abuse, neglect and adult protective services. Jo Ann O'Quin, professor of social work in the School of Applied Sciences and organizer of the annual event, encourages caregivers of aging relatives, potential caregivers or anyone interested in their own aging to drop by the fair or register for the workshop. O'Quin's experiences caring for aging relatives helped inspire her to organize the first C.A.R.E. Fair in 2000. Also, as a professional who specializes in helping families cope with relatives afflicted with Alzheimer's and related dementia, O'Quin said she saw the event as a way to reach more people who need professional guidance in these areas. Hundreds of people have participated each year.
"We hope that this can be a place to gather a wide range of information in a convenient and friendly manner," said Marie Barnard, assistant dean of applied sciences. "There are so many baby boomer generation faculty and staff on campus as well as in the community who are or may be caring for an aging relative or facing issues of aging, retirement and long term care issues themselves. We really need ways to address some of the issues they are facing. A core mission of the School of Applied Sciences is to improve the health and well being of all in our community."
Besides her workshop presentations, Feldman will speak to students on current Social Security and Medicare issues at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, in the Student Union (Room 405) and to the community at Azalea Gardens Senior Care Community Thursday, April 30, at 2:30 pm. The public is invited to these events.
Those interested in obtaining professional development credit during the C.A.R.E. Fair and Workshop can register for reduced fees by April 22. More information, including a complete schedule, is available at http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/socialwork/care or by contacting event co-organizer Dianna Wilson at 662-816-5190. For assistance related to a disability, call 662-915-7199.
Exhibitors interested in obtaining a booth at the fair should contact O'Quin at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 662-915-7199.
This year's fair and workshop are sponsored by the Department of Social Work, School of Applied Sciences, Chancellor's Office and UM Healthworks in conjunction with Mississippi's Department of Mental Health Division of Alzheimer's and Other Dementias, Department of Human Services Division of Aging and Adult Services and Gerontological Society; and One Life Education and Training LLC, Azalea Gardens Senior Care Community and Hermitage Gardens of Oxford.
For more information on the Department of Social Work, visit http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/socialwork .