Aging forum tackles tough and tender topics

Community-based research that spans generations and cultures will be the focus of the UVic centre on aging's final event of this International Year of the Older Person--a two-day community forum, "New Knowledge in Aging/Canada: A Society for All Ages," at the Ocean Pointe Resort on Nov. 15 and 16. UVic researchers will join their community partners and other presenters at a series of sessions that address everything from upcoming changes to adult guardianship legislation and elder abuse, to sharing family stories and becoming a cyber grandparent. Complete information is available at the forum website at .

The forum's opening speakers will be Margaret Neylan, chair of the B.C. Seniors' Advisory Council and Chief Samuel Sam, a traditional Coast Salish longhouse speaker and teacher of traditional healing concepts. The forum closing speaker is Tom Closson, chief executive officer of the Capital Health Region. Keynote speakers are Shelagh Armour-Godbout, national coordinator for intergenerational week, who will discuss intergenerational relationships and Joan Anderson, of UBC's school of nursing, who will discuss the impact of culture on health.

UVic presenters include:

¥Psychologist Dr. Holly Tuokko, discussing research related to competency assessment in connection with new adult guardianship legislation expected in February. Tuokko's analysis of data from the massive Canadian Study of Health and Aging recently discovered that a significant segment of those identified as having dementia symptoms eventually show improvement or achieve a full recovery.

¥Dr. Neena Chappell, director of the centre on aging, discussing recent research on the needs of caregivers that indicates change really is as good as a rest. Caregivers say a chance to weed the garden or shop for groceries is as meaningful a break as a weekend getaway.

¥Drs. Ge Lin (geography) and Sharon Koehn (centre on aging) who will offer real recipes for successful aging during a discussion on how Chinese and Hindu Indian cultures incorporate different foods into their diets to ease the transition through different periods of their lives.

¥Drs. Jessica Ball, Valerie Kuehne and Peter Stephenson discussing the role of elders in various cultural settings. Ball, a psychologist, coordinates UVic's First Nations Partnership Program which incorporates the traditional knowledge and practices of the communities it serves into the child care program's mainstream curriculum. Kuehne, of the school of child and youth care, studies intergenerational relations and caregiving. Stephenson, an anthropologist, has been honoured nationally for his work on chronicling the devastating impact European contact has had on the health of Aboriginal people and their attempts to reclaim their well-being.

The fee for the forum is $50 for seniors and students and $65 for others. It includes lunch and refreshments. Registration forms must be submitted by Nov. 10. For further information contact the centre on aging at 721-6290.

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