Gerontology Institute Offers Five Fall Workshops

The Ithaca College Gerontology Institute Workshop Series has five new offerings for the fall. Individuals with an interest in aging issues, as well as service professionals, will have a chance to learn more about autobiographical writing and oral history, elder abuse, hearing loss in the elderly, legal issues facing older people, and falls.

The workshops, designed to be hands-on experiences, make ample use of video and include discussion groups and question-and-answer periods. All workshops take place on Monday afternoons from 2:00 to 5:00 in the north meeting room in Egbert Hall. The registration fee is $15 per workshop, or $75 for the five-workshop series, with a reduced workshop registration fee of $10 for retired people over 60 years of age. Advance registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration form is available on the workshop Web page.

The five workshops are

Writing the Stories of Their Lives, September 13

Conducted by Katharyn Howd Machan, associate professor of writing, this workshop focuses on the process of generating works of living history through autobiographical writing and oral histories.

Elder Abuse, September 20

Social worker Art Mason, director of the Elder Abuse Prevention Program at Lifespan in Rochester, will define the problem of elder abuse, discuss its impact on victims and families, and offer intervention strategies.

Hearing Loss in the Elderly, October 18

John Stephens, director of the audiology clinic and clinical assistant professor of speech-language pathology and audiology, will describe diagnostic procedures appropriate for assessing hearing impairment in the elderly. He will also offer rehabilitative strategies for improving communication abilities.

Legal Issues for Older People and Their Families, October 25

Attorney Joy A. Blumkin will discuss durable power of attorney, estate planning and probate, trusts, financing long-term care, guardianship, and conservatorship.

Balance and Falls in the Older Adult, November 1

Cynthia M. Zablotny, assistant professor of physical therapy, will explore the impairments affecting postural control and upright stability, as well as the screening tools that may identify elderly people at risk for falling.

For more information on the content of the workshops, contact the Gerontology Institute at 274-1965. Questions about registration and continuing education credit can be answered by the Division of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions at 274-3143, cess@ithaca.edu.