COST is $30.00 for the Day

MCOA 2024 Spring Symposium Countdown Begins!

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Join us for the MCOA Spring Symposium, where innovation meets community!

Delve into workshops like “It’s a Small and Rural Thing,” “Out of the Box Programming,” “Love Letters to my Family Friends,” and more!

Keynote speaker Dr. Ipsit Vahia will illuminate a new model of academic-community partnerships, harnessing technology to redefine research and clinical care for older adults. Explore the impact of Large Language Models on care and discover the cost-effective potential of virtual reality interventions.

Secure your spot now as space is limited!
Don’t miss this opportunity to revolutionize your approach to elder care.

Ipsit Vahia, Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry
McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School

https://www.geropsychtech.org

Rethinking Academic-Community Partnerships Around Aging in a HyperConnected World

Dr. Ipsit Vahia will discuss how a new model of academic-community partnerships can leverage cutting edge technologies to redefine research and clinical care for older adults. Participants will learn how Large Language Models can impact Care and understand how virtual reality can be a cost effective intervention

Biography
Ipsit Vahia, MD, is a geriatric psychiatrist, clinician, and researcher. He is the interim chief of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and director of Digital Psychiatry Translation at McLean Hospital. He is also director of the Technology and Aging Laboratory. His research focuses on the use of technology and informatics in the assessment and management of older adults and currently, he oversees a clinical and research program on aging, behavior, and technology. He has published extensively in major international journals and textbooks.

Dr. Vahia serves on the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Council on Geriatric Psychiatry and the Geriatric Psychiatry Committee of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He has served on the board of directors of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) and on the editorial boards of five journals including his current role as social media editor of the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. He is a recipient of several prestigious awards including the 2016 AAGP Barry Lebowitz Award and the 2014 APA Hartford Jeste Award.

Spring Symposium Schedule

2024 Spring Symposium, College of Holy Cross
Hogan Campus Center

May 16, 2024

Schedule of Activities
9:30 – 10:00 am	Registration and Breakfast
10:00 – 10:30 am	Welcome & Introductions
	Betsy Connell, MCOA Executive Director
	Donna Popkin, MCOA Introduction to the COA Board Resource Guide
	Susan Flanagan, Blue Cross/Blue Shield
	Jodi Breidel, EOEA
10:45 – 11:45 am	Workshop Session I
	An updated review of dementia risk factors and how to protect yourself Dr. Regan Patrick, Neuropsychologist, McClean Hospital Dr. Elise I. Welton, Neuropsychologist, McClean Hospital
	Discussing Dining Programs: Difficulties & Delights Tara Hammes, RD, Healthy Aging Manager, MCOA Sue Doherty, Lunenberg COA Sarah Amaral, Franklin COA Jodi Zepke, Ludlow COA
	The Driving Decision Michele Ellicks, Community Outreach, MA Registry of Motor Vehicles
11:45 – 1:00 pm	Lunch & Keynote Speaker
	Rethinking Academic-Community Partnerships Around Aging in a HyperConnected World Dr. Ipsit Vahia, Interim Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry, McClean Hospital
1:15 – 2:15 pm	Workshop II
	Out of the Box Programming Pam LeFrancois, Senior Center Director Southborough Peg Leonard, Program Manager William Harrington, Previous COA Chair, current Board Member and Leader of the Dull Men’s Group Mary Ann Anderson, COA Board Member and Leader of the Trailblazer Group
	Bringing calm into your senior center: The importance of mindfulness programs for older adults Bob Linscott, Wellness Manager, Age Strong Commission
	It’s a Small & Rural Thing! Kelly Burke, Member Services Manager, MCOA Brenda Palmer, Director/Holland COA Dorothy Burritt, Director/Eastham COA Jane Carthas, Director/Avon Carol Grueneich, Director/Carlisle
2:30 – 3:30 pm	Workshop III
	Love Letters to My Family & Friends . . . Cheryl Botieri, End-of-Life Educator and Family Support Specialist
	Unlock the Power of AI: Work Smarter, Not Harder! Paula Hersey, Digital Marketing & Communications Manager, MCOA
	Helping Older Adults Keep or Find Housing: Roundtable Discussion with COA Staff Members Hayley Wood, Economic Security & Outreach Manager, MCOA Kimberly Gagnon, Director, Lowell Senior Center Glady Rosa, Outreach Worker, Lowell Senior Center Linda Wincek-Moore, Outreach Dept. Director, Worcester Council on Aging Ashley Fraga, Outreach Coordinator, Easthampton Council on Aging Cynthia Tarail, Director, Easthampton Council on Aging

SESSION I

An updated review of dementia risk factors and how to protect yourself

This workshop will provide an overview of dementia risk factors, as well as showcase resources to help create a personalized action plan aimed at promoting health brain and cognitive aging.

Regan Patrick, Neuropsychologist, McClean Hospital
Elise I. Welton, Neuropsychologist, McClean Hospital

Discussing Dining Programs: Difficulties and Delights

Onsite food programs, whether new or established, meet a host of challenges. Come hear challenges and solutions, stay to brainstorm and leave with resources and action steps to improve your site.

Tara Hammes, Healthy Aging Manager, MCOA
Sue Doherty, Lunenberg COA
Sarah Amaral, Franklin COA
Jodi Zepke, Ludlow COA

The Driving Decision

The Registry of Motor Vehicles’ Driving Decision workshop focuses on driver safety, mobility, license renewal policies, liability, and driving retirement.

Michele Ellicks, Community Outreach, MA Registry of Motor Vehicles

SESSION II

Out of the Box Programming

Learn about a successful programming model at our Senior Center that puts the power in the hands of amazing volunteers! Volunteer leaders take ownership of specific activities, fostering a sense of community and accomplishment. You will hear about two different volunteer-led groups happening in Southborough!

Pam LeFrancois Senior Center Director in Southborough for 23 Years
Peg Leonard Program Manager for 15 years
William Harrington Previous COA Chair, current Board Member and Leader of the Dull Men’s Group
Mary Ann Anderson COA Board Member and Leader of the Trailblazer Group

Bringing calm into your senior center: The importance of mindfulness programs for older adults

This interactive workshop will highlight the critical need for senior centers to offer regular mindfulness programming as part of their offerings to support the physical and emotional of their seniors

Bob Linscott, Wellness Manager, Age Strong Commission, City of Boston

It’s a Small & Rural Thing!

All COAs are the same right? Not true – small and rural COAs have unique challenges. Join our panel of four COA Directors who share their own challenges and solutions!

Kelly Burke, Member Services Manager, MCOA
Brenda Palmer, Director/Holland COA
Dorothy Burritt, Director/Eastham COA
Jane Carthas, Director/Avon
Carol Grueneich, Director/Carlisle

SESSION III

Helping Older Adults Keep or Find Housing: Roundtable Discussion with COA Staff Members

A peer discussion on helping older adult clients find and protect housing.

Hayley Wood, Economic Security & Outreach Manager, MCOA
Kimberly Gagnon, Council on Aging Director, Lowell
Glady Rosa, Outreach Coordinator, Lowell
Linda Wincek Moore, Manager of Senior Services and Education, Worcester
Ashley Fraga, Outreach Coordinator, Easthampton
Cynthia Tarail, Director, Easthampton

Love Letters to My Family & Friends . . .

In this workshop, we will explore several ways we can help people gain the courage to express their love and appreciation through the writing of love letters.

Cheryl Botieri, End-of-Life Educator and Family Support Specialist

Unlock the Power of AI: Work Smarter, Not Harder!

Discover AI’s power! Streamline tasks, boost efficiency, focus on serving seniors.

Paula Hersey, Digital Marketing & Communications Manager, MCOA

Cost is $30.00 for the day, lunch included.

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