CONWAY,
Ark. (Feb. 25, 2019) – Hendrix College and the University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences’ Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging will present “Aging in
Arkansas: Current Challenges and Opportunities for Growth,” from 1 to 4 p.m. on
Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Hendrix will host the event in Reves Recital Hall,
Trieschmann Fine Arts Building. The symposium is free and open to the public,
and geared toward senior adults and caregivers.
Dr. Robin
McAtee, Ph.D., RN, FACHE, director of the Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative
at UAMS, will present the keynote address, “Alzheimer’s and Caregiving in
Arkansas.” An
assistant professor in the Department of Geriatrics at UAMS, McAtee has
conducted research in a variety of subjects related to aging, including macro
system development, caregiving, geriatric education for healthcare students and
professionals, and community-based educational endeavors for older adults.
“As the older adult
population grows at an unprecedented rate, we will face many challenges of
aging, especially for those living with Alzheimer’s disease,” McAtee said. “The
physical, behavioral, and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease create
unique challenges for the patient and their caregivers. Our goal is to support
health professionals and caregivers through education, training and other
resources that are tailored to their needs. We believe education and training
will foster meaningful efforts that create dementia-friendly communities.”
Anthropology
professor Dr. Anne Goldberg and psychology professor Dr. Jennifer Peszka from
Hendrix College will make a presentation on “Blue Zones,” or regions of the
world known for longer human lifespans. Students will present research posters
on a variety of topics related to aging.
Politics
professor Dr. Jay Barth and Roby Brock of Talk Business & Politics will
present results of a survey of older Arkansans conducted by the Hendrix
College/Talk Business & Politics Polling Project, focused on determining
the most pressing concerns of seniors across the state.
“Some of
the most important public policies center around aging Arkansans, but we rarely
have the opportunity to focus on the attitudes of Arkansans over 65. This
survey will analyze their attitudes towards key policies and the challenges
they face as older Arkansans,” says Barth. A panel discussion moderated by Hendrix
College psychology professor Dr. Ruthann Thomas will follow and will feature
representatives from state government and nonprofit organizations.
Pre-registration
is requested, but not required; visit www.hendrix.edu/AgingInAR or
call 501-505-1540 for more information. Walk-up registration is also available.
About Hendrix College
A private liberal arts
college in Conway, Arkansas, Hendrix College consistently earns recognition as
one of the country’s leading liberal arts institutions, and is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That
Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges. Its academic quality and
rigor, innovation, and value have established Hendrix as a fixture in numerous
college guides, lists, and rankings. Founded in 1876, Hendrix has been
affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. To learn more, visit www.hendrix.edu.