02/14/2007
Aging conference draws attendees to snowy OC
By Dolores E. Pike
In his opening remarks to welcome the attendees to the eighth annual Aging in Worcester conference held at the Clarion Hotel on Wednesday February 7, Mayor Rick Meehan stated that it was indeed a unique opportunity for him to greet visitors to a snow-covered Ocean City.
In her opening remarks before the group, Worcester County Health Officer Deborah Goeller asked attendees representing various participating groups to stand and be recognized. Representatives on hand included hospitals, Worcester County services (including services for the aging), nursing homes, assisted living facilities, schools, AARP and community professionals.
Following the conference, Ms. Goeller said the session 2007 was the largest to date with 175 people present. "It is a wonderful opportunity for people to get together and network. It allows those who provide services and those who meet the day-to-day living needs for the senior population of Worcester County to exchange ideas."
Registration for this annual conference fills up early according to a staffer, and this one, the eighth annual entitled, "Senior Health: Mind, Body and Spirit," was no exception with the staffer stating that she had to turn a few last minute people down because the final count had been turned in
The main speaker in the general session was Marsden McGuire, M.D. who is affiliated with Sheppard Pratt Health System in Baltimore. He spoke about "Chronic Diseases, Mental Illness & Addiction: Co-occurrence in Seniors." Following his presentation there were three separate "breakout sessions" from which attendees could choose to attend one that interested them most. One was a continuation of Dr. McGuire's presentation and it seemed to be the session of choice for many attendees.
Among the second group of breakout sessions later in the morning, Cyndy Howell of Worcester County Volunteer Services conducted "Energizing the Spirit" and the room was filled to capacity for this session with Mrs. Howell enthusiastically showing how to encourage positive motivation.
Included among the 30 or so exhibitors on hand for the conference was Worcester County Register of Wills Charlotte Cathell who stressed to those visiting her table how important it is for people of every age to not only have a will but also have all their important papers organized and readily available for executors or administrators.
The Worcester County Sheriff's office was represented by D.F.C. Barry Brittingham, Sr. who brought the TRIAD program to the conference. "This program was started in February 1997 and was the first project of Sheriff Charles Martin when he came into office," said Officer Brittingham. It is a three-way effort between the sheriff's office, the police in the county and retired leadership in the area who agree to work together to reduce the criminal victimization of older citizens and enhance the delivery of law enforcement services to the population. TRIAD focuses on reducing unwarranted fear of crime and improving the quality of life for seniors.
Because seniors are often the targets of a scam, D.F.C. Brittingham described a current one wherein a resident is notified by phone that since he failed to appear for jury duty (not true) there is a warrant out for his arrest and a fine of $1,000. If the resident makes arrangements to pay the "fine" to the caller, the caller assures the resident that the warrant will be lifted.
D.F.C. Brittingham has been in charge of TRIAD since its inception and brings the program out into the community to make residents aware of its benefits. He holds a regular event called "Salute to Seniors Day," and he expects to schedule his next one in June when the weather is warm. "It will be a day of fun with educational displays and free barbecued chicken," he said.
The snow, of which Mayor Meehan made note, had disappeared before the morning was over but Ocean City remained very cold for the entire day with temperatures in the high teens, accompanied by brisk winds. Despite the cold outside it was warm in the Clarion where conference attendees gathered to work on the issues of aging that face the fastest growing county in the state of Maryland, Worcester County, with its large population of retirees.
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Uploaded: 2/15/2007
