ASA Conference Preview

Reflect on Aging at AiA17

By Heather Hogstrom

Chicago, known for deep-dish pizza and Millennium Park’s Cloud Gate (aka “the Bean”), will host the American Society on Aging’s (ASA) Aging in America (AiA) Conference from March 20–24. This multidisciplinary conference on aging offers educational and networking opportunities for professionals who work with or on behalf of older adults in the fields of aging, health care, and education.

The Exhibit Hall, which will be open from Tuesday evening to Thursday morning, showcases products and services for older adults, giving professionals in the field of aging the opportunity to find ones that will enable them to do their jobs better.

AiA attendees can earn up to 26 CEUs. Sessions cover areas such as health care and aging; Alzheimer’s disease and dementia; mental health; long term care; caregiving; care transitions; aging in community; technology, accessibility, and transportation; LGBTQ aging; multicultural aging; lifelong learning; spirituality and religion; legal and ethical issues; policy and advocacy; leadership; and more. A search function is available to identify workshops, poster sessions, and other events that focus on a specific topics. For example, those who want to learn about the role music can play in aging may enjoy “Quantifying the Positive Effects of Music and Memory iPods and iPads for Dementia Care” or “Using Music and Technology to Drastically Improve Our Lives as We Age.”

Those specifically interested in leadership can choose to attend the concurrent ASA Leadership Institute, during which they will learn to communicate and manage more effectively.

A mobile app for the conference will be available. For more information or to register, visit www.agingconference.org.