Date: April 4, 2007
Contact: Barbara Schoof Conant
barbara.conant@aging.ks.gov
Director of Public Affairs
(785) 296-6154
The 2007 Governor’s Conference on Aging Services will focus on healthy aging May 2 and 3 at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka. In recognition of the 30th anniversary of the Kansas Department on Aging becoming a Cabinet agency, the theme of the conference is Pearls of Aging.
Keynote speakers will be Thomas Perls, a physician and researcher in the study of aging at Boston University Medical School, and Dr. Bowen F. White, founder of the Department of Preventive & Stress Medicine for Baptist Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo., one of the first such departments in the United States.
Perls, who will speak at the Wednesday luncheon, has become one of a handful of the world’s experts studying centenarians. For the past eight years he has directed the New England Centenarian Study, the largest genetic and social study of centenarians and their families in the world. His topic: “Can We All Live to 100? And If We Could, Would We Want To?”
White, who will speak at the general session at 4 p.m. Wednesday, has presented programs all over the world emphasizing the need for individuals to take responsibility for their own health and well being. He also helps organizations create productive and healthy workplaces. His topic: “Why Normal Isn’t Healthy.”
The program for the Thursday luncheon will feature this year’s PEAK award winners. PEAK, which stands for Promoting Excellent Alternatives in Kansas nursing homes, recognizes homes that have excelled at culture change. Secretary of Aging Kathy Greenlee will present the awards and talk about the importance of person-centered care, not just in nursing homes but for all seniors. A video showing the winners also will be shown.
The conference also will feature about 30 break-out sessions focusing on healthy aging. And a host of exhibitors will be displaying their goods and services.
For more information on the conference and on registration, check the KDOA website at www.agingkansas.org or call KDOA at 785-296-4986 or toll free at 1-800-432-3535.