First joint seminar on managing concerns with aging

Because we are living longer, how to ensure our parents’ quality of life – and our own – as we age is a growing issue.

For the first time in Madison, leading experts from UW–Madison and the community will engage in a comprehensive discussion in one place and on one day that will help us face important life decisions on aging. The event is Saturday, April 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m in the Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St.

The seminar marks a real partnership between experts from the UW and experts from the community. From the UW Institute on Aging, Dr. Carol Ryff will give the keynote address on mind-body connections. “Does a positive life outlook or having good relationships with others influence your health? Links between psychological, social and biological processes are of great interest as we age,” says Ryff about her scheduled talk.

From the Madison community, Mary Salzieder of Elder Family Resources will present “Having a Conversation with Your Parents.”

“We want our folks to be safe,” says Salzieder. “We say to them, ‘It’s time to think about moving,’ which to our parents means nursing home. But there are a lot of other choices out there.

“Who are Mom and Dad? What is their priority? It may not be safety. It could be the comfort of their own surroundings. We need to come to a conclusion with our parents rather than ram our priorities down their throats,” she says.

This unique day will not only spotlight the theories of dealing with aging, but practical advice as well. Jean Smith of Seagues senior moving service will discuss relocation, Bud Henning from Blackhawk Technical College will talk about preventing crime against the elderly, and attorney Jim Jaeger will guide us through an elder law check-up. A “Staying Active and Engaged” panel will include Kelli Koltyn from the UW Department of Kinesiology and Gene Lehrmann, a volunteer activities expert. Perhaps the most poignant segment of the day will be when current residents of Oakwood West, Attic Angel and Meriter Retirement communities offer “Words of Wisdom from Those Who’ve Been There.”

The seminar is sponsored by the Wisconsin Alumni Association, UW–Madison Division of Continuing Studies, UW–Madison Institute on Aging, Meriter Retirement Services and the Attic Angel Community.