AGING EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE, Thursday, June 14
8:30 – 9:45 am: Opening Session/Keynote Address
Are Older Adults Still Citizens?
Presenter: Dr. Simon Duffy, Director, Centre for Welfare Reform; Secretary, Citizen Network
about.me/simonduffy
A test of any decent society is how it respects the older generation. Are older people at the center of family and community life, or are they isolated or institutionalized? Can people set their own path, even when they need extra help, or are they forced to do what others think is best for them? While people with disabilities have demanded equal rights and self-determination, older people are often forced to accept lower standards. Dr Simon Duffy is both a philosopher and practitioner, who has worked for 30 years to develop ideas and systems to advance equal citizenship for all. Simon will explain what is happening around the world to enable people to be true citizens at any age, and whatever their needs. Simon will also explore how the idea of citizenship – which connects ancient Greece to the civil rights movement – must be central to solving the problems – and seizing the opportunities – ahead of us.
9:45 – 10:15 am: Visit Exhibits/Comfort Break
10:15-11:30 am: Breakout A (4 options)
A1. Technology: Wisdom and Warnings
Chris Patterson, Night Owl Support Systems; Cindi Pichler, Senior Assistive Technology Specialist, IndependenceFirst
A2. Taking Charge: Navigating Health Care Transitions
Kate Schilling, Attorney, Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources
A3. Intergenerational Housing: A Promising Strategy to Address the Workforce Challenge
Joe Gallagher, Architectural Association, JLA Architects
A4. Advance Care Planning: Empowering Older Adults by Making their Health Care Wishes Known
Adrienne Allen, Organizational Development Specialist; Amy Allen, Quality Improvement Manager; Care Wisconsin
11:30 – 12:30 pm: Lunch/Introduce Sponsors/Exhibitors/Empowerment Awards
12:30 – 1:45 pm: Breakout B (4 options)
B1. Supported Decision Making: Preserving Empowerment
Mitchell Hagopian, Attorney, Disability Rights Wisconsin
B2. The Opioid Crisis and Wisconsin’s Elderly
B3. Department of Health Services 5-Year Dementia Plan
Carrie Molke, Director, Bureau for Aging and Disability Services, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services
B4. Empowering Caregivers Across Cultures
Tasha Orr-Holmes, Community Partnership Specialist; Dave Verban, Senior Learning and Development Specialist; TMG
1:45 – 2:15 pm: Ice Cream Social
2:15 – 3:30 pm: Breakout C (4 options)
C1. Keeping a Balanced Life and “Stepping On”
Ruth Meyer, Physical Therapist; Jennifer Wallskog, Physical Therapist; Safe Communities Coalition of Madison – Dane County
C2. Before the After
Sara Wrobel, Before the After Facilitator
C3. Honoring Choices: Balancing Rights, Self-Determination and Risk
Kim Marheine, Ombudsmen Services Supervisor, State of Wisconsin Board on Aging and Long Term Care
3:30 – 4:15 pm: Reflections on the Day
4:15 – 6:00 pm: Networking Reception
Featuring: Artworking Pop-Up Shop!
BUILDING STRONG MOMENTS FOR CHANGE, Advocacy Summit, Friday, June 15
8:30 am: Welcome, Focus and Format of Summit
8:45 am: Briefing: 5 Key Strategies for Strengthening Citizenship and Empowerment of Older Adults
9:15 am: Reactor Panel: Focusing the Key Strategies on Wisconsin
10:00 am: Comfort Break
10:15 am: Facilitated Small Group Work: Choosing an Issue
11:25 am: Reporting Out to Large Group
12:10 pm: Summary – and Looking Forward
12:30 pm: Adjourn
