The Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-COM) Florida Coastal Geriatric Resources, Education, and Training Center (GREAT GEC) held its Second Annual Interdisciplinary Geriatrics Symposium, titled Addressing the Clinical Challenges of Elder Care, on April 25-26 at NSUs Davie campus.
Over 90 health, medical, and social service professionals and students attended lectures, workshops, and poster presentations by speakers from NSU, Florida State University, the University of Miami, the Institute for Quality Aging, and the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward County. Topics included diabetes management, oral health, foot protection, osteoporosis management, falls prevention, elder abuse, cognition and dementia, driving safety, improving geriatric health care, and diversity in health care.
Slovak filmmaker Lubomir Mihailo Kocka and GREAT GEC Executive Director Dr. Cecilia Rokusek, R.D., welcomed attendees to the international premiere of Kockas film on aging titled The Lunch Box.
The conference was held in conjunction with the universitys Boomers and Beyond event, which brought over 1,000 individuals to the NSU campus. The geriatric symposium, which involved partnership participation from the Florida Geriatrics Society, also included two insightful workshops. The first, entitled Accessing Community Resources, informed attendees on resources for eldercare, while the second, Evaluating for Vascular Disease, provided a hands-on workshop in NSUs Vascular Sonography Lab.
The symposiums opening night reception featured the international film premiere of
The Lunch Box, which tells the story of an elderly man who experiences a reversal of roles as he tries to care for his wife after she suffers a paralyzing stroke. This moving film affected the audience both personally and professionally and can be used as an educational tool to illustrate aging issues. The film, written and directed by teenage Slovakian filmmaker Lubomir Mihailo Kocka, is nominated in the Best Student Film category at the 2009 Swansea Bay Film Festival in South West Wales, United Kingdom.
