During the last week in April, more than 4,000 professionals in the field of aging convened in San Francisco for Aging in America, the American Society on Aging’s annual conference. Learn how the Chicago Bridge’s members were represented at this conference.

Careers in Aging Week is upon us (April 10-16)! That means we can toast with our colleagues our dedication to the field of aging. But as I wish you a happy Careers in Aging Week, I also wish I didn’t have to.

This event provided an overview of the complex maze of Medicare and Medicaid, the two main health care funding mechanisms for older adults. Presenter Laura Garcia, Assistant Director of the Chicago Senior Health Insurance Program Office through the Illinois Department of Insurance, educated attendees on current Medicare and Medicaid coverage and shared resources for helping [...]

The six-month Chicago Bridge Mentorship Program pilot matched emerging professionals in the field of aging with seasoned professionals already established as respected names in Chicago’s aging network. The program’s goal included developing the Mentee’s skills, network, and professional confidence. Along the way, the Chicago Bridge Mentorship Program made a meaningful contribution to Chicago’s eldercare workforce.

Older adults face unique challenges when moving across care settings. The increased prevalence of chronic conditions, functional and cognitive limitations, polypharmacy, social isolation, and other factors make older adults particularly vulnerable to poor transitions. The results can be which can be dangerous and costly for older adults, their families, and the national health care system as a whole as one in five Medicare beneficiaries return to the hospital within thirty days of discharge. This month’s Chicago Bridge event featured a panel of experts speaking about transitional care.

The Census only comes once a decade, but its impact lasts far longer. Why is the Census important, particularly for older adults? How can we help our clients get counted while maintaining their security? Professionals in the field of aging are optimally situated to encourage older adults to participate in this exciting and valuable national event by advocating on behalf of Census 2010, explaining the process, and educating seniors about remaining safe from tricks.

While America tunes in to A&E for an hour on Monday evening, an estimated 2 million Americans cannot escape hoarding by simply turning off their televisions. What effect does A&E?s Hoarders have on the nation?s perception of this professionally recognized compulsive disorder? Does it fight the stigma of hoarding, or does it sensationalize it into a source of entertainment?