Aging with Insight: Highlights from PCA’s 2024 Regional Conference on Aging
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) successfully hosted its annual Regional Conference on Aging from October 22-24, 2024, in collaboration with surrounding suburban Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). This year’s event offered engaging in-person programming and continuing education credits for professionals dedicated to the care and support of older adults.
Kicking off the conference, the highly anticipated Panel of Pundits session took place on October 22, featuring CHC President & CEO Jean Accius II, and past Secretaries of Aging Rich Browdie, Nora Dowd-Eisenhower, and Brian Duke. Together, these distinguished leaders discussed current issues impacting Pennsylvania’s older adult population and shared best practice strategies to enhance support and services for aging individuals across the state.
The conference also spotlighted Dr. Kiplee Bell, founder and CEO of Impactful Caregiving, who delivered an insightful presentation titled “The Culture of Caring: Examining Healthcare Delivery.” Dr. Bell’s session explored the significance of effective communication and collaboration within healthcare settings, emphasizing how interpersonal relationships among healthcare teams, families, and caregivers impact patient outcomes. Through interactive discussions and case studies, participants gained practical strategies for overcoming common barriers and fostering a culture of caring, empathy, and cultural competence in healthcare environments.
On October 23, Dr. Allison J. Applebaum, associate attending psychologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, presented “Stand By Me: Lessons Learned as a Family Caregiver and Caregiving Scientist.” Dr. Applebaum shared key insights from her career as a caregiving scientist and her experiences leading the Caregivers Clinic at MSK. Her presentation provided attendees with research-backed strategies and tools for supporting caregiver well-being and highlighted the importance of communication skills and advance care planning. Dr. Applebaum’s work continues to have a profound impact on caregiving practices, as reflected in her numerous publications, including the textbook “Cancer Caregivers” and her recent book “Stand By Me: A Guide to Navigating Modern, Meaningful Caregiving.”
Through these enriching sessions and more, PCA’s Regional Conference on Aging fostered valuable discussions and equipped attendees with resources to better serve older adults, culminating in another successful year of learning and collaboration.
