Council on Aging’s (COA) Forum on Aging is the region’s premiere conference for professionals who work with, for or on behalf of older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers.

For 32 years, Forum on Aging has provided a learning experience that is relevant to the changing needs of professionals who serve some of the most vulnerable individuals in our region.

The two-day conference, held each March, is attended by nurses and social workers, nursing home administrators, activities professionals and others, with the opportunity to earn up to 12 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

More than 550 professionals attended the 32nd annual Forum on Aging, March 13-14, at the Sharonville Convention Center. The conference featured keynote speaker Kathy Greenlee, former assistant secretary for aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Ms. Greenlee shared her vision for an integrated system of care focused as much on the social determinants of health as it is on traditional health and long-term care needs.

Networking. Conference attendees have time to mingle with colleagues and visit dozens of sponsor tables to learn about products and services that support their work. For the event sponsors, Forum on Aging is a unique opportunity to showcase their services and products to their target audience.

“I made many great connections and was able to share our business with so many new people,” said one sponsor. “This event was well worth our time and I would love to participate again in the future!”

Forum on Aging sponsors also appreciate the care and attention that COA’s event organizers put into making the event successful for them.

“I really appreciate the organization and attention to detail that Amy [Leonhardt] and her team provide at Forum. It’s really so easy to work with COA!”

COA depends on sponsor support to attract nationally respected speakers and develop relevant workshops. COA is grateful for the support of the 2018 sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor – Global Meals; Corporate Sponsor – Guardian Medical Monitoring; Lunch Sponsor – Home Care by Black Stone; Media Partner – Venue Magazine; and many other sponsors and nonprofit organizations that participated in the conference.

Learning. This is the focus of Forum on Aging, featuring 19 sessions over two days, including intensive workshops, panel discussions and keynote presentations. Some topics are offered on a regular basis to meet the licensing and education needs of professionals who attend – social work ethics, Medicare and Social Security basics, and nursing law.

Forum on Aging’s planning committee strives to offer a conference that meets professionals’ changing needs, keeping them informed of programs and trends that impact their work. In recent years, workshops featured diverse and relevant topics, including: LGBTQ rights; mental health; memory care and Alzheimer’s disease; bed bugs and hoarding; grant writing and business acumen; Medicaid trends; and end of life and person-centered care.

“This exceeded my overall expectations,” said a first-time attendee. “The keynote speakers were awesome! Very interesting subject matter and relevant to the current times and what our staff are faced with.”

A popular and highly rated workshop in 2018 covered a topic that attendees are increasingly faced with: opioid addiction and illegal drug use. Presented by local law enforcement personnel, participants learned about drug hotspots, commonly abused prescription drugs and “doctor shopping,” and safety guidelines for field staff.

Inspiration. Forum on Aging is attended by professionals who are on the front lines, providing care, consultation and support to older adults, people with disabilities, their families and caregivers. This is hard work. Forum on Aging is an opportunity for professionals to refresh, recharge and remember that self-care is important. In 2018, award-winning authors and speakers, Annarose Ingarra-Milch and Loretta Woodward Veney shared inspirational messages of self-empowerment and patience, and helped participants find ways to use humor to manage work and caregiving challenges.

“Very wonderful keynote speakers – they were so dynamic and engaging,” reported one conference attendee. Another added, “Loretta was amazing and really gave an enjoyable learning experience. She really encouraged my heart.” 

The 2019 Forum on Aging will be held March 12-13 at the Sharonville Convention Center. For information about sponsorship or participating on the conference planning committee, please contact Amy Leonhardt at 513.345.3367 or aleonhardt@help4seniors.org. For more information about Forum on Aging, visit www.help4seniors.org.