The School of Aging Studies welcomed caregivers and professionals to the Caring for the Caregiver to Provide Better Care conference last Friday. One-hundred individuals, and close to 50 community caregivers, attended the event.
The conference included sessions on coping strategies, advance care planning, medical and health issues in caregiving, and caregiver resilience and advocacy, as well as a panel on resources from area agencies on aging and other community expert providers.
Distinguished University Professor Bill Haley, PhD, gave the keynote address and discussed recent research findings related to the good and bad impacts of caregiving on an individual's health.
Free chair massages were offered by Moffitt Cancer Center to caregivers in attendance. Attendees were also able to participate in a hands-on activity with Post-It notes concerning hope, strength, and challenges.
This was the second annual conference co-sponsored by the Hospice, Palliative Care and End-of-Life Studies and Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging.