Allen Cognitive Network

8th Cognitive Symposium

"Linking Evidence with Practice"

November 4-6, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Crowne Plaza Hotel - King of Prussia

Featured Speaker: Laura N. Gitlin, Ph.D.

Laura N. Gitlin, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, and Founding Director of the Jefferson Center for Applied Research on Aging and Health at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Gitlin is nationally and internationally recognized for her innovative research and publications on dementia care. Her interests and extensive, visionary contributions focus on family caregiving; environmental modifications and adaptation to disability; and home-based interventions to improve functional status of older adults and family caregivers.

"Evidence Supporting a New Vision for Dementia Care"

Laura N. Gitlin, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy

Jefferson School of Health Professions

Director, Jefferson Center for Applied Research on Aging and Health

Thomas Jefferson University

Over 5 million individuals in the USA have a diagnosis of dementia with numbers expected to exceed 14 million by the year 2050. Worldwide, numbers are alarming with over 35.6 million individuals currently diagnosed and an estimated 115.4 million in 2050.

Most individuals with dementia are cared for at home by family members. Dementia dramatically impacts quality of life not only of the affected person but also family members. It is associated with emotional, physical and health burdens of family members as well as significant societal costs. Despite better understandings of disease pathology, the care of individuals with dementia has not advanced over the past 30 years. Given that a cure is not imminent, developing new models of care that enable families to support individuals at home with life quality are imperative.

This presentation will review the status of dementia care and discuss a new vision involving the role of occupational therapy as part of the diagnostic and supportive care management team. Drawing upon and reviewing the empirical evidence and our recent studies testing different interventions delivered by occupational therapists and other health and human service professionals, specific clinical treatment principles and models for home-based care will be suggested. Implications for scaling up the application of these interventions and models of care in the USA and worldwide will be examined.

Call for Papers

Online Registration coming soon!

Online Room Reservations coming soon!