Worried About Mom? How to Discuss Age Related Concerns with Seniors

Geriatric Health Educator to Lead Free Workshop Hosted by Windsor Place of Wilmington

WILMINGTON, Mass. – April 29, 2009 – Windsor Place of Wilmington today announced that the May topic of its Talking Just Works community education series will help adult children and their elderly parents, other caregivers and seniors to discuss sensitive issues in respectful and effective ways. Liz Osbahr, a geriatric health educator, will lead “Worried About Mom? How to Discuss Age‐Related Concerns” on May 19 and May 21 at Woodbriar of Wilmington on the campus of Windsor Place (just seconds from Interstate 93). Osbahr will share advice drawn from her experience in public health education and elder issues. Admission is free but advance registration is required. Both sessions start at 6 p.m. and light food and refreshments will be served. To reserve your place, call 1‐866‐988‐2330, extension 4, or visit http://www.windsorplaceofwilmington.com/events.

“Talking to your parents, family members or friends about giving up the car keys or making other changes that diminish their independence requires skill and tact. These can be emotionally‐charged conversations that invert the traditional parent‐child dynamic,” said Osbahr. “Most of us have not had to talk about these issues with our moms and dads.”

Osbahr has twenty years of nursing and senior management experience in the home healthcare industry. She is President of Classic Home Care and Vice President of the Massachusetts Council for Home Care Aide Services. She also developed and presented standards of practice modules for the Massachusetts Council for Home Care Aide Services, Inc., and the Foundation for Home & Health Care of Massachusetts, Inc. Osbahr is a seasoned geriatric health educator who frequently lectures on home health care issues and the physiological and psychological needs of senior citizens.

Those attending “Worried About Mom? How to Discuss Age‐Related Concerns” will learn about:

Responding to mobility barriers such as trouble driving due to confusion, deteriorating vision or slower reflexes, and physical limitations resulting from injury, weakness or health conditions such as heart disease or arthritis.
Distinguishing between normal age‐related forgetfulness and more severe cognitive impairments that may be due to Alzheimer’s or related disorders.
Identifying options for those seniors with physical or cognitive challenges, including home care, modifications to eliminate or lessen physical barriers in the home, and transition to an assisted living or a nursing home.

“We’re privileged to have Liz Osbahr lead our second program in the Talking Just Works community education series. Her expertise in assisting seniors and their families as they manage life changes has made Liz a trusted resource for government elder affairs programs and a leading industry representative,” said Dennis Sargent, developer and manager of Windsor Place of Wilmington. “Difficult topics are more easily addressed through face‐to‐face conversation in a supportive setting. We invite the public to take this opportunity to ask Liz questions and share their experiences with others.”