Area Agency on Aging to host 32nd Annual REACH Conference to Educate Individuals Who Work with Seniors

More than two hundred area nursing facility administrators, practitioners, caregivers, and others who work with seniors will receive training at the 32nd annual REACH Conference (Regional Education on Aging, Caregiving, and Healthcare) next week. The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) hosts the annual conference to provide educational workshops, plenary sessions, and networking opportunities. This year's conference will be held at Maude Cobb in Longview on October 4-5 and is ideal for professionals or caregivers serving older adults and persons with disabilities.

“We are thrilled to present our 32nd annual REACH Conference, ‘Taking Care While Giving Care.’  This conference is for the professional and personal caregivers who are giving so much of themselves to care for our elders. We know that caregiving is a challenging but rewarding role, and we want to provide them with the resources and support they need to thrive," said AAA Director Colleen Halliburton.

The 32nd REACH Conference offers a wide range of topics related to aging, including:

• The physical and emotional challenges of aging
• How to take care of yourself while you are caring for an older adult
• Legal and financial issues related to aging
• Resources and support for professional and personal caregivers
• Research on aging

Keynote speaker presentations include:

• Unforgettable: The Power of Partnership in the Pursuit of Justice and Equity in Dementia Research, Care, and Support - Carl Hill, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Association; and Garrett Davis, Award Winning Playwright
• Did COVID Give Me PTSD? – Tam Cummings, Ph.D., Dementia Expert;
• Equity and Inclusion: Closing the Health Disparities Gap in Communities of Color – Garrett Davis, Award Winning Playwright
• You Got the Right Stuff – Dr. Timothy McNeil, Sr., Founding Pastor of the Community Fellowship Church
• Seeing the other side of Dementia and Living with Lewy Body Dementia – Luanne Harms, Dementia Expert
• Generational Caregiving – The McAnally Family

This conference provides an opportunity to obtain Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) for ethics, social work, License Professional Counselors, Activity Directors, and Long Term Care Administrators. REACH is partially funded by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. To register for the event or for more information, call the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas at (903) 218-6500 or visit our conference website at www.aaa-reachconference.org.