Senior drug issues subject of May 13 CASE conference

The Coalition of Agencies in Service to the Elderly will hold its 26^th annual Spring Professional Networking Conference, "Senior Drug Issues: A Broad Spectrum Perspective," from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 13. The conference will feature specialists who will discuss various perspectives on medications and the impact they have on seniors.

Registration for the event includes a continental breakfast, professional resource fair, boxed lunch, basket auction, a door prize and networking opportunities.

Keynote speaker for the conference is investigator Joseph L. Cowell of the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration, Tactical Diversion Squad. Cowell will provide a law enforcement perspective on narcotics and the impact they have on seniors.

Following the keynote address there will be a panel of health care professionals who will discuss current medication topics and issues of interest to anyone caring for seniors in the community. The speaker panel will include

•Kirsten Butterfoss, Pharm.D., assistant professor at the department of pharmacy practice of D'Youville College. She will talk about clinical aspects of senior prescription abuse.

•Pamela Martin, RN, BSN, public health nurse at the Niagara County Department of Health. She will go over effective medication education for seniors.

•Michelle Rainka, Pharm.D., CCRP, clinical pharmacist at Dent Neurologic Institute. She will discuss current developments in Alzheimer's and dementia research.

CASE Chairperson Denise DiPaolo, R.N., said, "We are very excited about our 26th CASE Networking Conference. It is a wonderful opportunity for our members, as well as other professionals and community agencies passionate about advocating for seniors, to share information and ideas. Our topic this year is one that affects almost every senior citizen as well as their caregivers."

DiPaolo said drug safety awareness and effective medication management are essential components in the health and well-being of the senior population.

The "Senior Drug Issues: A Broad Spectrum Perspective" conference is recommended for professionals who work with the aging population, including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, social workers, community service providers and health and community care professionals.

The conference will be held at the American Legion Post 1451, 6525 Ward Road in Sanborn. Registration is $20 and open to professionals throughout Western New York. For more information and to register, visit www.CaseNiagara.com or contact Barbara Jacobs at [email protected] or 716-433-3381. Registrations can be mailed, with payment made payable to CASE, to Barbara Jacobs, Pine Apartments, 6231 Tonawanda Creek Road, Lockport, NY 14094.

CASE is a coalition of agencies, organizations and individuals whose mission is to provide community resource education and networking opportunities to enhance services for the aging in Niagara County. Established in 1989, this year marks the 26^th anniversary for CASE. For more information about CASE and a conference registration form, visit www.CaseNiagara.com.