Speakers at the conference included (left to right) Nicolas Musi, M.D., Lyda Arévalo-Flechas, Ph.D., M.S.N., RN, Regional Dean Gladys Keene, M.D., M.P.H., Jerald Winakur, M.D., FACP, CMD, and Eleonore Paunovich, D.D.S., M.S., DABSCD.
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By Rosanne Fohn

Nearly 200 citizens of Laredo and South Texas attended a daylong conference March 4 to learn about healthy aging at the Regional Campus of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Co-sponsored by the School of Health Professions, the conference featured Health Science Center faculty experts in the field of aging, as well as demonstrations on healthy living.

Mental issues in aging
Keynote speaker Jerald Winakur, M.D., FACP, CMD, a clinical professor of medicine in the Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics, spoke about the mental issues in aging from his experiences as a geriatrician and as a son caring for his aging father. He captured his thoughts on this topic in his book, “Memory Lessons: A Doctor’s Story.”

Related link: See more photos from the event

“Caring for my father as he descended into the depths of his Alzheimer's disease was a difficult and humbling experience for me,” Dr. Winakur said. “Despite the fact that I have spent my life as an internist and a geriatrician, I soon realized that I was ill-prepared for the day-to-day difficulties that arose as my family and I were confronted with each new issue: incontinence, agitation, falls and loss of appetite. I did my best to face each one of these problems with common sense, patience, and humility.

“One thing I have learned as a practicing doctor is this: There were no flow charts or algorithms that worked with someone like my father. Every patient, every family travels a unique path through situations like this. Doctors have special knowledge, but our main job is to be present at these most difficult times. Thankfully, my father's doctor was present for us. And I and my mother and brother did our best every day to be by my father’s side, to bring some light into the gathering darkness of his daily existence. Some days we were successful; others we were not. But we tried,” he said.

Physiological considerations in aging
Nicolas Musi, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Diabetes and director of the School of Medicine’s Center for Healthy Aging, spoke on the topic of the physiological considerations of aging. “As people age, this leads to significant changes in how the body metabolizes sugar and fat. This predisposes older people to develop diabetes and cholesterol problems,” Dr. Musi said. “Fortunately, a lot of these changes can be reversed by exercising regularly.”

Dental considerations in aging
Eleonore Paunovich, D.D.S., M.S., DABSCD, spoke about the dental considerations of aging. She is an associate professor in the Department of Dental Diagnostic Science’s Division of Oral Medicine.

The focus of her presentation on oral health in aging was to identify the more common problems identified in an aging dentition, which include tooth decay, periodontal disease, tooth wear and oral mucosal problems. The interrelationship between oral disease, chronic systemic disease and medications were reviewed to help both caregivers and health care professionals recognize risk factors for declining oral health and the impact this decline has on overall health.

Caring for the caregiver
Lyda Arévalo-Flechas, Ph.D., M.S.N., RN, discussed caring for the caregiver. “People taking care of relatives at home provide an invaluable service to our society and the economy. Caregiving, however, can have a negative impact physically, psychologically and financially on the caregiver,” said Dr. Arévalo-Flechas, who is a clinical assistant professor, the John A. Hartford Foundation Claire M. Fagin fellow and the William F. Castella Professor in Aging Research in the School of Nursing.

“Caring for the caregiver is our responsibility as health care providers, relatives, neighbors and members of society,” she said. “We are in the midst of a caregiving crisis and we can all play a role in supporting caregivers. This means caring for our patients. Many caregivers delay asking for help and seeking support. Cultural values and beliefs play an important role in how people perceive their caregiving role. Support for the caregiver must be culturally proficient.”

Respiratory Care student Maria Cortez-Martinez explains the effects that smoking has on the lungs.

Hands-on demonstrations
In addition to the presentations, which provided continuing education for eight physicians and 11 nurses, those who attended participated in a number of hands-on events and demonstrations, including gardening, exercise, healthy cooking, learning about environmental risks in the home and viewing medical information exhibits and student posters.

“This is another successful way our university is reaching out to the Laredo community with valuable health and wellness information that citizens can immediately put into practice,” said Gladys Keene, M.D., M.P.H., regional dean of the Regional Campus.