The Oklahoma State University College of Human Sciences Department of Human Development and Family Science will host two events in 2012 as part of the Linking Gerontology and Geriatrics series, focusing on Oklahoma’s aging population.  The Linking Gerontology and Geriatrics Workshop will be held February 18, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on February 18, 2012, in 432 Human Sciences on the OSU campus. Registration fees until Jan. 21 are $30, student rate is $20. The fee includes lunch and beverages.

The workshop will provide information for the growing number of Oklahoma grandparents who are tasked with raising their grandchildren.

Joe Riden and his wife Judith are among this group. They are raising two of their grandchildren. The couple struggles with not only their needs as older adults, but also with the needs of two small children.

“I am ready for retirement, 65-years-old, and all of my plans have changed,” Riden said. “We now have two small children to take care of until things get right. Retirement is out of the question, there are needs the children have that you didn’t even realize.”

The Ridens will share their experiences and challenges at the 2012 Linking Geriatrics and Gerontology Workshop, entitled Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren: Expectations and Experiences, which will be held on the OSU campus. The Ridens will be among six expert speakers sharing information helpful to older rural Oklahomans.

The 2012 Linking Geriatrics and Gerontology Conference, Disaster Preparedness: Addressing Ethics, Well-Being, and Options, will be held June 1- 2, 2012, in the OSU Wes Watkins Center. The conference has three information tracks and will feature speakers focusing on Bioethics and Ethics, Disaster Preparedness, and Health and Well-Being.

Miriam Friedman Kelty, Ph.D., a former associate director of the National Institute of Aging and a leader in the ethics of research, will speak about bioethical concerns for contemporary times.

Glenda Ford-Lee, Oklahoma State Department of Health Statewide At-Risk Populations Coordinator, will give a presentation addressing functional needs and emergency preparedness for seniors.  

Joyce Hood, M.P.H., Director of Occupational Health Services at Cook Children’s Healthcare System in Fort Worth, Texas, will address workforce injuries and the aging workforce.

Presentations on Collaborating for Quality Palliative Care: Health Care Providers and Communities will be given by Professor Nancy Van Winkle, Department of Behavioral Sciences at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences;  Reverend Marcia Howland, Cypress Springs Alzheimer's Residence in Tulsa chaplain and bereavement coordinator; and Richard Perry, Director of the Oklahoma Area Health Education Center.

In addition to the Human Development and Family Science Department, sponsors and co-providers of the series include the Oklahoma IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence, The Institute for Creativity and Innovation at OSU, the OSU School of Fire Protection and Safety, the Oklahoma Geriatric Education Center, the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma AgrAbility, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center College of Nursing, the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine, and the OU College of Medicine Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatric Medicine.

The Linking Geriatrics and Gerontology series targets individuals in rural health care professions and those who actively assist aging adults. The series focuses on helping participants identify the links between gerontology and geriatrics, while also learning to apply evidence-based information to enhance the best practices or fill professional practice gaps of individuals working with older adults.

For more information about Linking Gerontology and Geriatrics events or to register visit humansciences.okstate.edu/okgec or contact Tammy Henderson at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or (405) 744-8350.