2022 MAIA Concurrent Sessions

 

https://setv.usi.edu/maia

After being virtual for two years, the Mid-America Institute on Aging and Wellness (MAIA) will be returning to an in-person format on Thursday August 11 and Friday August 12, 2022. 

See the MAIA webpage for details about keynote speakers, concurrent sessions, corporate sponsors, exhibits, and registration. 

Here is a list of the presenters for the concurrent sessions.  Here is a link to the 2022 MAIA brochure, which lists the dates and times. Room numbers will be announced at the venue. 

2022 Mid-American Institute on Aging & Wellness: Keynote Speakers

 

MAIA 2022 Keynotes

After moving to an online format in 2020 and 2021, the Mid-American Institution on Aging & Wellness is returning to an in-person event. 

The University of Southern Indiana, located in Evansville, Indiana, will host on Thursday 11 August and Friday 12 August. The local area on aging, SWIRCA is a co-host. There are several corporate sponsors as well. See MAIA's site for information, including a brochure and a link to registration information. 

https://usi.edu/health/healthyaging/join-us-for-maia-august-10-11-and-12-2022/

Here is a preview of information about the four keynote speakers who deliver their remarks at the start and end of each day. In between, there will be 30 plus concurrent sessions.  See the brochure for a list of the concurrent sessions.  Here is a blog post, detailing the concurrent sessions from MAIA 2019, complete with several photographs. 

2021 Mid-American Institute on Aging & Wellness: A Preview

 

The University of Southern Indiana in partnership with the local Area on Aging (SWIRCA) has organized their 14th Conference on Aging and Wellness.  

AFTER-THE-FACT UPDATE: I enjoyed this conference as a Zoom host, presenter, and audience member.  SAVE THE DATES for 11 & 12 of August 2022.  

In June of 2022, you will find the 2022 brochure and registration materials by visiting the link to MAIA (Mid-America Institute on Aging and Wellness).

MAIA's virtual format in 2020 and 2021 meant that you do not have to be from easy driving distance to attend.  USI and SWIRCA are located in Evansville, Indian, which is part of the Tri-State Region (Southern Illinois, Northwestern Kentucky). There first 12 years were in person with many participants hailing from the tristate or cities within an easy driving distance: St. Louis, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville. 

The conference program has a variety of topics that include (but are not limited to) the following: diet, exercise, finances, dementia care, mental health care, combating ageism, addressing Parkinson's disease, diabetes care, and MORE! 

Who typically attends? 

• People 50+
• Health Care Students and Allied Health Faculty
• Social Workers
• Care Partners (aka caregivers): formal and informal
• Nurses (not just RNs)
• Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs)
• Other employees working in health care (PTs, OTs, SLPs, etc.)

Virtual MAIA Every Thur in August 2020

Every Thursday in August 2020 at 12 noon Central

For a dozen years, the Mid-American Institute on Aging & Wellness has hosted keynote and concurrent sessions on an array of topics to promote health and wellness across the lifespan.

MAIA secured a fantastic line up of speakers this year who agreed to present online due to the constraints presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is a great introduction to MAIA
because registration is FREE
for many attendees this year. 

VIDEO Introduction (from 7/14/2020 runtime 4:30 min) 

Click the blue word "VIDEO" above
to play the video

2019 MAIA Review: Day Two

Highlights from MAIA on Friday, August 9, 2019.

I have a few notes that I haven't shared from the Twelfth Annual Mid-American Institute on Aging and Wellness (MAIA) held on the campus of University of Southern Indiana.

Attendees include members of the tristate region's healthcare organizations (including USI students, faculty, and staff member), family care partners (formerly called "caregivers"), and individuals of all ages from IN, KY, IL and beyond seeking to improve the quality of their life by learning more about wellness across the lifespan.

Many healthcare professionals attending earn CME credits (continuing medical education), but a good portion of those present are not healthcare professionals; they are community members who are pro-active about their physical, financial, social, and emotional health.

These are details about the second day of this event, which took place on Friday, August 9, 2019. Find details about the first day, Thursday August 8th, by following this link.

Ron Weatherford in USI's Carter Hall

As people made there way to Carter Hall, they had the opportunity to practice a few minutes of Tai Chi as directed by Ron Weatherford.

Published in 2014 and 2017.

The morning keynote address was delivered by journalist and author Greg O'Brien.

He gave an engaging speech about living with Younger-Onset Dementia. previously called Early Onset Dementia (EOD).

His work as a journalist gives him the ability to articulate a lot of emotions and concepts about living with this disease. His family heritage and personality gives him the ability to do so with a lot of wit and wisdom; he comes from a long line of animated storytellers.

For those seeking to learn more about O'Brien, he has a well-regarded book, On Pluto, which has been republished in 2017 in an expanded edition.

2019 MAIA Review: Day One

MAIA at USI on August 8 and 9, 2019

I've been reflecting on my fourth experience attending the Mid-America Institute on Aging and Wellness. This event was the twelfth annual MAIA. It's held on the campus of University of Southern Indiana in Evansville. The co-host is SWIRCA & More.

Read the Conference Preview that lists info for All Participants. 

I enjoyed listening to all four of our keynote speakers: Emily Allen, BS, MS (AARP Foundation), Greg O'Brien (Journalist and Author), Harley Gordon, JD (Attorney and Advocate for Financing LTC), & Tim Brimmer, DA (Butler University).

They are all nationally recognized in their fields. They elevated my understanding of healthy aging across the lifespan. I also enjoyed observing as many of the 36 concurrent sessions as humanly possible.

Many healthcare professionals attending earn CME credits (continuing medical education), but a good portion of those present are not healthcare professionals; they are community members who are pro-active about their physical, financial, social, and emotional health.

Learning from MAIA 2019 Sponsors and Exhibitors

The 12th Annual MAIA swag bag

This year was the fourth time that I have attended the Mid-America Institute on Aging and Wellness.

Here is my conference preview, which includes social media accounts when applicable. This year's event included four fabulous, nationally recognized keynote speakers and 40 amazing local experts who led discussions/activities in concurrent sessions on August 8 & 9 - 2019.

The event qualifies as a means for healthcare professionals to earn CME credit, but the participants include university students, family caregivers, and adults of all ages who are pro-active about maintaining their wellness across the lifespan.

It's never too early to start aging well! 

The hosts are

• University of Southern Indiana.  
  
  Many organizations on USI's campus support this annual event, but a special shout out goes to the USI Outreach Office, the College of Nursing and Health Professions, led by Dr. Ann White, dean. And The Center for Healthy Aging and Wellness, led by Dr. Katie Ehlman
  ..

• SWIRCA & More 
  
  SWIRCA & More is an Indiana Area Agency on Aging (and more), located in Evansville in SW Indiana but SWIRCA & More covers six Indiana counties: Gibson, Perry, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, & Warrick. 

I have written previously about the 40 or more MAIA speakers. I gained this opportunity to attend after moving to the tristate of IL, IN, KY in 2016. (You can find links to my 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 MAIA reviews / previews at the very end of this post.)

However, this is the first time I am writing about the sponsors and exhibitors.

2019 Mid-America Institute on Aging and Wellness Preview

Click on Photo to Enlarge.

The University of Southern Indiana and SWIRCA & More  (Southwestern Indiana Regional Council on Aging) are proud to present the 12th Mid-American Institutes on Aging and Wellness.

This two-day event will take place August 8th and 9th (2019) on USI's campus in Evansville, Indiana.

See the MAIA 2019 brochure for the presenters' photos and bios.

ETA Links to the Summaries of the 2019 MAIA Events:

MAIA 2019 Day One with Allen & Gordon

MAIA 2019 Day Two with O'Brien & Brimmer

MAIA 2019 Sponsors & Exhibitors

The keynote speakers are as follows:

* Emily Allen, BS, MS of the AARP Foundation

* Harley Gordon, JD and advocate for long-term care

* Greg O'Brien, journalist, author and Alzheimer's activist

* Tim Brimmer, music professor from Butler University

People from a wide range of ages and vocations attend. The venue will also include a number of vendors.

There is also a pre-conference workshop on dementia care, led by Teepa Snow, who is dynamic, compassionate and well informed.

If you are already registered, come early to secure your seat and to participate in some light exercise.

Add MAIA on Facebook

Thursday August 8th starting 7:45 am, Cecile Martin will demonstrate chair yoga exercises. Follow along from your seat!

Friday, August 9th starting 7:45 am, Ron Weatherford will demonstrate beginner Tai Chi moves. Follow along from your seat!

Use #MAIAROCKS to read Tweets and Facebook posts about previous MAIA presentations. This will be the fourth time that I have attended. It's invigorating to meet new people and to learn from them.

2018 MAIA Concurrent Sessions

MAIA offered 36 concurrent sessions over two days. 

Concurrent sessions are a blessing and a curse.

Yes, it's wonderful to have an array of topics presented when attending a conference.

However, it's painful to choose among competing sessions.

See an earlier post for information about the 2018 MAIA plenary and keynote speakers. 

This was my experience during the 2018 Mid-American Institute on Aging and Wellness, which took place August 9th & 10th on the campus of University of Southern Indiana

As my name badge indicates, I was one of the people helping with the conference. Briefly stated, serving in the MAIA committee as a "Blue Shirt" further enriched my experience before, during, and after the conference.

But being a committee member didn't include the ability to time travel. Consequently, I can only report on a fraction of presentations.

Check out #maiarocks on Twitter for other attendees' photos and summaries of sessions. 

See an earlier post that lists Twitter and Facebook pages for many of the 2018 MAIA presenters and sponsors.

2018 MAIA Keynote and Plenary Speakers

MAIA 11th anniversary swag bag, program, and tee.

What Is MAIA?

For the last eleven years, the University of Southern Indiana in partnership with Southwestern Indiana Council on Aging & MORE! (the local Area Agency on Aging) has organized an inter-professional gerontology conference. This year, the conference ran August 9th and 10th with a pre-conference workshop on the 8th.

2019 MAIA Preview

Located in Evansville, Indiana, this two-day event offers keynote and plenary speakers with national--if not international recognition. In addition, dozens of other presenters also offer great information about promoting wellness across the entire life span. 

The participants are local health care workers, university students, and members of the broader Tristate (IN, IL, KY) community.

Many healthcare professionals attending earn CME credits (continuing medical education), but a good portion of those present are not healthcare professionals; they are community members who are pro-active about their physical, financial, social, and emotional health.

Last week was the third time that I attended the Mid-America Institute on Aging and Wellness (MAIA). However, it was my first time serving as one of the organizers as a member of the Blue Shirts team. 

This gave me the opportunity to see the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes. I'm grateful for all that USI, SWIRCA, the sponsors, vendors, and all the presenters do in order to make this event informative and exhilarating. 

By looking at the program ahead of time, I had a chance to read more about all the presenters before they arrived. However, with six concurrent sessions happening three times a day for two days, it was impossible for me to attend all 36 sessions!

Let me first report some key details about the keynote and plenary speakers. (Details about the 2018 concurrent sessions are now available here.)

2018 Mid-America Institute on Aging and Wellness Preview

Visit the official 2018 MAIA page here. 

This August will be my third year attending this engaging conference. It's the Eleventh Annual Mid-American Institute (MAIA) on Aging and Wellness, held August 9th and 10th, 2018 at University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, Indiana.

Health care professionals can earn continuing education credit for attending. 

I usually only post about MAIA after I attend. 

[Updated to add reports about MAIA 2018 Keynotes/Plenaries and the Concurrent Sessions]

This year, I decided to give TGAM blog readers an opportunity to attend by posting key details a few weeks before.

Evansville is in the tristate area of SW Indiana. The USI campus is only two hours south of Bloomington, Indiana and two hours west of Louisville, Kentucky. It's also a comfortable drive from St. Louis (2.5 hours), Nashville (2.5 hours) and Indianapolis (3 hours).

The keynote address by Ashton Applewhite on Thursday, August 9th 3 pm is FREE and OPEN to the public.  However, registration is required to ensure that everyone has a seat.

How to Register for All or Part of MAIA 2018

If you are interested in maintaining wellness of mind, body, and spirit throughout the lifespan, consider attending all or part of the conference. Registration information is available on the official page.

Many healthcare professionals attending earn CME credits (continuing medical education), but a good portion of those present are not healthcare professionals; they are community members who are pro-active about their physical, financial, social, and emotional health.

2017 Mid-America Institute on Aging and Wellness

MAIA 10th Anniversary Program & Swag Bag.

Every August, the University of Southern Indiana partners with the local Area Agency on Aging--SWIRCA--and others to present a two-day institute on aging and wellness.

As an employee of the university, I had the privilege of attending several sessions on Thursday, August 10th and Friday August 11th. I also received an invitation to attend the pre-conference workshop led by dementia educator Teepa Snow.  I discussed the events of Wednesday, August 9th in a previous post.

Below are highlights from a handful of sessions.

I'm loathe to admit that I could not attend every session.  There were 27 people leading concurrent sessions and four keynote speakers: Bill Thomas, MD, Faith Roberts, MSN, CRRN; Dean Hartley, PhD; and Neha Sangwan, MD.  There as also an exhibit hall featuring dozens of local business and agencies who support aging and wellness.

Such a wealth of experience and perspectives!

Many healthcare professionals attending earn CME credits (continuing medical education), but a good portion of those present are not healthcare professionals; they are community members who are pro-active about their physical, financial, social, and emotional health.

What follows are my notes that are woefully inadequate. I suggest that you attend next year so that you can follow the sessions that interest you the most.

Teepa Snow at MAIA 2017

Snow explaining unmet needs at MAIA 2017.

I spent the bulk of today attending a pre-conference workshop on dementia care.

For the past year, I have been teaching gerontology classes part time in the College of Nursing and Heath Professions at University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, Indiana.

Each August, the university hosts an aging conference sponsored by local agencies and businesses that support healthy aging.

Read more about the Mid-American Institute on Aging & Wellness (MAIA) here.

The two-day conference is packed with speakers covering an array of topics about healthy aging and elder care.

Attending a 2016 Aging & Wellness Conference

Photo by Karen D. Austin.

It's vital to connect with other professionals in your field.

Attending conferences gives me the chance to observe best practices in a variety of topics related to healthy aging.

Great Resource, Great Region

Fortunately, I've moved to a region of Indiana that hosts an invigorating conference every year.

People interested in healthy aging should visit this page, Mid-America Institute on Aging and Wellness.  It contains information about some of best practices in healthy lifestyle choices and helping others improve their quality of life throughout the lifespan.

Link to Program and Registration Information for 

the August 9-10 2018 MAIA Events

This is the 9th year that the Center for Aging and Wellness at the University of Southern Indiana (USI) has hosted the conference.  This summer, I moved just 15 miles from USI.  The campus is on the west side of Evansville, Indiana. This city is the 3rd largest in the state of Indiana, and the hub of a Tri-State region that includes southern Illinois and western Kentucky.

USI partners with a number of other businesses and organizations.  But because I recently became an employee of the university, I am a bit more focused on their role.  Afterall, I was just hired the week prior to the conference.  Everything is new for me: the faculty, staff, administrators, students. Even the campus buildings and parking areas are foreign to me.

Nevertheless, I jumped right in.