May 1 Colloquium Explores Traumatic Stress Effects as Survivors Age
Contact: Len Kaye, 626-7922; George Manlove, 581-3756
ORONO — The fourth annual geriatric colloquium being held by the University of Maine Center on Aging and partnering agencies on May 1 in Northport takes up some of the serious and potentially debilitating issues resulting from early-life trauma and how it affects aging survivors.
Geared for healthcare professionals, social workers, gerontologists and caregivers, the public also is invited to attend the day-long “Hidden but Not Forgotten: Early Trauma and Later Life,” being held at Northport’s Point Lookout Resort and Conference Center.
This year’s colloquium examines the challenges Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) survivors face in older age. Coping with past serious trauma can provide new difficulties to survivors as they reach the age of retirement and encounter increased physical limitations, memory problems, loss of peers, and other later-life stressors, according to Lenard Kaye, director of the UMaine Center on Aging.
The colloquium will address many kinds of trauma including childhood physical and sexual abuse, combat experiences, natural disasters and historical events.
Trauma experts from a variety of settings will address why this period of life can be more complicated for trauma survivors, how to assess the impact, interventions and consideration of differences in the availability of treatment services.
Failing to recognize the consequences of past trauma on these clients has the potential for misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment, says Kaye, who will deliver opening remarks.
Participants can expect to learn about: why PTSD symptoms that were kept in control for years can manifest themselves in older age; assessing what symptoms and behaviors might be related to PTSD as opposed to other challenges this age group faces; the role of psychopharmacology in the treatment of older trauma survivors; differences and similarities between the treatment of older adults and younger trauma survivors; and how groups can be effective with some populations.
“Early life trauma, especially instances of physical and sexual abuse by parents and other relatives often goes unrecognized and therefore untreated as people grow older,” says Kaye. “Older adults are not apt to discuss these experiences with others, including health professionals, for reasons including personal embarrassment and the stigma attached to being seen as a victim.”
The colloquium is sponsored by the Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education at the University of Maine, the UMaine School of Social Work, the UMaine Center on Aging, and co-sponsored by the Maine Gerontological Society.
Other speakers include:
Marjie Harris, LCSW, coordinator, Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education at UMaine;
Jay Peters, Ph.D., assistant professor, UMaine School of Social Work;
Niamh Holohan, MD, geriatric and adult psychiatrist, private practice and consulting psychiatrist, Penobscot Community Health Center;
Daryne Rockett, LCSW, CMP, Clinical Social Worker, Bangor Vet Center;
Janis B. Petzel, MD, geriatric psychiatrist, private practice and research, and development coordinator, Togus VA Medical Center;
And Nancy Kelly, MSW, ACSW, field coordinator, UMaine School of Social Work.
The colloquium starts at 8 a.m. and wraps up at 4:15 p.m. For additional information, including attendance fees, call the Center on Aging at (207) 262-7925 or visit its website (www.umaine.edu/mainecenteronaging).