Empowerment for Seniors and People with Disabilities

The services available to support older adults and people with disabilities are rapidly changing. Until recently, the only place for seniors to receive long-term care was in a nursing home. Today, seniors have many choices – receiving help in their homes, retirement communities, or assisted living facilities, to name a few.  Similarly, people of all ages with disabilities were once housed in institutions that provided few opportunities for growth. Today, people with disabilities have more choices about where they live, work and play. 

Professionals who work with seniors and people with disabilities are now providing “person-centered counseling” and “consumer-directed services” to help people understand their options and develop a plan tailored to meet their needs. Rather than “doing for” people and concentrating on their problems, professionals are supporting them to identify their strengths and take charge of their lives. What an empowering change! 

How do professionals – social workers, nurses, case managers and counselors – prepare for this transformation? What knowledge and skills are needed to help people make the most of new opportunities and resources?

To learn the answers to these questions and many more, we invite you to our 11th Annual Advocacy Conference, “Celebrating Independence:  Tools for Encouraging Self-Sufficiency for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities,” on November 7 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Hunt Valley Inn in Cockeysville. This dynamic workshop, presented by the Baltimore County Consortium for Professional Education in the Field of Aging, offers cutting-edge presentations on topics that will equip professionals for the future, including “Trauma-Informed Care,” “Sexuality for All:  Rights to Intimate Relationships in Any Care Setting,” “Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency,”  and “How to Empower Your Clients and Yourself.” 

For those who need a reminder to take care of themselves, we are also offering “Stress Relief for the Professional.” Take a welcome break and learn how to renew your energy and spirit!

The conference is currently accepting registrations. The $65 fee includes continental breakfast and lunch, as well as CEU’s for Social Workers and Nurses.  Call 410-887-4200 or click here for the registration form and more information.