Staying Healthy, Strong and Resilient
The 5th Community Forum on Healthy Aging (November 5 & 8th, 2021), is where local residents, patients, scientists, and health care professionals come together for a “real talk” about healthy aging and to share what scientists and clinicians understand so far about living well as we age.
Spearheaded by our Community Research Advisory Council and the Community and Collaboration Core, the Healthy Aging Forum is an annual event, with a hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Now, back by popular demand, we are once again hosting the forum, transforming it from an in-person event to an interactive, virtual format.
This theme is “Staying Healthy, Strong and Resilient.” The two-part forum, offered virtually via Zoom, also provides the option for guests to call in.
During both evening events, Sensory Breaks, led by Dr. Thomas Laskow and Ms. Crystal Evans are incorporated to enhance our senses and allow sensory health tips.
OBJECTIVES
To increase awareness of healthy aging lifestyle choices among older adults by:
- Sharing CDC’s six steps to Healthy Aging;
- Identifying strategies to develop resiliency and respond positively to challenges as we age.2. To create a forum to discuss health and social topics impacting older adults by:
- Creating safe spaces for discussions with people and experts who have similar experiences and knowledge.3. To connect participants with healthy aging resources and research information by:
- Providing a forum for community, scientists and health professionals to have bi-directional dialogues;
Disseminating resource information.
TARGET AUDIENCE
This event is inclusive; all individuals with an interest in healthy aging are welcome to attend. This includes older adults, caregivers, families, community members, leaders, service providers, scientists, and clinicians.
WHAT TO EXPECT
While this is a virtual event, it is a “hands-on,” interactive forum on healthy aging that includes fitness demonstrations, panel discussions, and breakout sessions highlighting health-related topics impacting all individuals experiencing aging.
STAY TUNED!
We will be posting more information about who will be joining us at the Sisters’ Circle, Man Cave and Club House in the next few weeks!
Find out more about CDC’s 6 tips for Healthy Aging here.
Part 1: Friday, November 5th, 5-7 pm ET
“Strength and Resiliency During the Pandemic”
Join hosts Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos (Dr. G) and Ms. Crystal Evans as they have “fire side chats” with expert guests about how to stay safe, healthy and well during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speakers and topics include:
- G and Brittany Feijoo, MSN, FNP-BC (Center for Immunization Research, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health) will share what each of us can do to end the pandemic.
- Fitness experts, James and Flo Long from Gospel Aerobics and More, Inc., will show us moves to stay active during the pandemic.
- Selwyn Ray, JD, Director of the Johns Hopkins Health Systems will talk about what resources are available to us both during the pandemic and beyond.
We will close with Dr. Cheryl Dennison Himmelfarb who will share with us the extraordinary collaboration of research teams across the country under Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities. Here, you will learn about how our own CEAL teams are working closely with the communities in DC, Maryland and Virginia hit hardest by COVID-19. We’ll also share how to join the Johns Hopkins HOPE community.
Part 2: Monday, November 8th, 5-7 pm ET
“Staying Strong and Authentic”
Hosted by Ms. Dorcas Baker and Ms. Crystal Evans, this evening will harness the power of safe spaces to promote honest conversations between experts in life and experts in science.
The breakout sessions will be joined by guests who are experts in topics that you have told us you wanted to know.
Historically, the Healthy Aging Forum has hosted two popular breakout sessions (Sisters’ Circle and Man Cave) where safe conversation spaces were nurtured for “real talks,” honest conversations exploring health and social topics important to our communities.
This year, we are excited to introduce the inaugural session called Club House, welcoming the LGBTQI communities and non-binary individuals. Our goal is to celebrate staying strong, being authentic and inclusive as we age.
