Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness

The Aging Academy Educational Series offers speakers and workshops to share a variety of topics in an engaging and interactive format with our community. Learn about healthy aging and wellness from experts at App State and in the community.

• Aging Academy Session 1: Assistive Technology, Friday, Feb. 14, 3 p.m. — Occupational therapist Dr. Jenny Womack, professor and program director in App State’s Occupational Therapy program, will share information on different technologies that can assist with challenges related to daily living. 

• Aging Academy Session 2: Medicaid, Asset Protection and Estate Planning, Friday, March 21, 3 p.m. — Hickory attorney Susannah Brown from Anthony & Brown PLLC will share tips for adults to protect their financial assets and to plan for their estate. 

• Aging Academy Session 3: Stages of Dementia, Friday, April 11, 3 p.m. — Licensed medical social worker Chris Cardwell from Medi Home Health and Hospice will share information on the various stages of dementia and offer practical tips for caregivers to provide support for individuals living with the condition. 

• Aging Academy Session 1: Emotional Eating, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 1 p.m. — Registered dietitian Andrea Lockard and licensed clinical social worker Mary Strong, both from the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness, will share how stress can drive people to seek comfort in food and share the science behind how brain chemistry, rather than willpower, may fuel this behavior.

• Aging Academy Session 2: Medicaid, Asset Protection and Estate Planning, Wednesday, March 5, 2 p.m. — Local attorney Susannah Brown from Anthony & Brown PLLC will share tips for adults to protect their financial assets and to plan for their estate. 

• Aging Academy Session 3: Non-traditional therapies to manage Parkinson’s disease, Tuesday, April 1, 2 p.m. — Dr. Jared Skinner, Parkinson’s disease researcher and assistant professor of exercise science at App State, will share a number of non-traditional therapies that may be used to manage symptoms of Parkinson’s and other age-related diseases. 

• Aging Academy Session 4: Exercise and cognition, Wednesday, May 7, 2 p.m. — Dr. Samantha DuBois, assistant professor of exercise science at App State, will share insights related to the link between exercise and improved cognition, specifically sharing different ways to incorporate movement to boost brain power.