Press Releases

Press Releases: Long-Term Care Roundtable

For further information contact:
Jasmine Schmidt, Director of Education
Phone: 847 864 3913

For Immediate Release: June 1, 2005

THE SIMON FOUNDATION FOR CONTINENCE HOSTS ROUND TABLE ON
LONG-TERM CARE, ASSISTED LIVING, AND INCONTINENCE

In April 2005 the Simon Foundation for Continence launched its program on Aging 2005 by hosting a two day round table discussion about the state of incontinence care in long-term care and assisted living. Experts brought together from throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe focused on the impact of incontinence on residents of these facilities. The meeting, held in Chicago, was chaired by Professor Christine Norton, Ph.D., R.N. from St. Mark's Hospital (U.K.) and Mary Radtke Klein, President, Assisted Living Associates (Oregon), both members of the Simon Foundation's Advisory Board.

The goals of the conference were: (1) to identify what current research has discovered regarding achieving continence in older individuals and the frail elderly in residential settings; (2) to identify what is still unknown; (3) to explore model programs of excellent continence care and cultural change which can and should be replicated; and (4) to create the appropriate public educational messages regarding continence care in long-term and assisted living.

Among the multidisciplinary experts participating in the discussions were: Mary Ann Anichini, APN, GPN, a geriatric nurse practitioner; Catherine DuBeau, M.D., a geriatrician at the University of Chicago; Jeanne Heid-Grubman, MSW, Director of Education and Outreach, Alzheimer's Association; Lorna Myles, CNA, from the Presbyterian Homes; Mary H. Palmer. PhD. RNC, FAAN, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Nursing; Jennifer Skelly, RN, PhD., associate Professor and Director of the Continence Program, McMaster University School of Nursing; Roger Goldberg, M.D., a urogynecologist from the Evanston Continence Center (representing the American Urogynecological Society); Tomas Griebling, M.D., FACS, FGSA, a urologist from The University of Kansas (representing the American Urological Association); Marilyn Hennessy, President, Retirement Research Foundation; Ted Johnson, M.D.. M.P.H., C.M.D., a geriatrician from the Birmingham/Atlanta VA Medical Center; and Lynne S. Katzmann., Ph.D., President and CEO, Juniper Communities.

"This round table marks the launch of the Foundation's programs to address the needs of people with incontinence who reside in care environments and the front line workers who provide their care," stated Cheryle B. Gartley, Simon Foundation's Founder. "As movements such as the Pioneer Network address the culture of aging in America, we hope to participate in helping to remove the stigma surrounding incontinence, and to continue to build awareness of how quality continence care improves the quality of life."

The conference was made possible by an Educational Grant from SCA Personal Products, makers of TENA.