Our Day Program on Gerontology was held on Saturday, March 16^th, 2002, at Sara Brown's home.  The speakers were Juliet Vestal and Sabrina Runchey.  Juliet addressed the importance of assisting older loved ones to "Age in Place".  She provided a home-safety checklist for all areas of the home--kitchen, bathrooms, living room, etc. The members who attended shared personal experiences and tips for maintaining safety and independence as we age.  For a copy of the Home Safety Checklist, please contact Juliet Vestal at 713-840-8322.

For those of you with parents or grandparents living in a different city or state, another resource benefit provided by an increasing number of employers is an Eldercare Referral Service.  Similar to Childcare programs, Eldercare is a national referral service to assist older adults.  These programs can offer employees assistance with local community resources like Meals on Wheels or home health agencies as well as make recommendations for Adult Day Care Centers or Assisted Living Facilities.  All too often, families will move an older adult closer to them without attempting to find local supplemental services. There are many services that can allow your family member to remain happily and safely in familiar surroundings, maintaining their independence for as long as possible.  Please contact your Human Resources Representative to see if you have access to this extremely helpful employer-provided benefit. 

Finally, Sabrina, our 2001 Gerontology Scholarship recipient, discussed the prevalence of depression in older adults, including the causes, symptoms and treatments.  It is important to note a short period of depression after the death of a spouse, family member or close friend is normal.  Episodes of depression lasting longer than 3 months may require medical treatment.  If you or a loved one is suffering from depression, please make an appointment with your physician to discuss treatment options. 

This event was very informative for all who attended. Thanks to Juliet and Sabrina for providing a fun and informative program.

The Sigma Kappa Foundation is proud to announce its recently launched Web site! 

On the site you will find information regarding Sigma Kappa's philanthropies, scholarships development programs, and much more!

The site even offers the opportunity to submit donations online!

Please check it out at www.sigmakappafoundation.org!