Many communities have an “Aware & Prepare” program to educate and strengthen disaster resilience. As a nation we are facing the Silver Tsunami – a term used to describe the aging of the Baby Boomer generation.
The 2015 Final Report for the White House Conference of Aging, states that over 10,000 Baby Boomers are turning 65 every day. Aging is changing and it’s changing our nation, state, and county.
In the recently published “California Master Plan for Aging,” the state’s over-6o population is projected to diversify and grow faster than any other age group.
In less than five years, 10.8 million Californians will be an “older adult,” making up one-quarter of the state’s population.
Furthermore, Californians aged 65 or older have a one-in-six chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease and a one-in-five chance of developing any form of dementia.
Nearly 7 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. Over 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with dementia & Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States (the 5th in California) – and currently, there is no cure.
In less than 15 years, the California Department of Public Health projects that the number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease in California will nearly double with a 97% increase expected among those over 55 in Santa Barbara County.
How prepared are we to care for our aging loved ones and those afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias?
To help promote awareness and preparedness, VNA Health will host its 2025 PHorum: Perspectives in Healthcare at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara on Thursday, March 20, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
VNA Health’s PHorum is a community education program by VNA Health to bring together national, regional, and local healthcare leaders to discuss relevant issues that affect our community’s health and well-being.
For the 2025 PHorum, we invite the public to join us for evening with Golden Globe & Emmy Award Winner, Jane Seymour, OBE and a screening of her film Ruby’s Choice.
The film is a poignant tale about Ruby (Seymour), a grandmother, who has been living alone with undiagnosed dementia; and the impact it has on her and her family when she is no longer able to live independently.
Ruby’s Choice will resonate with audiences touched by dementia, while offering hope and inspiration to live life to the fullest.
Following the film, there will be a panel discussion to explore the current research on Alzheimer’s and the care challenges and options for caregivers. Moderated by Kieran Shah, CPHCA, VNA Health President & CEO.
The panelists include:
- Jane Seymour, OBE, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress, artist, business woman, and star of Ruby’s Choice
- Kieran Shah, CHPCA, VNA Health President & CEO
- Dr. Kenneth S. Kosik, Internationally renowned Alzheimer’s Disease Researcher and Principal Investigator of the Kosik Neurobiology Lab at UCSB.
- Dr. Michael Bordofsky, VNA Health Medical Director and Board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine.
- Vince Caballero, VNA Health Board of Directors Member, Alzheimer’s caregiver.
Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress, artist, business woman, and star of Ruby’s Choice. (VNA Health photo)
VNA Health President & CEO. (VNA Health photo)
Internationally renowned Alzheimer’s Disease Researcher and Principal Investigator of the Kosik Neurobiology Lab at UCSB. (VNA Health photo)
VNA Health Medical Director and Board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine. (VNA Health photo)
VNA Health Board of Directors Member, Alzheimer’s caregiver. (VNA Health photo)
With advanced registration, admission to PHorum is free to the community. To register, go online to vna.health/phorum.
