AmityCollege of Nursing organised a one day conference on Aging and Health on 7^thNovember, 2012 in the auditorium, Amity University Haryana, Gurgaon. Theconference was aimed at taking a fresh look at existing health data and draw onsome efforts for better understanding the ageing process and identifyingactions that can add life to the increasing years in a true sense. Itintended to enhance the understanding of the problems of the elderly in thecountry and sensitize the health professionals towards the challenges andemerging opportunities.

It was our privilege to have Dr O.P. Sharma, GeneralSecretary, Geriatric Society of India Professor on Geriatrics as the ChiefGuest for the event. Professor Pity Koul, Professor, School of Health Sciences,IGNOU and Dr Raminder Kalra, Principal, College of Nursing, Holy FamilyHospital, New Delhi, were the Guest of Honour. The conference started at 9.30am. with registration of delegates and the networking tea. The inaugural session started with theinvocation song by the student nurses. The august gathering was first welcomedby Professor Pranati Barua, Principal, Amity College of Nursing. This wasfollowed by the felicitation of the dignitaries with floral welcome andlighting of the ceremonial lamp by them. The unveiling of the theme was done byProfessor Ratni Bhan Thassu, Nursing Advisor, AUH. She highlighted the presentstatus of the elderly in the society and its resulting impact on theindividuals as well as the health sector. She also mentioned the emergingopportunities in nursing profession as the population is growing.

This was followed by a thought provokingaddress by Hon’ble Pro-ViceChancellor Prof (Dr.) Padmakali Banerjee. She highlighted the contributions ofsenior citizens in the society and projected them as valuable resources of organizationsand the country. The presidential address was given by Hon’ble ViceChancellor, Dr. R.C. Sharma. Dr Sharma motivated the delegates with hisinspirational words and congratulated the College of Nursing on this moment.The programme continued with the message by the Chief Guest, Dr. O.P. Sharma.He shared his views and concerns related to elderly, which need to be addressedat the national level while formulating policies. He also informed thegathering about various national programmes launched for the welfare of theelderly. It was then followed by theaddresses by the Guests of Honour Prof. Pity Koul and Dr. Raminder Kalra.

Wewere delighted to have Gen B.S. Suhag, Deputy Vice-Chancellor ;Prof. (Dr.)Vikas Madhukar, Director-Events; Dr Bhavana Adhikari, Deputy Dean Academics;Major Gen. Mahavir Singh, and Head ofthe Institutes and faculty from various institutes as esteemed guests.

Theinaugural session was immediately followed by technical sessions and opendiscussion. The first session in the sequence was by Dr O.P. Sharma, SecretaryGeneral, Geriatric Society of India and National Professor on Geriatrics on thetopic ‘Addressing the lack of expertise in managing health problems of olderadults’. He gave pointed references to the principles of geriatric medicine, identificationof pathological processes in the elderly, the changes required in theirpharmacological management and available surgical interventions in varioushealth problems of elderly.

Thenext session was conducted by Prof Pity Koul, Professor, SOHS, IGNOU. on thetopic ‘Coming to terms with an ageing society’. She gave exhaustive details onthe changing demography of the society, its impact on the health careinstitutions and the strategies to manage the health issues at the individualand institutional levels.

Aftera short lunch break, the session proceeded with a short and crisp scientificpaper presentation by Ms Veena Sharma, Associate Professor, Jamia Hamdard. Shepresented a study on ‘Prevalence of common health problems among elderly andHealth care facilities availed by them in an urban slum of South Delhi ’.

Thenext session was taken by Dr Raminder Kalra, Principal, College of Nursing HolyFamily Hospital. She deliberated on ‘Psychological concerns of older adults’.In her detailed session she highlighted the developmental tasks of the elderly,the adaptations needed by them and the nurses’ role in fostering healthy aging.

Inthe successive session Prof. Madhavi Verma talked about ‘Understanding Aging: thechanging needs of the elderly and the associated risks’. She elaborated uponthe theories of aging, biological changes, age related alterations in organfunction & specific defences and the resultant development of potentialrisks. She also emphasized the common health problems and the implications forthe nursing practice.

MsAnna Tresa, Nurse Educator at VIMHANS presented a ‘Qualitative study of theperceptions and psychosocial experiences of retirees’ and discussed the themesevolved from the study.

Inthe row, Professor Kiran Taneja, Vice Principal, Amity College of Nursing,discussed about ‘Active Aging’, where she gave the tips for healthy agingthrough nutrition, activity, and physical & socio-economic environment. Theprogramme concluded at 5.00 PM with Vote of thanks by Prof Madhavi Verma.

Atotal of forty delegates from various educational and health Institutes andforty four delegates from Amity University Haryana attended the conference. Thenames of the Institutes included:

· Rufaida College ofNursing Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi

· Laxmi Batra College ofNursing, Batra Hospital, New Delhi.

· Safdurjung Hospital,New Delhi.

· Institute of Liver andBiliary Sciences, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

· Artemis Hospital,Sector 46, Gurgaon

· ESI Hospital, Sector 9,Gurgaon.