With the rapidly growing population of adults aged 65 and older admitted in Kaiser Permanente Vallejo, the Geriatric Symposium emerged as a critical initiative to elevate care for older adults. This year’s event united multidisciplinary experts and nurses, who collaborated with Dianne Sorrera, MS, RN, AGCNS-BC, CMSRN, PCCN Geriatric Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS), to organize a comprehensive program that empowered clinicians with enhanced skills, knowledge, and compassion, focusing on the Age-Friendly Initiative 4Ms—What Matters Most, Mentation, Medication, and Mobility.
The symposium offered dynamic presentations tailored to the complex needs of hospitalized older adults. Physical Therapy addressed falls and sarcopenia, equipping nurses with evidence-based strategies to prevent injuries and promote mobility. The Geriatric CNS provided insights into frailty, enabling nurses to design personalized care plans and prevent functional decline. A geriatrician’s session on memory and aging provided tools to manage challenging dementia-related behaviors, easing caregiver burden and improving outcomes. Lastly, the Alzheimer’s Association delivered effective communication strategies, empowering nurses to reduce patient anxiety and foster person-centered care.
This event also fostered interdisciplinary collaboration and encouraged empathy, shifting nursing attitudes toward a more positive and proactive view of aging. Nurses like Angelica Ojacastro, BSN RN SNIII, Patricia Solis RN, and Maryanne Martinez BSN, RN worked alongside experts like Dr. Saad Basheer and Claire Day to make the symposium impactful.
By investing in continuing education and fostering collaboration, the Geriatric Symposium has transformed nursing practice, ensuring compassionate, evidence-based care for the aging population.