Vol XXI, January `06

For the fourth year in a row, the Wall of Caring gives AMDA members and others an opportunity to contribute to the Foundation and pay tribute to patients, loved ones, and colleagues who inspire their work in long term care. The messages are printed on makeshift "bricks" that build a wall of tributes for everyone at the conference to read. The words are touching, sentimental, and empowering; and visitors often collect at the Wall of Caring to share the inspiration that the messages impart. Visit the wall which will be located near AMDA Registration from Thursday, March 16-Sunday, March 19.

Other Foundation-related events at the Annual Symposium include:

• Set for 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15, the AMDA Foundation Research Network Spring Conference will address the most challenging and controversial issues in long term care research-defining capacity, consent/assent, and refusal to continue to participate. Participants also will hear updates on the ongoing work of study groups on anemia, centralized database, diabetes, oral health, and urinary incontinence.
  
• The Foundation Futures Program, set for Thursday, March 16 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is a popular and important event that gives fellows and residents an opportunity to learn about the benefits, challenges, joys, and difficulties of practicing long term care and geriatric medicine. They will hear about all aspects of serving as long term care physicians from experienced AMDA members; and they get to enjoy the Annual Symposium's meeting sessions, exhibits, and social events.
  
• The Research Network and the Family Physicians Inquiries Network (FPIN) Long Term Care Panel will be the focus of Bernard Ewigman's presentation during the Annual Symposium General Session on Friday, March 17. The Research Network's involvement with the FPIN represents an important milestone for the group and holds tremendous promise for the future of long term care research studies and their translation into practice.
  
• Whether you are a researcher or just interested in using research to maximize patient care, you will want to attend the program session, "Translating LTC Research into Practice," set for Friday, March 17 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  
• See the AMDA Foundation/Pfizer Quality Improvement Awards in action during the presentations on Friday, March 17, and Saturday, March 18, 2005. Award winners will address topics such as "Development of a Sleep Enhancement Program with Residential Aged Care," "Effects of Natural Light Therapy on Sleep in the Elderly," "Improving Telephone Medicine in Long Term Care," "Improving Clinical Information Exchange Between Acute Care and SNF Settings," and "Missing in Action: Lack of Resident Perspective in Quality Improvement."
  
• Art of Caring: Works of heART is a Foundation benefit art auction that will feature artworks by long term care residents from across the country, as well as the photographs of Jeffrey Levine, MD, CMD, whose works have graced the covers of the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association and other publications. (See "Resident Donates Collectible Pottery to Foundation Art Auction" in this newsletter.) The Foundation has received over 60 items to auction during the live and silent auctions. This premier event is set for Friday, March 17, at 8:00 p.m. You may purchase tickets when you register for the Symposium or onsite at the AMDA Registration area or the Foundation booth. Tickets are $25 per person.