At 1 pm on September 29 in 2019, host by the Student Work Department of Central South University and the Xiangya School of Nursing of Central South University and organized by the Nursing Branch of the Association of Young Scientists and Technicians of Central South University and the Graduate Association of Xiangya School of Nursing, a lecture series on "Gerontological Nursing in the International Year of the Nurse" was successfully launched in Class 714 of Xiaoqian Building at Xiangya New Campus.
The keynote speaker for this lecture was Dr. Eillen Sullivan Marx, a registered nurse, president of the American Academy of Nursing and dean of the New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing who invented novel methods of payment for nurses particularly with Medicaid and Medicare. She received International Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society excellence in practice award (2011) and Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award (2013).
At the beginning of the lecture, Professor Eillen Sullivan Marx drew on the stories of her family members to introduce the topic of population aging. Having given the definition of global aging, she presented to her audience a graph showcasing the severe trends of population aging in the future. According to Professor Eillen Sullivan Marx, aging, as a process that could not be reversed by any health care policy, is an an issue with which we have to come to terms. What we need to do is to prevent harmful decline and improve cognitive and physical functions of aging population. Professor Eillen Sullivan Marx suggested that the tricky issue could be addressed from three aspects. Firstly, improve the cognitive function of the elderly person, which she exemplified with the care of elderly patients with delirium and dementia. Secondly, enhance the physical function of the elderly person through encouraging them to participate in a variety of activities. Thirdly, build professional nursing teams, fostering patient-centered and individualized home health care while strengthening teams of nurses for Gerontological care. In addition, it’s critical for the nursing teams to join hands with medical workers in addressing the challenges and difficulties facing the senior citizens and improving the quality of their life.
At the conclusion of the lecture, Professor Eillen Sullivan Marx gave detailed answers to questions raised by the teachers present. Professor Li Xianhong and Professor Wang Honghong distributed souvenirs for the lecturer and guests. All the participants took a group photo. The lecture came to an end in warm applause.
