New Study: Living Longer With SCI
United Spinal Association Hosts 23rd AASCIN Annual Conference; New Study Highlights Living Longer With Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder
United Spinal Association will be hosting the 23rd Annual Conference of the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses (AASCIN), September 5–7, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The conference highlights recent achievements in treating spinal cord injury and disorders (SCI/D) and acknowledges accomplished nurses who have devoted their careers to this field. The conference, the largest gathering of SCI/D professionals in North America, combines nationally-known speakers, paper presentations, committee meetings, group networking, and educational displays to create a stimulating learning environment.
Among many innovative research studies that will be presented at the conference is Current Update on Aging with Spinal Cord Injury. Keynote speaker Rodney H. Adkins, PhD, will review recent research findings concerning medical, functional, and psychological changes in people aging with SCI/D and will cover implications for public policy, advocacy, access to health care, and education of health care providers. With the life expectancy of people with SCI increasing into the 60s, 70s, and beyond, the nature and quality of that aging experience depends upon maintaining health, function, and quality of life.
The objective of the presentation is to describe important methodological and conceptual issues in the study of people aging with SCI, current knowledge about cardiovascular issues facing women aging with SCI, describing an intervention program for painful shoulders, and interventions to maintain and promote quality of life among people aging with SCI.
As in its annual gatherings over the last 23 years, AASCIN will educate members, report on research findings, and impart important information regarding the nurse’s role in health care for SCI patients. The conference also provides an opportunity to recognize outstanding nurses who have devoted their careers to enhancing the lives of people with SCI. For more information, visit www.aascin.org.
Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, United Spinal Association is a national membership organization for people with spinal cord injury or disorder. The organization helped build the Center for Neuroscience and Regeneration Research at Yale University in 1988 and they have contributed millions of dollars over the years to finding a cure for spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis. The Association also provides significant annual funding to the Spinal Cord Damage Research Center at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY (named after the Association’s late executive director). And for our veterans, United Spinal’s lobbying efforts helped get legislation passed in record time that will provide traumatic injury insurance for our soldiers returning from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Membership in the Association is free and open to all people with spinal cord injury or disorder.