Odyssey: Growing Old in an Aging Society

Who is "old" in our ever-changing society? Do people still retire completely and if so, what do they do with their time? Where do they live? How do relationships with family and friends change? What impact will the growing number of older adults have on health care and other organizations in this country? Students will address these and other questions with five subject matter experts and other drop-in guests, probing social aspects of the aging process. Beginning with a look at how our society defines older adulthood, we examine demographic trends; special challenges facing caregivers, older women, and minorities; how to better prepare for a positive aging experience; and what we can expect in the decades to come.

Coordinating Instructor (four sessions): Jennifer L. FitzPatrick, founder of Jenerations Health Education Inc., is a national speaker and author of Cruising Through Caregiving: Reducing the Stress of Caring for Your Loved One. A frequent media contributor, she has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and Forbes, and on HLN, ABC, CBS, Fox News, and Sirius XM.

Additional instructors (one session each):

Jennifer Kennedy, senior director, National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization
Cathy Richards, founder, Inspiring Vitality
Ilene Rosenthal, program director, Alzheimer's Association
Colleen Walker, founder, Culture Builders

916.201.01.01 Homewood campus
Tuesday, Feb. 25 to April 28, 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. (no class March 17 and April 14)
Cost: $280 (eight sessions)

JHU full-time faculty/staff are eligible for 80% remission. Registration online will not yield a discount. Please contact 410-516-8516 for more information.