FORT MYERS, FL (January 22, 2014) – The Academy of Lifelong Learning at Shell Point welcomes Carol Colleran, CAP, ICADC, a pioneer in the development of addiction treatment for aging Boomers and older adults, on Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. at The Village Church Auditorium at Shell Point. Colleran will discuss “Aging and Addiction—A Growing Concern for a Growing Population.”
As part of Hazelden’s 2014 Community Lecture Series, Colleran’s presentation will focus on special issues and sensitivities related to working with older adult patients—a population that remains vastly undertreated due to misdiagnosis, ageism, and misunderstanding. She will also shed light on the circumstances specific to older adults such as painful or major life transitions, such as retirement or loss of spouse, which may result in unhealthy coping behaviors or addiction.
Colleran is a renowned educator and co-author with Debra Jay of the definitive guidebook “Aging and Addiction: Helping Older Adults Overcome Alcohol and Medication Dependence.” She has participated in policy development, education, and special studies for several international, nation and government organizations, including the U.N., Columbia University and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. She is a recipient of the Johnson Institute’s America Honors Recovery Award.
This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (239)489-8472. This is the only lecture in Hazelden’s 2014 Community Lecture Series to be offered in Lee County, and it qualifies for one continuing education unit. Shell Point is proud to partner with Hazelden, a national nonprofit organization founded in 1949 that provides hope and healing to people affected by substance abuse. Hazelden is a national provider of addiction treatment services with licensed drug rehabilitation centers in Minnesota, Oregon, Florida, Illinois, and New York.
The Academy of Lifelong Learning at Shell Point is an educational initiative for the residents of the retirement community. The Academy provides approximately 90 classes each semester that encompass a well-rounded curriculum of educational opportunities for senior adults. The Academy of Lifelong Learning at Shell Point was named as one of 2008’s most innovative active aging programs by the International Council on Active Aging, an association that supports professionals who develop wellness/fitness facilities and services for age 50-plus adults.
Shell Point Retirement Community is a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community located in Fort Myers just off Summerlin Road and McGregor Boulevard, two miles before the Sanibel causeway. Shell Point is a nationally recognized leader in the retirement industry. The community offers retirement living in a resort-style environment with a newly renovated 18-hole championship golf course that is open to the public, deep water boating access with free boat dockage, and recreational and fitness facilities. To learn more about Shell Point, visit us at www.shellpoint.org or call 1-800-780-1131.
