Qatar International Geriatrics and Gerontology Conference

The Qatar International Geriatrics and Gerontology conference will once again be hosted by Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar. In compliance with the COVID-19 safety measures, this year’s event will be held online from 30 September to 2 October 2021, using a professional online conference platform.

This conference will cover core areas of interest to all clinicians and allied health professionals responsible for the health care of older people. It will also provide general knowledge for any healthcare professionals from other disciplines who have older patients as part of their patient population, or who are interested in this population group. 

Under the theme of ‘Transforming Older Person’s Care in Qatar’ the 3-day educational event will feature local and international experts in the field of gerontology and geriatric care to accommodate the significant interest from a wide range of healthcare professionals in the care of older persons. The geriatrics tracks will look at the healthcare delivery and services for older people; and the gerontology tracks will review research on ageing and the impact this has on populations. 

The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing challenges has brought greater global awareness about the geriatric population and their experiences and specific risks arising from the pandemic. More evidence is emerging on the predisposition and severe outcomes of COVID-19 infections which enhance the risks for elderly people, which needs to be incorporated in geriatric care developments and policy changes. The conference encompasses a blend of local, regional and world perspectives on the comprehensive care of older patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Renowned international speakers from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will speak on their pandemic response systems, focusing on their approach to maintaining the Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) strategy of excellent healthcare during these challenging times.

The conference features lectures, interactive sessions and workshops, including panel discussions with delegates proactively taking part in the discussion. Hands-on workshops will be pre-recorded videos which will be displayed in real time with interactive engagement with the faculty. Delegates will be actively encouraged to be fully engaged to meet the requirement outlined by the QCHP for virtual CPD events.

The conference covers a broad range of topics, including frailty, polypharmacy and deprescribing and the effects of multidrug resistant organisms (MDRO) on older patients. The importance of quality and performance indicators, research and statistics, falls and bone health, neurocognitive disorders as well as dementia risk reduction are also among the important subjects covered. The variety of topics and speakers ensures there is something of interest for all healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals who care for adults and older adults.

For more information, please visit hamad.qa/QIGGVC-2021