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23 2023 Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Symposium

Dr. Wael Hamade, MD, FAAFP, AGSF Geriatric Medicine Division Chair Associate Professor UCR School of Medicine Associate Director of the Elder Abuse Forensic Center for the County of Riverside Riverside University Health System, Medical Center

Dr. Wael Hamade is a board-certified Geriatric Medicine physician and serves as Chair of the Division of Geriatric Medicine at RUHS, Medical Center. In addition, he is the Director of the Geriatric/Dementia Clinic and is the lead consultant for the Geriatric Trauma Service at RUHS. He also serves as the Associate Director of the Riverside County Elder Abuse Forensic Center. In addition to the above responsibilities, Dr. Hamade specializes in providing comprehensive care to seniors and treats many health concerns related to aging, including Alzheimer’s disease, frailty, falls and medication management. As a faculty physician and resident advisor, he enjoys mentoring medical students and residents at the RUHS Medical Center. Dr. Hamade is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Medicine and American Geriatrics Society. As an expert in his field, Dr. Hamade will discuss how the health of our aging population poses both challenges and opportunities for our community to promote healthy aging. Dr. Hamade will present practical early intervention strategies which aim to prevent abuse among the elderly and dependent adults in our community. Dr. Hamade will highlight the link between early intervention and an elder’s quality of life. Dr. Hamade’s call to action demonstrates the importance of how an aging-friendly approach and perspective promote healthy aging and minimize abuse.

Rachel Holben Insights Supervisor Independence at Home

Rachel Holben is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with many years of experience providing mental health treatment to adults, older adults and families. For the past eight years, Rachel has worked with Independence at Home, a SCAN Community Service as a clinical therapist and supervisor of the Insights program.

Sarah Kattus, RN Community Educator Alzheimer’s Association

Sarah Kattus a retired RN. Her main specialty in her career was in the cardiovascular laboratory (angiograms, angioplasty, and stents in the heart arteries), non-invasive cardiac testing, and interventional radiology. I grew up in Los Angeles in a family with 7 children. Her father was a cardiologist and her mother was a Registered Nurse. Her father died of Alzheimer’s disease in 1996 after an eight-year decline to the point that he did not recognize his wife and children and was unable to speak. Her mother was a devoted caregiver and a volunteer advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association. Her parents are her inspiration for volunteering for the Alzheimer’s Association as a community educator, support group facilitator, and advocate. She participates in fundraisers to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s and all dementias. (Walk to end Alzheimer’s and The Longest Day). She has a particular interest in advocating for the family caregivers who have a tremendous challenge. She is married and lives in Redlands. She has a daughter and two grandchildren who live in San Marcos.