WISCONSIN INNOVATIONS ON DISPLAY

Guests: Dave Driscoll, Principal Curator, Wisconsin Innovations: From the Iconic to the Unexpected Exhibit

Laura Beam, Coordinator, History on the Square Event, Wisconsin Historical Foundation

Wisconsin ideas, ingenuity and artifacts all come together at the Wisconsin Historical Museum in its recently opened exhibit,Wisconsin Innovations: From the Iconic to the Unexpected. Even the exhibit is "new" to Wisconsin history. Never before has the Museum created such an exhibit of those inventions and ideas that are rooted here in Wisconsin and continue to influence our lives today. Two years in the making, Dave Driscoll describes the meticulous research that went into the selection of each object and story that are grouped into five categories: Big Ideas, Business and Industry, Local Flavor, Pop Culture, and Sports and Leisure. From stem cell research to Stephen Babcock's butterfat tester (making possible 2%, 1% and fat-free milk), you'll get a taste of Wisconsin at this amazing exhibit.

For a one-day opportunity to step back into Wisconsin history, Laura Beam invites everyone to History on the Square, Saturday, October 1st from 1 - 3:30 p.m. This free, family-friendly special event highlights Wisconsin's past, present and future at the Wisconsin Historical Museum on Capitol Square - exploring the Historical Society's best work from around the state.

For more information, go to historicalmuseum.wisconsinhistory.org

PARTING THOUGHTS FROM JEREMI SURI AND ALISON ALTER

Guests: Jeremi Suri, former UW Madison History Professor

Alison Alter, former Development Director, Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters

"History is about change," says Jeremi Suri who, with his wife, Alison Alter, departed this summer from the University of Wisconsin Madison where they built a formidable reputation over the past ten years, to continue their academic careers at the University of Texas at Austin. Before they left, they stopped by the All About Living studio and shared their thoughts on a breadth of issues confronting society today.

Strong advocates of education, Jeremi and Alison give their perspective on the power of The Wisconsin Idea, the lessons history can teach us to improve the present, and the need for all of us to reach beyond what we know to build community in a diverse world.

Jeremi Suri's latest book, Liberty's Surest Guardian: AMERICAN NATION-BUILDING FROM THE FOUNDERS TO OBAMA is scheduled for release this month. More information is available at www.jeremisuri.net.

SAFE AND HEALTHY AGING – PART TWO: Preventing Adverse Drug Events

Guests: Kay Heggestad, MD, retired family practitioner, Delegation member
Roberta Carrier, Ph.D., Pharmacy, Delegation member
Janet Loewi, family caregiver, Delegation member

Last week’s program presented an overview of United Way of Dane County’s Safe
and Healthy Aging initiative which was launched on September 1st. The countywide,
community-based program brought together health care professionals, pharmacists,
social service providers, caregivers, media and United Way 2-1-1 to develop
strategies to keep seniors safe, healthy and independent.

This program moves from Preventing Falls to Adverse Drug Events (ADEs), more
specifically. and the tremendous impact they have on the lives of older adults.
Identifying ADEs and preventing or reversing their effects is the Delegation’s other
challenge. And it won’t be easy. Dane County older adults take an average of 6.4
prescription medications putting them at high risk for suffering an ADE.

For more information go to www.safeandhealthyaging.org or call United Way 2-1-1.

SAFE AND HEALTHY AGING – PART ONE: Preventing Falls

Guests: Tom Walker, Co-Chair, Safe and Healthy Aging Delegation Andy Kosseff, MD, Co-Chair and Chair, Safe Communities Falls Prevention Program Janet Bollig, Home Health United, S.A.F.E. At Home

The population in Dane County is aging and projected to grow by 136% by 2030. In addition to growing older, our seniors also have expanded life expectancies. That’s terrific news, but it also puts us on alert to chronic health problems and medical risks that are becoming more prevalent and widespread.

United Way of Dane County has identified falls and adverse drug events (negative drug interactions) as the two acute triggers of functional decline of aging adults. They are also often preventable.

This program outlines United Way’s Safe and Healthy Aging Delegation, a community-based effort to keep seniors safe, healthy and independent by reducing falls and ADE’s by 15% by 2015. You’ll hear an overview of this all-encompassing program and specific tips on the magnitude of falls in Wisconsin and how they can be prevented. (Part Two on ADEs next week).

For more information, go to www.safeandhealthyaging.org or call United Way 2-1-1.