Article archive / August 1, 2015
Originally published: . Volume 6, No. 8. Source pages: 13.
Reminiscense and Katrina Drs. Janet and Lee Matthews Speak at Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology
Dr. Janet Matthews and Dr. Lee Matthews organized and participated in a symposium on “Reminiscence” at the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology. The Symposium was part of the group’s Annual Convention held in New Orleans this April. Founded in 1904, the Society’s purpose is to promote philosophy and psychology by enhancing the exchange of ideas among philosophers and psychologists.
At the group’s spring convention, Dr. Lee Matthews presented on the history, research and theories of reminiscence and how with the backing of a non-profit foundation, funding from grants, community support, donations and a private hospice facility, an outpatient Grief Resource Center was founded in 2006 to provide public and professional assistance following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
He described one of the programs that provided Reminiscence Groups in area nursing homes and assisted- living facilities, to encourage the elderly to communicate and interact with a listener in the present. Dr. Janet Matthews presented on hurricane impact, not only from Katrina and Rita, but also Hurricanes Gustav and Ike three years later in 2008. She discussed the loss of lives, businesses, property and emotional loss, as well as, the loss of mental health infrastructure and some of the research from those at the Louisiana State University Health Science Center showing the immediate and long-term emotional consequences for children. Matthews also outlined the impact of the closing of New Orleans Adolescence Hospital and Southeast Louisiana Hospital.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.