2005 WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON AGING

Georgia Durga, Director

Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging

The White House Conference on Aging was held December 11-14, 2005, in Washington D.C.  The Conference is held once per decade – this one being the 5^th in history.  The purpose of the conference was to make recommendations to the President and Congress that help set policy on aging issues and to assist the public and private sectors in promoting dignity, health, independence and economic security for current and future generations of older persons.  Medicare was a product of a previous WHCOA. 

Twelve hundred delegates from across the United States attended.  To become a delegate, you had to be nominated by a U.S. Congressman, a Governor, the National Congress of American Indians, or appointed as an at large delegate by the WHCOA Policy Committee. 

The theme of the Conference was “The Booming Dynamics of Aging: From Awareness to Action”.  The Conference focus was on preparing for the large number of baby boomers (78,000,000) turning 60 years of age starting in 2006.  (Baby boomers were born between the years 1946 and 1964.)  Delegates were advised that the boomers will bring a large amount of wealth into their retirement and will also tax our health care, governmental and social systems due to their great number.

Six overriding issues were discussed, including:

q       The workforce of the future

q       Livable and elder-friendly communities

q       Healthcare and long term care options

q       Technology

q       Retirement planning (for all generations)

q       Social and civic engagement

Experts addressed the delegates, preparing them for resolution voting and implementation strategies. 

Delegates were asked to select 50 of 73 pre-determined resolutions through a voting process, and then, asked to develop implementation strategies for each of the top 50 resolutions.  There was much talk about transportation, age discrimination, health care, long term care and the future workforce.  The final report will be released in June 2006.

At the Conference, there was a large vendor hall filled with many new products.  Displays included computers and motion/pressure detectors for long distance caregiving.   There were also two robots on display - none yet on the market, however.

TOP TEN WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON AGING RESOLUTIONS

1.       Reauthorize the Older Americans Act within the first six months following the 2005 White House Conference on Aging.

2.       Develop a coordinated, comprehensive long-term care strategy by supporting public and private sector initiatives that address financing, choice, quality, service delivery, and the paid and unpaid workforce.\

3.       Ensure that older Americans have transportation options to retain their mobility and independence.

4.       Strengthen and improve the Medicaid program for seniors.

5.       Strengthen and improve the Medicare program.

6.       Support geriatric education and training for all healthcare professionals, paraprofessionals, health profession students, and direct care workers.

7.       Promote innovative models of non-institutional long-term care.

8.       Improve recognition, assessment, and treatment of mental illness and depression among older Americans.

9.       Attain adequate numbers of healthcare personnel in all professions who are skilled, culturally competent, and specialized in geriatrics.

10.     Improve State and local based integrated delivery systems to meet the 21^st century needs of seniors.

For more information about the White House Conference on Aging, visit  www.whcoa.gov.