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White House Conference on Aging Prioritizes Real Aging Issues

February 2006

I was honored to be one of the 42 delegates from Ohio to the White House Conference on Aging in December. We were among two thousand Americans who converged on Washington D.C., excited at the opportunity to guide public policy on aging for the next 10 years and to be the voices of our friends back home.

The White House Conference on Aging is held once every decade. Delegates come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are appointed by the Governor of their state, others by members of Congress. At-large delegates are selected from among National aging and allied organizations, academic institutions, business and industry, baby boomers, disability, nonprofit and veterans' organizations and other groups.

The 2005 conference was titled "The Booming Dynamics of Aging," and underscored the importance of preparing the nation's aging services infrastructure to meet the need of tomorrow's seniors. The nation's 78 million baby boomers will begin turning 60 in the next two years, leading a major shift in the services older people need and expect.

Throughout the summer, regional partnerships held nearly 400 events and engaged 130,000 Americans (including older people, family members, caregivers, advocates and service providers) to compile a list of the most important aging issues over the next decade. White house delegates were asked to evaluate and discuss the resulting priorities - 73 in total - and prioritize them.

Here are the top 10 resolutions based on delegate voting:

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 integrated delivery systems to meet the 21st century needs of seniors.

More information about the White House Conference on Aging, along with a complete list of resolutions, is available at www.whcoa.gov.