White House Conference on Aging 2005

T h e W h i t e H o u s e

History

The 2005 WHCoA was the fifth in history and was authorized by the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000. Past Conferences have contributed to the establishment of many key aging programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, the Older Americans Act, the Supplemental Security Income Program, Social Security reforms, National Institute on Aging, a national nutrition program for older persons and the national aging network.

1961 1971 1981 1995 2005

Mission

The purpose of the Conference was to make recommendations to the President and Congress to help guide national aging policies for the next ten years and beyond. The 2005 WHCoA focused on the aging of today and tomorrow, including 78 million baby boomers who began to turn 60 in January 2006. The segment of over 36 million seniors 65 and older today is projected to surpass 86 million by 2050.

Pre-Conference Events

Since August 2004, there were nearly 400 events held across the country to provide input to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA). These events, involving approximately 130,000 people, were organized by communities, academic institutions, business and industry, national and local organizations and coalitions, non-profits, faith-based organizations as well as Federal, State and local agencies.

Delegates

1200 delegates participated in the 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) in Washington, DC. They voted on resolutions and developed implementation strategies to be presented to the President and Congress to help guide national aging policies for the next decade and beyond.

Governors of all 50 States, the U.S. Territories, Puerto Rico, and the Mayor of the District of Columbia, Members of the 109th Congress, and the National Congress of American Indians selected the majority of the delegates to participate in the 2005 WHCoA.

The balance of the delegates were selected by the WHCoA Policy Committee. These “At-Large” delegates represented national aging and other allied organizations, baby boomers, academic institutions, business and industry, disability, non-profit and veterans’ organizations and others with a stake in the aging of America.

Agenda Tracks

Planning Along the Lifespan Workplace of the Future Our Community Health and Long Living Civic and Social Engagement Technology and Innovation in an Emerging

Senior/Boomer Marketplace

Planning Along the Lifespan

Economic Incentives to Increase Retirement Savings Social Security Programs Now and for the Future Protection from Catastrophic Loss Financial Literacy throughout the Life Cycle

Workplace of the Future Opportunities for Older Workers 1. Employer incentives for retaining older workers and current

disincentives that prevent employers from retaining older workers 2. Worker incentives to remain in the workforce and current disincentives to working longer 3. Phased retirement as an opportunity for the employee who wants to retire gradually and for the employer who wants to retain older workers 4. Assistive technology to help workers remain in the workforce

5. Strategies to prevent ageism/age discrimination from affecting opportunities for older workers

Our Community

Coordinated social and health services that give the elderly the maximum opportunity to age in place

Promote support for both family and informal caregivers that enables adequate quality and supply of services

Livable communities that enable the elderly to age in place

Health and Long Living

Access to Affordable, High Quality Services Healthy Lifestyles, Prevention, and Disease

Management Delivery of Quality Care and Promotion of Maximum

Independence for Individuals with Chronic Conditions

Use of Information to Improve All Health Care Services

Affordable, defined health benefits, including mental health benefits, through Medicare, Medicaid, and other Federal and State health care programs

Civic and Social Engagement

Community Service and Volunteerism; Leisure Activities; Lifelong Learning

Integration of the elderly with the non-elderly community

Effective individual adaptation to the conditions of aging

Technology and Innovation in an Emerging Senior/Boomer Marketplace

Responses to Consumer Needs and Demands: Product Development (consumer products, consumable supplies and services)

Promoting new products, technology and new ways of marketing that will be helpful /useful to the older consumer