Bellevue Is Location for 2005 Aging Conference

by Pamela Piering, Director of ADS

Boomers in Transition: Coming of Age in 2006
n4a's 30th Annual Conference (National Association of Area Agencies on Aging)

Bellevue, WA

July 9-13, 2005

Call for Sessions:  Deadline October 18, 2004

In 2006, the first wave of the Baby Boomers will turn 60 and will be eligible for Older Americans Act services. This turning point will mark a major transition for the nation and the Aging Network. The Aging Network is beginning its countdown to the Baby Boomers' "Coming of Age" preparing to meet the challenges and opportunities posed by the largest number of older adults in the nation's history.

The aging of the Baby Boomers will have a direct and dramatic impact on the social, physical and fiscal fabric of the nation and its communities. Just as they have redefined every phase of life since their birth, Baby Boomers will redefine aging, health, housing, transportation, community planning, public safety, workforce development/lifelong learning, and recreation/leisure policies, programs and services in the future. As a result of their sheer numbers, preparing for the Baby Boomers will require the Aging Network and a broad range of public, private and non-profit agencies to rethink and retool their operations and systems.

The 2005 Annual Conference of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) will bring the Aging Network together with other professionals and partners to prepare to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The program will include motivational and insightful keynote speakers, active and interactive workshops that address cutting-edge issues and innovations, sessions that highlight best practice models, and networking opportunities with peers and national champions in the field of aging.

N4a is seeking proposals for workshops that will be part of a lively learning and networking experience. Conference tracks include:

Caring for the Caregiver.  Focus on topics including outreach, access to supportive services, counseling/training/support, respite care, supplemental services, and other resources for caregivers/grandparents raising grandchildren/kinship care and disease-specific caregiver needs.

Promoting Aging in Place.  Highlight the broad range of programs and services needed to help older adults "age in place," including community planning, housing, transportation, public safety, education/lifelong learning, workforce development and retirement planning.

Keeping Older Adults Safe and Secure. Focus on elder abuse/neglect, ombudsman programs, care monitoring, emergency response systems, financial assistance, disaster preparedness, crime prevention and legal aid/advocating for older adults. Focus on ways for agencies to maximize their efforts to advocate on behalf of older adults and caregivers through mobilization of grassroots advocates, working effectively with elected officials, maximizing lobbying efforts and coalition building.

Maximizing Older Americans Act Services. Highlight strategies and program enhancements that can help agencies improve administration/implementation of core Older Americans Act services, including home delivered/congregate meals, adult day care and senior centers, case management, home care/chore services, information referral/assistance and senior employment.

Promoting Healthy Aging Across the Lifespan.  Focus on programs and services that improve health outcomes for older adults in the areas of health promotion/wellness, nutrition, physical activity, disease management, prescription drug programs, medication management, mental health/depression, substance abuse prevention and social/civic engagement/volunteerism.

Supporting Title VI Programs and Services. Focus on ways to assist Title VI Native American Aging Program directors and staff to address the unique situations and service needs of serving elders in Indian country.

Running Your Agency. Focus on ways to enhance agencies' management practices.  Will cover a broad range of programs and services to enable older adults and persons with disabilities to remain in their homes for as long as possible, including consumer-directed care options.

Stay tuned to Seniors Digest for conference updates and opportunities to participate as Seattle/King County gears up to host this national event. 

Conference Hosts:

Aging & Disability Services, Seattle Human Services Department

Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging

University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center

Senior Services of Seattle/King County 

United Way of King County 

Administration on Aging, Region X Washington State Unit on Aging