Boomers in TransitionComing of Age in 2006

By Larry Verhei

(Right) Dr. Thomas Littman presented a workshop on assistive devices for hearing loss during the recent N4A Conference in Bellevue.

Click here to see photos of conference attendees enjoying some of the many events and sights!

After many months of planning and anticipation, with a massive effort by Pamela Piering, Director of Aging and Disability Service and Linda Wells, Planner with Aging and Disability Services, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a)'s 30th Annual Conference and Tradeshow was held July 9-13, 2005 at the DoubleTree Hotel and Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, WA. Over 600 people attended the event. Patti-Lyn Bell of the Seattle Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens skillfully recruited and staffed volunteer information and registration areas. The Host Committee, which included Advisory Council Member John Barnett and United Way Sponsors' Liaison Linda Woodall, made sure that every planned event moved forward in a timely manner. The Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging and Disability Services showed its support, interest and dedication to aging issues, with a majority of the Council volunteering during the event.

Visitors arrived from across the nation to join with the local Area Agencies on Aging to explore new areas of interest in the field of aging. Members of government, business, education and human service organizations, elected officials, members of Advisory Councils on Aging & Disability, and experts in all aspects of aging came together to expand their vision and acquire working knowledge of "Best Practices."  

The Title of the Conference, "Boomers in Transition," was chosen because the World War II Baby Boomers are "coming of age in 2006." The group that crowded elementary schools in the 50s and participated in rallies and marches in the 60s will in a few short months start a new wave, when the first baby Boomers turn 60 and become eligible Older Americans Act and Senior Services. 

The Conference's main focus was to share thoughts, ideas and information on how the Baby Boomers will redefine how aging is viewed, and the changes that will be needed to meet the challenges and opportunities the Boomer population present. The Conference was a very busy time for participants, who gathered knowledge on health care, transportation, universal design housing, aging in place, hospice, social security, caregiving, nutrition, hearing loss management, and a long list of other topics. Over 135 organizations requested an opportunity to present at the Conference, with approximately 50 being selected. Here is just one example:

Focusing on promoting healthy aging across the lifespan, "Managing Hearing Loss Effectively," an interactive workshop, helped seniors and program staff members develop an awareness of the prevalence and variety of hearing loss; created an understanding of the physical, psychological and social effects of hearing loss; and introduced them to strategies, technology and resources which can be used to overcome barriers to effective communication. The workshop, presented by Thomas Littman, Ph.D., CCC-A and Steve Hillson, included assistive listening and signaling devices which attendees could use "hands on," such as PocketTalker Pro, amplified and tone-control phones, alarm clocks with strobe lights and bed shakers, TTY, and DirectEar (infrared TV listening device so family members do not have to listen to TV at a high volume).

Dr. Littman is the Chief Clinical Officer at Seattle's Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center (a local not-for profit organization that has been "Building Community through Communication since 1937"). He has completed a postdoctoral fellowship in electrophysiology at Northwestern University, and was an Assistant Professor in the Nation's first Au.D program in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Communication Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Mr. Hillson, Equipment Specialist at www.hsdcstore.com, is an expert on assistive listening and signaling technology. His career path includes employment as a Washington State TTY Relay Operator, and Freelance American Sign Language Interpreter for the Deaf. Steve volunteers many hours to community groups such as SHHH (Self Help for Hard of Hearing People).

In addition to traditional workshops, intensives and general sessions during the Conference, four mobile workshops were available. Participants were escorted by local host experts on public transit and charter bus to tours of:

1. Bastyr Natural Medicine University
2. Universal Design Home under construction in Tukwila
3. New Seattle City Hall and Library
4. Pike Market Services for Older Adults

And last but not least, over 50 Vendors staffed information and product booths for the tradeshow.

Larry Verhei serves as Chair of the Health Care Task Force of the Seattle/King County Advisory Council on Aging and Disability. He is also Business Development Coordinator for the Hearing, Speech and Deafness Center.