White House Conference on Aging
Encyclopedia
The White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) is a once-a-decade conference sponsored by the Executive Office of the President of the United States
which makes policy recommendations to the president and Congress regarding the aged. The first of its kind,the goals of the conference are to promote the dignity, health and economic security of older Americans. It has been claimed that it is perhaps the best-known White House conference
. The Conference is held once a decade, with the most recent conference held in 2005, in preparation for the retirement of the baby boomer
generation.
to hold a national conference on aging. The purpose was to assess the policy challenges posed by a changing populace, particularly in light of numerous changes in federal entitlement programs (such as Social Security
) that had been enacted during the previous 20 years. Social Security's goal was to assist those in need of financial assistance such as the poor, elderly, physically disabled or mentally ill.
In 1958, Congressman John E. Fogarty
introduced legislation calling for a White House conference on aging. Congress enacted the White House Conference on Aging Act (Public Law 85-908), and the bill was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
. The law called for a national citizens' forum to focus attention on the problems of older Americans and to make consensus policy recommendations on how to enhance the economic security of this demographic group. A national advisory committee for the White House Conference on Aging was formed the same year, with the first "White House" conference held in 1961.
The 1961 White House Conference on Aging was the first to be designated "White House." More than 3,000 people attended the conference, representing nearly 300 organizations. The original goal of the conference was "to provide a forum for representatives of older Americans throughout the country to discuss and propose solutions to the unique problems facing the elderly in this country." The conference led directly to the passage of the 1961 Social Security amendments, the Senior Citizens Housing Act of 1962, the Community Health Services and Facilities Act
, Medicare
, Medicaid
and the Older Americans Act
.
Congressional legislation in 1968 directed that another conference be held in 1971. The 4,000 attendees at the 1971 conference recommended more than 193 actions, some of which led directly to the founding of the Senate Special Committee on Aging
and the Federal Council on Aging.
Legislation in 1977 led to a 1981 conference, which was attended by 2,000 delegates, and was the first to use a quota-like system to ensure that various segments of the population—such as women, minorities and the disabled—were sufficiently represented. Ethnic, racial, demographic and others subgroups were also encouraged to hold their own caucuses, seminars and workshops in conjunction with the conference.
Congressional amendments to the Older Americans Act
which passed in 1992, led to another conference in 1995. Planning for the 1995 conference was much broader than in the past, but also more conservative. More than 125,000 people participated in more than 1,000 mini-conferences around the country during the two-year planning process. While few new initiatives were proposed, support for existing programs was reaffirmed. Additionally, the 2,200 delegates and 800 observers argued for a shift away from a focus on the aged and toward a policy on "aging."
The Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 directed that the next conference be held in 2005, and it took place from December 11 to December 14 in Washington, D.C.
About 50 recommendations came from the conference; many relating to the transportation needs of the elderly, mental health and overhaul of the Medicare prescription drug benefit. President George W. Bush
created controversy among conference attendees by becoming the first president to not address the meeting.
The White House Conference on Aging held in 2005 was named "The Booming Dynamics of Aging: From Awareness to Action" and attracted one thousand two hundred delegates from across the country. Along with a 17-member bi-partisan policy committee, a 22-member advisory committee compiled a list of 73 resolutions to contribute to a strategy on how to accommodate and care for the nation's growing elderly population.
Beginning in August 2004, 130,000 people contributed to four types of forums around the country. These forums were created to develop solutions to aging challenges in preparation for the 2005 conference. Listening sessions and independent aging agenda events confirmed that communities around the country have implemented their own ways of accommodating the growing elderly population. Solutions forums asked contributors to put themselves in the place of the elderly, in order to understand what accommodations they would want and need from legislation. Mini conferences concentrated on specific issues and the Conference took the suggestions and comments into consideration.
General session presentations from the government concerning economic projections, and the private sector concerning topics such as geriatric medicine attributed to a wide range of information.
Healthy Living Celebration! was organized to highlight the importance of healthy living and to demonstrate the commitment of the 2005 WHCoA to health and wellness while demonstrating that physical activity can be fun. These goals were accomplished through the leadership of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, who co-sponsored the event with assistance from the National Senior Games Association (NSGA).
Delegates also participated in the Profiles of Wellness Program and the President's Challenge Program.
The 2005 White House Conference on Aging Exhibit Hall was the first WHCoA Exhibit Hall to highlight technology. Co-sponsored by ZivaGuide, a customized health care information provider, the Exhibit Hall featured more than 140 exhibitors representing a wide variety of public, private and non-profit organizations, and firms and government agencies presenting some of the latest initiatives and innovations in providing services to the aging community.
Large portions of the Exhibit Hall were dedicated to highlighting the potential of technology to transform aging in America. The Conference’s technology exhibit was the largest ever held by the Center for Applied Technology (CAST), and included some of America’s leading technology companies and universities who assembled dozens of ground-breaking technologies to give policy makers a glimpse of how technology could transform the lives of older adults and those who care for them.
Another portion of the Exhibit Hall, sponsored by the Department of Transportation, was dedicated to illuminating promising trends and programs in improving mobility for America’s seniors.
The central idea coming from the 2005 Conference was “that we must now modernize our aging polices for the 21st Century to deal with the challenges we are facing and those we see on the horizon.” A set of philosophies were developed to promote forward thinking and a call to action.
A set of steps were developed for the leaders to execute the goals created at the Conference.
First was to "proactively realign and modernize current aging programs and networks to be more efficient and effective in their performance, so as to free-up resources for unmet needs." Since the original programs were implemented, they have proven to be beneficial for the older generations.
Second was to "transform the “world of aging” policies, programs, and organizations from a series of “stove-pipes” into a 21st Century system of coordinated services and networks that will meet the future needs of the baby boomers, while also improving services to current seniors. Programs should be updated to accommodate new technology, while serving the original purpose of improving the quality of life for the elderly.
Third was to "proactively work to fully integrate the efforts of Federal, State, Tribal, local and community, private, and not-for-profit stakeholders." Each sector needs to know their role and where they are responsible for collaboration.
Although the WHoCA is expected to convene every four years, candidates and delegates have not met since 2005. The next conference has yet to be announced.
Executive Office of the President of the United States
The Executive Office of the President consists of the immediate staff of the President of the United States, as well as multiple levels of support staff reporting to the President. The EOP is headed by the White House Chief of Staff, currently William M. Daley...
which makes policy recommendations to the president and Congress regarding the aged. The first of its kind,the goals of the conference are to promote the dignity, health and economic security of older Americans. It has been claimed that it is perhaps the best-known White House conference
White House conference
A White House conference is a national meeting sponsored by the Executive Office of the President of the United States with the purpose of discussing an issue or topic of importance to the American public. Some last for one day while others last for several...
. The Conference is held once a decade, with the most recent conference held in 2005, in preparation for the retirement of the baby boomer
Baby boomer
A baby boomer is a person who was born during the demographic Post-World War II baby boom and who grew up during the period between 1946 and 1964. The term "baby boomer" is sometimes used in a cultural context. Therefore, it is impossible to achieve broad consensus of a precise definition, even...
generation.
History
In 1950, President Harry S Truman ordered the Federal Security AgencyFederal Security Agency
The Federal Security Agency was an independent agency of the United States government established in 1939 pursuant to the "Reorganization Act of 1939"...
to hold a national conference on aging. The purpose was to assess the policy challenges posed by a changing populace, particularly in light of numerous changes in federal entitlement programs (such as Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
) that had been enacted during the previous 20 years. Social Security's goal was to assist those in need of financial assistance such as the poor, elderly, physically disabled or mentally ill.
In 1958, Congressman John E. Fogarty
John E. Fogarty
John Edward Fogarty was a Congressman from Rhode Island for 26 years.Congressman John E. Fogarty was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1940 and served until his death on January 10, 1967 as he was being sworn in for his fourteenth consecutive term...
introduced legislation calling for a White House conference on aging. Congress enacted the White House Conference on Aging Act (Public Law 85-908), and the bill was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
. The law called for a national citizens' forum to focus attention on the problems of older Americans and to make consensus policy recommendations on how to enhance the economic security of this demographic group. A national advisory committee for the White House Conference on Aging was formed the same year, with the first "White House" conference held in 1961.
The 1961 White House Conference on Aging was the first to be designated "White House." More than 3,000 people attended the conference, representing nearly 300 organizations. The original goal of the conference was "to provide a forum for representatives of older Americans throughout the country to discuss and propose solutions to the unique problems facing the elderly in this country." The conference led directly to the passage of the 1961 Social Security amendments, the Senior Citizens Housing Act of 1962, the Community Health Services and Facilities Act
Community Health Services and Facilities Act
The US Community Health Services and Facilities Act is one of the important factors of the 1965 Community Health Centers Act was that it mandated appropriate mental health services for the younger population.-See also:...
, Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
, Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
and the Older Americans Act
Older Americans Act
The Older Americans Act of 1965 was the first federal level initiative aimed at providing comprehensive services for older adults. It created the National Aging Network comprising the Administration on Aging on the federal level, State Units on Aging, and Area Agencies on Aging at the local level...
.
Congressional legislation in 1968 directed that another conference be held in 1971. The 4,000 attendees at the 1971 conference recommended more than 193 actions, some of which led directly to the founding of the Senate Special Committee on Aging
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging
The United States Senate Special Committee on Aging was initially established in 1961 as a temporary committee; it became a permanent Senate committee in 1977...
and the Federal Council on Aging.
Legislation in 1977 led to a 1981 conference, which was attended by 2,000 delegates, and was the first to use a quota-like system to ensure that various segments of the population—such as women, minorities and the disabled—were sufficiently represented. Ethnic, racial, demographic and others subgroups were also encouraged to hold their own caucuses, seminars and workshops in conjunction with the conference.
Congressional amendments to the Older Americans Act
Older Americans Act
The Older Americans Act of 1965 was the first federal level initiative aimed at providing comprehensive services for older adults. It created the National Aging Network comprising the Administration on Aging on the federal level, State Units on Aging, and Area Agencies on Aging at the local level...
which passed in 1992, led to another conference in 1995. Planning for the 1995 conference was much broader than in the past, but also more conservative. More than 125,000 people participated in more than 1,000 mini-conferences around the country during the two-year planning process. While few new initiatives were proposed, support for existing programs was reaffirmed. Additionally, the 2,200 delegates and 800 observers argued for a shift away from a focus on the aged and toward a policy on "aging."
The Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 directed that the next conference be held in 2005, and it took place from December 11 to December 14 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
About 50 recommendations came from the conference; many relating to the transportation needs of the elderly, mental health and overhaul of the Medicare prescription drug benefit. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
created controversy among conference attendees by becoming the first president to not address the meeting.
The White House Conference on Aging held in 2005 was named "The Booming Dynamics of Aging: From Awareness to Action" and attracted one thousand two hundred delegates from across the country. Along with a 17-member bi-partisan policy committee, a 22-member advisory committee compiled a list of 73 resolutions to contribute to a strategy on how to accommodate and care for the nation's growing elderly population.
2005 conference
The 2005 conference's main agenda was to propose solutions on how to accommodate the expected 80 million baby boomers in the next 40 years. The increase in the baby boomer population has increased from 9% in 1940 to an expected 20% in the coming years. Seventy-three resolutions were created with 50 of them being presented to the president and Congress. Josefina G. Carbonell, assistant secretary for aging at the U.S. Administration on Aging, stated "Few generations are given the opportunity to affect the future as much as baby boomers have in their lifetime - and we're going to do it again,".Beginning in August 2004, 130,000 people contributed to four types of forums around the country. These forums were created to develop solutions to aging challenges in preparation for the 2005 conference. Listening sessions and independent aging agenda events confirmed that communities around the country have implemented their own ways of accommodating the growing elderly population. Solutions forums asked contributors to put themselves in the place of the elderly, in order to understand what accommodations they would want and need from legislation. Mini conferences concentrated on specific issues and the Conference took the suggestions and comments into consideration.
General session presentations from the government concerning economic projections, and the private sector concerning topics such as geriatric medicine attributed to a wide range of information.
Associated events
Get Involved: A WHCoA Service Project worked to focus attention on the importance of civic engagement and community service, this Pre-Conference event was organized by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Washington D.C. Jewish Community Center. Volunteers from Senior Corps joined Conference delegates to help rehabilitate the Educational Organization for United Latin Americans (EOFULA), a Washington D.C. community center for Latino senior citizens. Braving frigid weather, delegates and volunteers painted, repaired and weatherized the senior center.Healthy Living Celebration! was organized to highlight the importance of healthy living and to demonstrate the commitment of the 2005 WHCoA to health and wellness while demonstrating that physical activity can be fun. These goals were accomplished through the leadership of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, who co-sponsored the event with assistance from the National Senior Games Association (NSGA).
Delegates also participated in the Profiles of Wellness Program and the President's Challenge Program.
The 2005 White House Conference on Aging Exhibit Hall was the first WHCoA Exhibit Hall to highlight technology. Co-sponsored by ZivaGuide, a customized health care information provider, the Exhibit Hall featured more than 140 exhibitors representing a wide variety of public, private and non-profit organizations, and firms and government agencies presenting some of the latest initiatives and innovations in providing services to the aging community.
Large portions of the Exhibit Hall were dedicated to highlighting the potential of technology to transform aging in America. The Conference’s technology exhibit was the largest ever held by the Center for Applied Technology (CAST), and included some of America’s leading technology companies and universities who assembled dozens of ground-breaking technologies to give policy makers a glimpse of how technology could transform the lives of older adults and those who care for them.
Another portion of the Exhibit Hall, sponsored by the Department of Transportation, was dedicated to illuminating promising trends and programs in improving mobility for America’s seniors.
Call to action
In the past conferences, delegates found a low rate of resolution implementation. A majority of time was spent on creating resolutions rather than implementing them. The number of representatives decreased from former Conferences. Once again, a focus of quality over quantity proved to be a theme of the 2005 Conference. Each member of Congress, House of Representatives,and Senate sent representatives presenting a wide range of opinions on behalf of those who elected them.The central idea coming from the 2005 Conference was “that we must now modernize our aging polices for the 21st Century to deal with the challenges we are facing and those we see on the horizon.” A set of philosophies were developed to promote forward thinking and a call to action.
A set of steps were developed for the leaders to execute the goals created at the Conference.
First was to "proactively realign and modernize current aging programs and networks to be more efficient and effective in their performance, so as to free-up resources for unmet needs." Since the original programs were implemented, they have proven to be beneficial for the older generations.
Second was to "transform the “world of aging” policies, programs, and organizations from a series of “stove-pipes” into a 21st Century system of coordinated services and networks that will meet the future needs of the baby boomers, while also improving services to current seniors. Programs should be updated to accommodate new technology, while serving the original purpose of improving the quality of life for the elderly.
Third was to "proactively work to fully integrate the efforts of Federal, State, Tribal, local and community, private, and not-for-profit stakeholders." Each sector needs to know their role and where they are responsible for collaboration.
Although the WHoCA is expected to convene every four years, candidates and delegates have not met since 2005. The next conference has yet to be announced.