Abstract:

An overview of the key issues & major themes of the four White House Conferences on Aging is presented. The 1961 conference focused on the need for social services that were not labeled "welfare" & led to the passage of Medicare legislation & the 1965 Older Americans Act. The 1971 conference gave impetus to significant increases in federal income programs, while the 1981 conference offered an agenda promoting self-determination, family/community support, & programs designed to meet diverse cultures, languages, & interests. The goal of combining medical & social components in long-term care is not yet fully realized, although great progress has occurred in the development of nontherapeutic senior centers, where persons can interact with peers & formulate new roles. Key issues identified at the 1995 conference include keeping social security sound; preserving & reauthorizing the Older Americans Act & Medicaid; increasing funding for Alzheimer's disease research; providing long-term care; ensuring a broad spectrum of services; & acknowledging older volunteers.