Frequently Asked Questions
What is a White House Conference on Aging?
White House Conferences on Aging are decennial events held to develop recommendations for the President and Congress on issues, policy and research in the field of aging.
How many White House Conferences on Aging have been held?
The 2005 White House Conference on Aging was the fifth conference held. Previous White House Conferences on Aging were held in 1961, 1971, 1981, and 1995. Although the 1961 White House Conference on Aging was the first to be designated "White House," several national conferences held in the 1950's laid the foundation for this important event. In 1950, President Truman directed the Federal Security Administration to hold a national conference on aging to assess challenges posed by the changing demographics of the nation. The 1950 event served as an initial exploratory forum for addressing concerns of older people. The 2005 White House Conference on Aging, held December 11 to 14, 2005 in Washington, D.C. was the first WHCOA of the 21st century and focused on the aging of today and tomorrow, including the 78 million baby boomers who began to turn 60 on January 1, 2006.
What has been accomplished by past White House Conferences on Aging?
Past White House Conferences on Aging 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, and establishment of the National Institute on Aging. Past Conferences also led to creation of a national nutrition program for older persons, and establishment of the national aging network.
When and where was the 2005 White House Conference on Aging held?
The 2005 WHCoA was held from December 11 to 14, 2005 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.
What is the Policy Committee’s role, who makes up its members, and how were they selected?
The Policy Committee is made up of 17 members, appointed by the President and Congress, and headed by a Chairman. The President selected nine members, and Congress selected eight members. Visit here to learn more about Policy Committee members.
The Policy Committtee’s role is to provide general direction and guidance for the White House Conference on Aging. Duties of the Policy Committee are to:
- Make recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to facilitate timely convening of the Conference;
- Formulate and approve a proposed agenda;
- Make recommendations for participants and delegates;
- Establish the number of delegates to be selected;
- Establish an executive committee, and other committees as needed that have a majority of such members age 55 or older.
Are Policy Committee meetings open to the public?
Policy Committee meetings are open to the public and are announced through the Federal Register. Policy Committee meetings have been held or are currently scheduled on the following dates: July 14, 2004; October 1, 2004; December 1, 2004; February 9-10, 2005; May 17-18, 2005 July 19-20, 2005; September 20-21, 2005, and October 25, 2005 . The White House Conference on Aging was held on December 11-14, 2005 in Washington, D.C. The White House Conference on Aging was held on December 11-14, 2005 in Washington, D.C. Additional public meetings of the Policy Committee will be announced through the Federal Register and posted on the WHCoA website.
What is the Advisory Committee’s role and who are its members?
As required by statute, the Advisory Committee of the White House Conference on Aging advises the Policy Committee. Advisory Committee members are appointed by the President with recommendations from the Policy Committee. On May 13, President Bush appointed 22 individuals to serve on this Advisory Committee. To learn more about them, please view the Advisory Committee section on the WHCoA website.
When were At Large Delegates notified?
At Large Delegates to the WHCoA were notified by August 31, 2005.
.
How were delegates to the WHCoA selected?
On December 1, 2004 the Policy Committee for the 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) voted to invite 1200 delegates to participate in the 2005 WHCoA. The majority of the delegates represented the Governors of all 50 States, the U.S. Territories, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia; Members of the 109th Congress, and the National Congress of American Indians. On January 31, 2005, the Chairman of the WHCoA Policy Committee Dorcas R. Hardy sent letters to these officials informing them of their ability to select delegates to the WHCoA and setting a deadline of March 15, 2005. The deadline was extended to April 15, 2005.
The balance of the WHCoA delegates (At Large) were selected by the Policy Committee. The procedures for consideration by the Policy Committee for these delegates were provided on the WHCoA website.
How may I be selected as an “At-Large” Delegate to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging?
Please note that all At-Large delegates have been selected and announced as of August 31, 2005. Each At Large Delegate was notified by the WHCoA by mail of their selection. Please visit the Press room to view the list of At Large Delegates Selected.
1200 delegates will have the honor of participating in the 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) in Washington, DC. These delegates will vote on resolutions and develop 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 will select the majority of the delegates to participate in the 2005 WHCoA. The deadline for submission of their delegate and alternate names was April 15, 2005.
The balance of the delegates will be selected by the WHCoA Policy Committee. These “At-Large” delegates will represent 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. Because of the tremendous opportunity that the WHCoA presents for the future of aging policies in our nation, the 2005 WHCoA is seeking visionary and thoughtful delegates who will make significant and tangible contributions to this historic event. The WHCoA wishes to ensure that the delegates represent a broad cross section of the U.S. population so that the concerns and issues of current as well as future seniors receive appropriate attention.
The 2005 WHCoA is authorized by the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 (Public Law 106-501). Specifically with regard to delegates, P.L.106-501 states that “the delegates shall be selected without regard to political affiliation or past partisan activity and shall, to the best of the appointing authority’s ability, be representative of the spectrum of thought in the field of aging. Delegates shall include individuals who are professionals, individuals who are non-professionals, minority individuals, individuals from low-income families, representatives of Federal, state and local governments and individuals from rural areas. A majority of the delegates shall be 55 or older.” The WHCoA is also authorized to focus on issues related to the aging of today and tomorrow, including the 78 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964.
The Policy Committee will seek to achieve an appropriate balance by selecting delegates to fill gaps that may exist after gubernatorial, congressional and the National Congress of American Indians delegate and alternate selections are made. Delegates should anticipate that their time spent in Washington, D.C. will be extremely busy, and that their individual and collective efforts will result in a significant contribution to help shape U.S. aging policies for the next decade and beyond.
NOTE: The information requested will be used to select persons to serve as delegates to the 2005 WHCoA. Furnishing of the information is voluntary. Failure to do so, however, may result in the denial of delegate status. Access to the submitted information is limited to Policy Committee to the WHCoA. The legal authority for the collection of this information is Public Law 106-501, Title II, November 13, 2000 (Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000) and 5 U.S.C. App. 2 (Federal Advisory Committee Act)
What is the process by which the Policy Committee is developing issues to be considered by the delegates to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging?
This past fall delegates received 73 resolutions that have been developed by the WHCoA Policy Committee based on the public input solicited by the WHCoA over the past year. Testimony and reports from approximately 400 Listening Sessions, Solutions Forums, Mini-Conferences and Independent Aging Agenda Events involving more than 130,000 people and from unsolicited general input received by the WHCoA. The input provided the Policy Committee with an opportunity to learn what is on the minds of those with an interest in the future of aging in the United States, and provided the basis for the development and refinement of the WHCoA final agenda.
When delegates arrived at the WHCoA, they were asked to vote on 50 resolutions that they felt were the most important for current and future generations of senior citizens. Delegates were asked to keep in mind as they deliberate that the 2005 WHCoA has a statutory mandate to focus on baby boomers as well as current seniors. This mandate is reflected in the theme for the 2005 WHCoA which is "The Booming Dynamics of Aging: From Awareness to Action."
Implementation Strategies/Action Plans
As important as the resolutions are, their implementation strategies are equally essential. Delegates spent a significant amount of dedicated to developing action plans for each of the chosen 50 resolutions which helped to identify strategies that can be executed at the Federal, State, and local governmental levels, as well as throughout industry, communities, and by individuals. This is the first WHCoA to have a strong focus on developing realistic action plans to ensure that delegates' efforts are successful. This process reflects the belief of the WHCoA that the work of the WHCoA will continue beyond December 14, 2005 when the WHCoA formally ended. The WHCoA wishes to ensure that the efforts of the delegates and the WHCoA be quickly translated into meaningful policies and policy changes that will improve the quality of life for millions of older Americans today and tomorrow.
What is the Annotated Agenda for the 2005 White House Conference on Aging adopted by the Policy Committee?
On November 3, 2005, the WHCoA Policy Committee voted unanimously to adopt the final Annotated Agenda for the 2005 White House Conference on Aging.
I notice there is a new logo displayed on the WHCoA website. May I use this for my event?
Yes, the new logo accompanies the official theme for the 2005 WHCoA, which is "The Booming Dynamics of Aging: From Awareness to Action." Individuals holding WHCoA "Independent Aging Agenda Events" are welcome to download it for their events and their reports. The WHCoA would appreciate receiving notification if you choose to use this logo. Contact: info@whcoa.gov.
Was the 2005 WHCoA able to accept gifts to assist in the conduct of the Conference?
Yes, the WHCoA was able to accept gifts in the form of cash or in kind donations, but could not solicit for them. Please see the Gift Authority Fact Sheet and Gift Authority Guidelines for more information.
Was media able to cover the 2005 WHCoA?
The WHCoA invited representatives of the media to apply to cover the WHCoA. The deadline for submission of media applications was September 15, 2005 and media representatives were notified by early October. All other applicants were placed on a waiting list and contacted when space became available. Approximately 140 members of the media were accepted. WHCoA staff ensured that all members of the media received their credentials, press kits and materials on site or by mail as requested. Select webcasts from the 2005 WHCoA were provided by Kaisernetwork.org, a free healthy policy news and webcasting service of the Kaiser Family Foundation and are posted on the WHCoA Website. In addition, C-Span covered the opening plenary session on Monday, December 12, 2005.
What is the process for Resolution Development and Implementation Strategy/Action Plans for the 2005 WHCoA?
Later this fall delegates will receive a number of resolutions that have been developed by the WHCoA Policy Committee based on the public input solicited by the WHCoA over the past year. Testimony and reports from close to 400 Listening Sessions, Solutions Forums, Mini-Conferences and Independent Aging Agenda Events involving more than 125,000 people and from unsolicited general input have been received by the WHCoA. The input has provided the Policy Committee with an opportunity to learn what is on the minds of those with an interest in the future of aging in the United States, and provided the basis for the development and refinement of the WHCoA agenda.
The resolutions are being sent to delegates in advance to give them time to study them carefully. When delegates come to the WHCoA, they will be asked to vote on 50 resolutions that they feel are the most important for current and future generations of senior citizens. Delegates will be asked to keep in mind as they deliberate that the 2005 WHCoA has a statutory mandate to focus on baby boomers as well as current seniors. This mandate is reflected in the theme for the 2005 WHCoA which is “The Booming Dynamics of Aging: From Awareness to Action.”
Implementation Strategies/Action Plans
As important as the resolutions are, their implementation strategies are equally essential. A significant amount of delegates’ time will be dedicated to developing action plans for each of the chosen 50 resolutions which will identify strategies that can be executed at the Federal, State, and local governmental levels, as well as throughout industry, communities, and by individuals. This is the first WHCoA to have a strong focus on developing realistic action plans to ensure that delegates’ efforts are successful. This process reflects the belief of the WHCoA that the work of the WHCoA will continue beyond December 14, 2005 when the WHCoA formally ends. The WHCoA wishes to ensure that the efforts of the delegates and the WHCoA be quickly translated into meaningful policies and policy changes that will improve the quality of life for millions of older Americans today and tomorrow.
What are the names of the alternates to the 2005 WHCoA?
The names of the alternates appointed by Governors and Members of Congress can be found {here}
Is there a demographic analysis of the delegates to the 2005 WHCoA?
You may find demographic and related statistics about the delegates to the 2005 WHCoA by visiting (here}
Who may I contact if I have questions about my reimbursement of expenses from the WHCoA?
You may contact Moya Thompson at Moya.Thompson@aoa.hhs.gov with any questions you might have regarding your reimbursement expenses.
Where may I find information about the implementation strategies suggested by the delegates and presented on December 14, 2005 at the WHCoA?
You will find all the implementation strategies suggested by the delegates who attended breakout sessions of their choice on a particular topic in the Final Report of the 2005 WHCoA which is available on the WHCoA website at http://www.whcoa.gov (Chapter 5)
How were the top ten resolutions of the WHCoA chosen?
The Delegates were asked to vote on 50 resolutions from the 73 resolutions they received prior to arriving at the WHCoA. The top ten resolutions reflect those which received the most votes.
What role do the Governors play in the 2005 White House Conference on Aging?
Besides selecting delegates to participate in the 2005 WHCoA which occurred December 11 to 14, 2005 in Washington, D.C. the Governors of all 50 States, Territories, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia have been asked to provide input for the Final Report which was approved by the Policy Committee in June 2006 and will be presented to the President and Congress. On March 15, 2006, a letter on behalf of the Policy Committee was sent from Dorcas R. Hardy, Chairman, to each Governor and to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) requesting input. The letter stated "It would be very helpful to the development of the WHCoA Final Report if you reviewed the enclosed resolutions, many of which have intergovernmental implications, and identify those that you consider to be the most important to your state. We would also like to know what action you are taking or might plan to take over the next ten years on the resolutions you have identified as priorities. " In planning for the 2005 WHCoA, the Policy Committee recognized that the efforts of the delegates must be supported by innovative, fiscally responsible, and realistic implementation strategies to ensure that the resolutions they selected have the greatest opportunity to become reality. Many of the strategies, offered by the delegates at the Conference, reflect actions that can be taken by not only the federal government, but also by states, tribal organizations, business and industry, communities and individuals to prepare for the challenges and opportunities of an aging America; work on these strategies is ongoing.
All Governors and the NCAI were asked to provide their vision, reactions and comments by April 15, 2006. That deadline has been extended to April 28, 2006. Responses received are being posted on the WHCoA website. All responses received have also been included in the Final Report that has been disseminated to the President, Congress and all WHCoA participants.
Will the WHCoA website continue to exist when the WHCoA completes it mission in June 2006?
The WHCoA website will become part of the U.S. Administration on Aging's website and will continue to be available.
What is the status of the Final Report of the 2005 WHCoA?
The 2005 WHCoA Final Report has been completed and disseminated to the President, Congress and all WHCoA participants. A downloadable copy of the Report is available on the Home page of the WHCoA website http://www.whcoa.gov Please feel free to download the entire report or selected sections. Printed copies of the report are extremely limited.
Return
to the Orginal Article
2005 White House Conference
on Aging
4350 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814
www.whcoa.gov