Assistant Secretary's Message

"The recommendations from the 2005 White House Conference on Aging will help our nation meet the needs and expectations of older Americans in the future, especially for the first wave of 78 million baby boomers who will begin to turn 60 in 2006.

We are talking about no less than a cultural change in perceptions on aging. We are talking about moving from awareness to action." Josefina G. Carbonell, Assistant Secretary for Aging, U.S. Administration on Aging.

Josefina G. Carbonell Biography

Josefina G. Carbonell was appointed by the President and sworn in as Assistant Secretary for Aging at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on August 8, 2001.

The Administration on Aging (AoA) is the federal focal point and advocacy agency for older Americans and their concerns. Through the Aging Network, AoA reaches into every community by providing services and support such as information and referral, adult day care, elder abuse prevention, home-delivered meals, in-home care, transportation and services for caregivers. These services are designed to maintain the dignity and quality of life of older Americans and their families.

As the Assistant Secretary for Aging, Ms. Carbonell is dedicated to preparing America to meet the challenges and to maximize the opportunities presented by the longevity of its people. Her priorities include ensuring that Administration on Aging and the Aging Network continue to play a leadership role in shaping our evolving health and long term care system on behalf of older people; helping older people to stay active and healthy; supporting families in their efforts to care for their loved ones at home and in the community; and ensuring the rights of older people.

Prior to joining HHS, Ms. Carbonell was President and CEO of the largest Hispanic geriatric health and human service organization in the nation – Little Havana Activities & Nutrition Centers (LHANC) in Dade County, Florida.

Josefina Carbonell is nationally recognized as a person of compassion and action and is the recipient of numerous awards, including one of the Hispanic Business Most Influential Hispanic Women in 2003.

Born in Cuba, Josefina Carbonell is a devoted daughter to her parents and proud mother to her son, Alfredo, a physician practicing in Richmond, VA.