Session I

Livable Communities: Wave of the Future
Presenter: Elinor Ginzler - AARP More

America's cities, towns and neighborhoods are not ready to serve the needs of the nation's surging older population. It is important to take a fresh look at the adequacy of communities to serve the needs of persons of all ages, especially those 50 and older. The demand for livable communities - those that provide affordable and appropriate housing, supporting community features and services, and adequate transportation and mobility options - is made clear by a recent Census Bureau forecast predicting that between 2000 and 2030. As the baby boom generation ages, the number of people 65 and older will more than double in 26 states.

Today's shortcomings will be exacerbated as the number of older Americans surges in the next three decades. When older people are not engaged in their communities, they have lower feelings of self-control, less success dealing with aging issues, lower life satisfaction, and a poorer quality of life. Livable communities benefit Americans of all ages, but those benefits are particularly felt by older people. AARP's dedication to this issue will have myriad benefits for the people of this nation.


Session II

How the Age Wave will Transform Our Lives
Presenter: Maddy Dychtwald, Ph.D. More

How long might I live? What are the new frontiers of medicine and how might the public react to break-throughs? How far will the boomers go in their pursuit of the `fountain of health,` and is health care ready for a demanding new generation of empowered consumers? Join us for a mind-expanding journey into the future of medicine, new treatments, new health care delivery systems, and new ways of experiencing and planning for the future.


Session III

New Technologies for Successful Aging
Presenter: Russ Bodoff, Ph.D. - Center for Aging Services Technologies More

Americans love technology and seniors are the fastest growing segment of internet users in the world today. There is really no question that technology will be an important part of the future of successful aging. Baby-boomers already use technology to help create solutions for their aged parents and health care is adopting new tele-medicine solutions for in-home care and health monitoring. Consumers are reaching for the information, communication and increased mobility through assistive technologies and even designing comfort and home enrichment into their retirement homes through seamless automation.

See what's coming soon!


Session IV

Hot Topics! Panel Discussion: Tipping Points
Presenter & Facilitator: Thomas Hartwig, Ph.D. - Mature Living Environments More

Boomers are moving toward the future. Technology and Baby Boomer values will shape older adult living environments of the future. Changing health trends, advances in technology, and the ways in which public policy is shifting the continuum of care, all present a new vision of adult residential living environments in the future. Design principles and levels of comfort that were previously considered satisfactory will be inadequate based on the expectations of 70 million aging Baby Boomers. Boomers will reshape the older adult services market by demanding higher levels of care and comfort. Technology will increasingly supplement caregiving. Living environments will adapt to the needs of residents and monitor health through an array of integrated sensors. An overall shift away from institutions toward independence and home-like residential settings will take place. Individuals will live in their homes longer as technology assists them to remain independent. Aging services of all types will increasingly be brought to the consumer.

How will these changes impact health care, senior residential and adult living communities, service providers and consumers?