Women and Aging 2011: Policy Implications for an Aging Population

Who:

Volunteers of America will host a panel discussion on women and aging. Arianna Huffington of The Huffington Post will join Volunteers of America National President Mike King; Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families and Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez, executive vice president of Multicultural Markets and Engagement at AARP. Award-winning medical journalist and best-selling author Dr. Bob Arnot will serve as moderator.

When:

Tuesday, May 10, 9:30-11 a.m.

Where:

The National Press Club (529 14th Street, N.W.)

Why:

The workplace, health and public policy implications are enormous now that women over age 60 make up a rapidly growing percentage of the people retired or facing retirement.  They also make up 80% of the caregivers for chronically ill or aging relatives; and they have a longer life expectancy than men. These facts, combined with economics and the health care crisis, provides for the making of an unprecedented health care, social and economic crisis in the U.S.

This panel will explore the future and options for developing policy around our large, aging population who will not only require assistance to care for their parents but will also require a large volume of financial assistance and care for themselves.