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"As our population ages, it
becomes more and more important to assess changing needs and make
sure we are providing the kinds of services that will help people
live long, healthy lives," said Blagojevich. "This conference
provides a perfect venue to discuss how we're making progress and
what areas we still need to address."
The Governor's Conference for
the Aging Network is expected to draw 600 people from across the
state to the three-day event, which is focused on change. This is
the issue that will be discussed by Warner Saunders, news anchor at
NBC Channel 5 in Chicago, and Charles D. Johnson, director of the
Illinois Department on Aging, which sponsors the event.
Saunders and Johnson will speak
at the opening session from 9:45 to 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11.
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this article]
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On the program for Friday, Dec.
12, are Bryan Samuels, director of the Illinois Department of
Children and Family Services, who will speak at the awards luncheon
from 11:30 to 1 p.m., and U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, who will be on a 10
to 11:15 a.m. panel called "What's Ahead for Medicare?"
This is the 22nd year for the
conference, but this year the topics are much different than they
were decades ago, Johnson said.
"Years ago we focused on activity, and we addressed a smaller, less
diverse and certainly younger population of older people," Johnson
said. "Today we help older people who are caring for their parents
and their grandchildren, and we are less squeamish about discussing
delicate issues like the end of life and the course of Alzheimer's
disease. Today the issues are tougher, but we are meeting the
challenge."
[News release from the
governor's office] |
