Local Community for AGING A Report of Concerns, Consider- Reports and Guidelines from the White House Conference on Aging, washington, wit 1961. Series Number: 12 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE SPECIAL STAFF ON AGING Washington 25, D.C. August 1961 HQ 1064 U5 A519 1961 no.12 The views expressed in this report are those of the delegates to the White House Conference on Aging; they do not necessarily represent the official position of the Federal Government. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D.C. - Price 15 cents stacks DEPOSITED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 12-6-61 FOREWORD The Congress of the United States, concerned with the problems arising from the sudden increase in our older population, passed a statement of national policy and set the basis for the White House Conference on Aging. By the time approximately 2,500 delegates met in Washington, D.C., on January 9, 1961, a great increase in public awareness and understanding had already been accomplished. The population of 16 million persons age 65 and over in our Nation may double by the end of the century. This is not only an outstanding achievement but it is even more a challenge to American technology, science, and society generally to see that longer life brings greater fulfillment and realization of potential opportunities. The delegates met to consider and propose solutions for the problems and dislocations created for individuals, families, communities, and society by the suddenness with which the older population had increased. The problem of maintaining an adequate and stable income in the retirement years concerns not only the individual but the whole society as well. How can it be resolved to the satisfaction of all? Good health is essential to independence and enjoyment of the later years. Many older people have it. How can it be vouchsafed for many more? Housing and social services to meet special needs would enable more older persons to retain selfsufficiency; but more needs to be known about the kinds of housing and services and how they may best be provided. A variety of factors make it difficult or impossible for older workers to find employment. What measures are necessary to provide jobs for all who are willing and able? Retirement and free time are the great gifts of longer life. How can the resources of families, education, rehabilitation, recreation, and religion be employed to enable older people to find satisfying social relationships and use of time? More knowledge is needed about the processes of aging and its implications for individuals and society. Professional personnel knowledgeable in the field of aging are needed for research and teaching and for providing services to older people. What are the best ways to achieve both? Action to provide opportunities for older people and solutions to their problems are required at community, State, and national levels. What should be the responsibilities of public and private agencies at each of these levels? In order to examine each of these questions and scores of others related to them in the depth required, the National Advisory Committee provided for 20 Conference subject-matter sections, each with a Planning Committee and staff of its own. All sections broke down into Workgroups, thus giving every delegate opportunity to participate fully in the discussions and decisionmaking. Each section was charged with arriving at a statement of policy and with developing recommendations pertinent to its subjectmatter field. These are assembled and printed in the overall report, THE NATION AND ITS OLDER PEOPLE. The present document is one of a series of publications that will report the work of the several sections of the Conference. It deals with problems, needs, and issues in one of the areas of concern and reports the procedures and recommendations of the Conference. It is hoped that it will serve as a guide to action for all individuals, organizations, and agencies that have a responsibility in the field. On behalf of the National Advisory Committee, I wish to express thanks to the Planning Committee, Consultants, staff members, and others whose joint efforts made possible the major assessments of the circumstances of older people and the directions we must follow to give meaning and satisfaction to the later years of life. Nolu Kean Chairman, National Advisory Committee PREFACE This report contains a summary of the material covered by the Section on Local Community Organization at the White House Conference on Aging. The Conference was the culmination of two years of cooperative effort on the part of Government, voluntary organizations, and private citizens. The 50 States and 3 territories which took part in the Conference focused on the needs and opportunities of older people through intensive factfinding, scores of county and regional meetings, statewide conferences, and hundreds of committee meetings. Their efforts resulted in comprehensive analyses of needs and far-reaching plans for action. The 2,565 delegates of the States and national voluntary organizations at the White House Conference on Aging used the State recommendations as a basis for their deliberations. They developed, during three days of discussion (January 9-12, 1961), Policy Statements and Recommendations in the 20 subject matter areas into which the Conference was divided. These findings were designed to guide Federal and State Governments, local community organizations, and national voluntary organizations in the development of action programs in aging. The Chairman and Planning Committee on Local Community Organization wish to express their gratitude to the local, State, and territorial committees and to all of the delegates and participants of the Section, who contributed to this report. Without their interest, participation, and contribution, this report, and the White House Conference on Aging itself, would not have been possible. Rosedal B ROBERT H. MACRAE, Chairman, Planning Committee on Local Community Organization. |