HD57 - Proceedings of the 1991 Governor's Conference on Aging

  • Published: 1992
  • Author: Department for the Aging
  • Enabling Authority: House Joint Resolution 203 (Regular Session, 1990)

Executive Summary:
The first biennial Governor' s Conference on Aging was held on May 29-31, 1991 at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond. The Conference was the result of HJR 203 (Delegate Grayson) and SJR 43 (Senator Houck), passed by the 1990 General Assembly, requesting the Governor to institute a biennial Conference on Aging. The purpose of the first Conference was to:

1) prepare a "Blueprint" or long-range plan for meeting the variety of needs of the elderly in the 1990's.

2) provide an opportunity for the network of organizations, agencies and industries which serve the elderly to discuss trends, issues and policies which will affect them in the 1990's.

3) provide the Commonwealth with an opportunity to shift its focus from providing services to individuals to a greater emphasis on developing support systems within communities.

4) prepare for the White House Conference on Aging scheduled for late 1992.

The planning and implementation of the Conference was assigned to the Department for the Aging, which established an Executive Committee to guide overall planning, a Finance Committee to solicit corporate support for the conference, and a Development Committee to develop the issues to be considered by eight work groups.

No General Funds were appropriated for this conference. Expenses of about $40,000 were paid from conference registrations and corporate contributions.

The Executive Committee chose eight policy areas of particular importance to older Virginians. The policy areas were:

housing
long-term care
transportation
caregiving
economic security
legal issues
health care
health and lifestyle

Conference participants chose a single policy area and attended sessions that viewed it from three perspectives: the present status, the goals for the future and the recommendations or "blueprint" to achieve the goals. Each work group included consumers, state and local government representatives, private sector providers and aging advocates. Recommendations were required to focus on what is realistic and achievable for the Commonwealth over several years. Some recommendations have been submitted to the 1992 General Assembly; some have been implemented by administrative action; others are under study for implementation in 1992.