Series of forums to shape agenda for the 2015 White House Conference on Aging
Miami, FL ” Josefina Carbonell, vice president of Long-Term Care & Nutrition for Independent Living Systems (ILS), traveled to Tampa, Fla. for the first regional forum of the 2015 White House Conference on Aging. The national conference will be held later this year in Washington D.C.
Carbonell, along with older adults, their families, caregivers and other leaders in the field, provided input and ideas to help shape the agenda. This is the first in a series of town hall meetings federal officials plan to conduct across the country to promote a national dialogue on health care policy.
Carbonell is the former Assistant Secretary for Aging at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and considered a leader in the field of health care policy for older Americans.
Fostering independence and protecting some of our most vulnerable members of society “ older adults “ is possible with the right support system including home and community-based services and nutritional programs, said Carbonell. This is occurring throughout the country with positive results, where individuals are receiving care at home at reduced costs with improved health outcomes, she added.
Several important issues were discussed during the forum including helping older Americans remain healthy and independent as they age, promoting retirement security, preventing financial exploitation and combatting other forms of elder abuse.