By Nora Super, Executive Director, White House Conference on Aging

Today, the White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA) released a policy brief on Healthy Aging, a key focus area for the 2015 Conference.

The Healthy Aging policy brief examines how Americans can enjoy long and healthy lives by maximizing their physical, mental, and social well-being. Research has shown that older adults who take advantage of screenings and other preventive health services; adopt healthy behaviors, and are involved with their family, friends, and communities, are healthier and more independent.

Additional briefs will be released in the coming weeks on other key topics for the Conference, including long-term services and supports, elder justice, and retirement security. If you haven’t yet joined our mailing list, you can sign up, and we’ll notify you when the next one is released.

The briefs define and frame each issue area and reflect the most current evidence-based information on the issues. Each brief concludes with a series of discussion questions, and the general public is invited to comment on our website or can e-mail comments to policy@whaging.gov. The White House Conference on Aging will collect the responses and use them to help shape our ongoing work on the 2015 Conference. Comments will be displayed in the new policy briefs section of our website.

By providing input, you’ll be getting involved in the 2015 Conference in a meaningful and concrete way. The Conference is intended as a national conversation, and we need your voice as part of the discussion. We look forward to hearing from you.