This week, the White House hosted an important conversation about supporting older Americans and their caregivers as part of the White House Conference on Aging. 

Our conversation encompassed the vast diversity in types of caregiving – from a family caregiver who cares for her aging Veteran husband, to family caregivers with full-time jobs who are trying to balance their career with their child and elder care responsibilities to a home care worker who travels many miles per day to care for a diverse group of older Americans with different needs. 

David Hyde Pierce moderates the Faces of Caregivers panel with Gail Gibson Hunt, Anne Ellis-Carthern, Kimberly Thomas, Deborah Rubenstein

The challenges are many but the diverse group of participants at this week’s event – older Americans, supporters, caregivers, specialists, and community leaders – focused on the opportunities for supporting caregivers. Our discussion included breakout sessions on economic security for caregivers, the unique needs and opportunities for different types of caregivers, as well as family caregiver support and the capacity and training of care providers.

The 2015 White House Conference on Aging is focusing on four critical areas: long-term services and supports (including caregiving), retirement security, healthy aging, and elder justice. By concentrating on these issues, the White House Conference on Aging is engaging diverse communities in identifying ways to support older Americans. Please join the dialogue, by visiting www.whcoagov, where you can sign up for regular updates, read policy briefs on an array of subjects and share your comments, thoughts, and ideas.

Thank you for your interest in commenting on this blog. At this time, we are no longer accepting comments. If you are still interested in sharing your thoughts, please e-mail them to info@whaging.gov.