The WHCOA history goes back to 1958 when a bill was introduced in Congress calling for a nationwide citizens' forum to focus public attention on the potentials of older Americans, and to consolidate all the opinions and recommendations coming from State conferences and meetings. The first White House Conference on Aging was held in Washington D.C. in 1961. As a result of that conference, Social Security amendments were passed and the Housing Act of 1961, and the Community Facilities Act were amended to make special provisions for the aged. In 1965 Medicare and Medicaid, also influenced by the 1961 proceedings, were enacted as part of the Social Security Act and the Older Americans Act was passed establishing the Federal Administration on Aging. Subsequent conferences were held in 1971, 1981 and 1995.

In 2000, Congress passed the Older American Act Amendments of 2000 authorizing a WHCoA to be held not later than December 31, 2005. The mission of the conference is to develop no more than 50 recommendations for additional research and action in the field of aging to guide the President, Congress and Federal agencies in serving older individuals. Delegates selected had to meet the following criteria. They should represent professionals, individuals who are nonprofessionals, minority members and low-income families. They should represent Federal, State & local governments, and rural areas. Finally, a majority of those appointed as delegates should be over age 55. The 2005 WHCoA is being held with the knowledge that the first wave of baby boomers is preparing for retirement and that it is time to creatively reassess aging in America and to focus on the lives of older Americans.

Selfhelp has a further special interest in the WHCoA since Leo Asen the Administrative Director of Senior Communities has been working closely with the Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST ) which is part of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. CAST is sponsoring a technology pavilion, called the Imagine Pavilion at the WHCoA. It is a look inside the lab - a glimpse of what is possible tomorrow and what is beginning to emerge today. This pavilion is the first time so many advanced technologies for aging care will have been assembled in one place. Visitors to the pavilion will be able to see and touch the future. There are 30 displays from a variety of companies and universities. Technologies will range from those just entering the market to those that might be available in the next ten years. They include two robots; a medicine cabinet that coaches you in taking your prescription; and a chair that monitors vital signs and reports them to the caregiver. There is one device that lets the caregiver know if the iron has been left on. The spirit of the Imagine Pavilion is to get technology out of the lab and into the living room, out of research and development and into the marketplace and to get leaders from both the public and private sector to focus resources on developing aging technologies.

We look forward to sharing with all of you the excitement of the event and the subsequent recommendations that are forwarded to the President.