UNIVERSITY Aging= U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE No. 70--August 1960 itate Reports Received in Washington As Final WHCA Plans Are Developed State Reports of surveys and findings on the eeds and opportunities for older citizens, largely onducted as a result of activity sparked in the tates by the 52 WHCA grants, are now being ubmitted to the White House Conference staff n Washington from all parts of the country. State Recommendations, for consideration at he Conference itself, are due during the remainler of the summer months and are being made, n most cases, directly after the scheduled WHCA State Conferences on Aging. Some twenty State Conferences are scheduled for September. Virgin Island Submits First Report First to submit both its report and recommendations was the Virgin Islands, smallest in population of the 53 States and territories participating in the WHCA. The Virgin Islands had two Governor's conferences in May, held in different locations to accommodate a scattered population. By the third week of July, State reports and recommendations had also been received from Oklahoma and Washington State, based on careful and extended preparatory work, statewide conferences, and citizen participation from all segments of the population. Reports of findings without recommendations had come in from Alabama, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and South Carolina as preparations were being made for the task of collating and coordinating each State's final set of recommendations. Nationwide Compilations Summarized nationwide compilations will be returned to each State for the use of White House Conference delegates. A special "task force" of regional and central office White House Conference staff is now working on the coordination and compilation of State recommendations. Background Papers and Case Studies Meanwhile, most of the "Background Papers" in each of the subject-matter areas to be considered at the Conference have been printed and distributed to the Governor's Designee in each State, primarily as an aid for State WHCA preparations, and for official WHCA delegates. A new series of "case studies" on successful projects throughout the country, under the title "Guideposts to Effective Action in Aging," has also been issued and distributed to the States. Copies of both the background papers and the case studies are not available to the general public because the limited printing run was intended solely for WHCA purposes. The background papers are available of course, wherever WHCA officials have received them, and in most public libraries serving an area of 35,000 or more population. WHCA Program Structure Recent meetings of the entire National Advisory Committee, of the 20 Planning Committee chairmen, and of a newly appointed Coordinating Committee of Eight (chosen from the 150-member National Advisory Committee), have reviewed proposals and recommendations for final details on the program and schedule for the January 912 WHCA week. These are to be announced soon. A preliminary WHCA program is now being prepared for the printer. Most of these proposals, when approved, will be included in the special issue of Aging due for release later this summer. Selection of Delegates Selection of delegates by national voluntary organizations has been virtually completed, and each State, as an aid in the selection of its official State delegation to the WHCA, is being advised which of its residents have been chosen to attend the Conference by the approximately 300 participating national organizations. Arkansas Conference on Aging Follows Careful Planning By Mrs. Fannie Beard, Consultant, Governor's Commission on Aging, P. O. Box 2981, Little Rock, Ark. On June 23 in Little Rock our first State Conference on Aging was attended by approximately 300 people. It was the culmination of preparations and events which started in early 1959. Enthusiasm and interest were high, even though this was the hottest day so far this year. 1959: The Need for a State Commission At their regular meeting in May 1959 the Governor's Committee on Employment of Older Workers recommended that a Commission on Aging be appointed. Although employment is essential to the welfare and economy of the aging population, our Committee realized that there are many other problems which need the attention of the general public. The Commission Becomes a Reality Plans were soon made for the organization of the Governor's Commission. Governor Faubus applied for the Federal WHCA grant of $15,000 to finance the study of needs of the aged in Arkansas, one of the first applications from any State, and we received the grant in August. After the initial appointment of 54 leading citizens from all parts of the State (the Commission now numbers 84), Gus Blass II of Little Rock was named Chairman. Mr. Harry N. Pollock of Fort Smith, who is a member of the WHCA National Advisory Committee, serves as liaison representative for the Commission. Dr. Hayden Donahue, another member of the National Advisory Committee, has also rendered invaluable service as a member of our State Commission. Commission Action It was decided that Arkansas would select the fields of greatest need for its study, and organize accordingly: Welfare and Housing were combined as one committee, as were Education and Recreation. Since Health and Employment were needs already known to be of prime urgency these were assigned to separate committees. Members of the Commission chose the commit tee on which they wanted to serve, and committe chairmen drafted a set of preliminary finding and questions for the use of study group throughout the State. A questionnaire develope by Dr. Philip Himelstein of the University o Arkansas, a member of our Commission, wa mailed with the preliminary committee report to every county and area organization and forme the nucleus for the studies. As our State survey progressed, it became in creasingly apparent that the fields chosen fo study often overlapped. They covered every are included in the ten subject groupings for WHC State Reports. State Organization and District Conferences A chairman was designated in each of the si Congressional Districts to regulate the work a sub-committees within the District and keep them moving. With the aid of these District Chair men, sub-committees were set up in each of the 75 counties. On March 23, 1960 the first District Confer ence was held in Jonesboro. Other District Con ferences were held at Russellville on April 5, a Newport on April 14, at Fayetteville on Apri 19, at Pine Bluff on April 22, and at El Dorado on May 16. Recommendations from these Dist rict Conferences were sent to the State Commit tee Chairmen, and were used as a basis for their workshops at the State Conference, and for their reports. The excellence of the reports from Commit tee Chairmen prompted a decision to include them, with very little change, as part of the State Report. In order that the requested format wil be followed, and for the sake of uniformity, con densed statements are also being made unde each subject grouping, along more general lines The State Conference Registration for our one-day Conference on June 23 began at 8 a.m., and was in charge of the "Senior Citizens Activities Today" organi zation of Little Rock. At 9 the program began. Gus Blass II pre sided, giving a brief resume of Conference ob jectives. He introduced the guests and explained the workshops, which directly followed. Mr Clarence Lambright, Dallas Regional Represen tative for the WHCA, served as consultant throughout the conference. Until about noon, the four workshops then ran concurrently. They covered the six fields in which the committee studies had been made. Each workshop was conducted by the chairman of the committee in that field. All reported excellent group participation. At the Conference luncheon Governor Faubus dressed the delegates, saying that "solving oblems really lies in our own hearts, homes d communities; you can't delegate solving a oblem to Little Rock or Washington and then rget it." iss Adkins Featured Speaker Under Secretary of HEW Bertha S. Adkins as the featured luncheon speaker. She had arm praise for the Older Worker Program beg carried out in the State, and said that her ason for wanting to come to Arkansas was an terest in what the States are doing in the study f the needs of aging. Miss Adkins outlined the background and planing for the White House Conference; she cited he Arkansas program for Older Workers as a grass-roots movement" with individual responbility a major factor in its progress, adding that olunteer movements, such as this, are part of he things that make us a strong nation. "Here," he said, "you have shown what can be done with overnment units and private groups working ogether. One person can start a movement that vill enlist the rest of a community." eports from District Chairmen and Workshops Following the luncheon, the District Chairmen rave brief reports, a "business" session featured eports from each workshop, and recommendaions were read, discussed, and voted upon by the entire group. All recommendations were adopted by voice vote. member of the WHCA National Advisory Committee), with planning and preparations for the conference throughout the previous year. Three hundred participated in the program, in 44 special subject meetings and five general sessions. Local "Reactor" Meetings While in many States the governor's conference has followed local district sessions, in Wisconsin the opposite was true. Reports and recommendations from our State conference will be presented in late August and early September at ten or more local district "reactor" meetings. These later local meetings are expected to result in additional or modified resolutions to be brought to the White House Conference next January, and in more widespread awareness of the problems, as well as new stimulation of local action. Local communities will have the benefit of the knowledge, enthusiasm, and experience gained by representatives at the June 1-3 “kickoff" statewide sessions, and will get coordinated and printed conference reports on each of the ten groupings of subject areas recommended for study by the WHCA National Advisory Committee. Senior Citizens Attend The presence of numbers of elder citizens at Wisconsin's State conference provided a sense of direct contact with the problems discussed. Several cities had made special efforts to encourage the attendance of "senior citizens." Some seniors came independently. The inspiring opening address was by Dr. Lillian M. Gilbreth, consulting engineer, psychologist, and the mother in "Cheaper By The Dozen." Dr. Gilbreth, in her eighties, is also a member of the National Advisory Committee for the WHCA. The great diversity and variety of opinions expressed, especially in the health insurance field, and the willingness to consider all viewpoints, made this conference particularly stimulating. Discussions of the activities and plans of clubs, communities and institutions were among the most valuable conference experiences. Between and after sessions there was lively discussion in small gatherings. In addition to 54 statewide agencies, organizations and groups which co-sponsored the conference, more than 20 other participating organizations sent official representatives to take part in the program. The beautiful setting of the new Wisconsin Adult Education Center Building and the adjoining stately Memorial Union with its terrace on the shore of Lake Mendota, provided an ideal environment for the serious deliberations that took place. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE Published to share and exchange information about programs, activities, and publications among interested individuals, agencies, and organizations, under approval of the Bureau of the Budget dated August 22, 1957. Subscriptions ($1.00 for 12 issues, 50¢ additional for foreign mailing, or 10¢ for single copies) should be addressed to Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. All other communications may be sent directly to Editor of Aging, Special Staff on Aging, U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington 25, D. C. New Direct Loan Program Launched by HHFA U. S. Housing Administrator Norman P. Mason announced on July 18 that the Housing and Home Finance Agency is ready to accept applications under the new program of direct loans for housing the elderly. The program authorized by Section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (see Aging 62, p. 2) was activated by a $20 million appropriation, recently signed into law by President Eisenhower. Applications will be processed under criteria that will assure a variety of experience. The program will be administered through a Division of Housing for the Elderly in the HHFA Office of the Administrator. Mr. Mason announced appointment of Daniel G. Minto as head of the Division. Mr. Minto served with the Federal Housing Administration from August 1958 until April of this year. He had been Director of the FHA San Francisco Insuring Office until May 1959, when he was appointed Assistant FHA Commissioner for Field Operations in the Washington office. Prior to joining the FHA, Mr. Minto had a successful career in business and finance in California and Hawaii. The direct loan program is designed to supplement and not supplant the other Federal aids for housing elderly families and persons. The Federal Housing Administration provides mortgage Imance for both nonprofit and profit corporaTons to assist in the financing of rental housing propela apecifically designed for the elderly. The 114 alan is undertaking a new program of mortpops Imantane for the financing of skilled nurs ing homes. In addition, the Public Housing A ministration provides low-rent public housing older persons of low income. Loans under the new program may be ma only to private nonprofit corporate sponsors rental housing and related facilities for elder families and persons. The housing and relat facilities may be provided through new co struction or through the acquisition and rehabi tation or conversion of existing structures. Co struction must be undertaken in an economic manner and may not be of elaborate or extrav gant design or materials. Loans may be for no more than 98 percent the total development cost. The Administrator will report to the Congre as soon as possible on experience under the pr gram. Because the primary purpose of the progra is to test and report promptly on the rent leve which can be achieved under varying condition selection will be made from otherwise eligit applications in a way to assure an objective te of • projects built in widely scattered location throughout the country; • projects located both in large cities a smaller cities and towns; • projects designed for independent or sel contained occupancy, along with those design for congregate living. Other significant elements of design, plannin and location which give promise of providing us ful information and experience on the most effe tive means of meeting the housing needs of low middle-income elderly persons and families w also be weighed in selecting from among eligit applicants and projects. Evidence of ability to move forward rapid in the final planning and construction of the pro ect may also be a major factor in selection early projects for this limited program. Private non-profit corporations who are inte ested in participating in this program may wri to the Division of Housing for the Elderly, Hou ing and Home Finance Agency, Washington 2 D.C. Copies of application forms and of the Polici and Requirements of the Housing and Home F nance Administrator, a pamphlet which spells o the basic requirements of the statute and of th Administrator which will govern operations u der the program, are being printed and will b sent to applicants as soon as available. The National Committee on the Aging (345 E. 46 St., NYC 17) is planning to release by midSeptember the first film in a series on "The Later Years," according to Executive Secretary Geneva Mathiasen. This film deals with the problems of financial preparation for retirement. A packet of related materials to aid viewers who are motivated to plan for retirement in evaluating their physical, personal, and income status will include: forms to aid in budgeting; guides for property inventory and a review of property repair needs; questions on survey skills and hobby potentials; helpful hints on examining and storing important records; and advice on how to check up on one's health. The film production is supported by a grant from the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company of New Jersey. Dr. Joseph Hanford Gerber has been appointed Director of the Center for Aging Research of the National Institutes of Health at Bethesda, Md. Dr. Gerber was formerly Medical Officer in Charge of the PHS Indian Health Office in Aberdeen, S.D. In his new post, he will direct the activities of the Center for Aging Research in its responsibilities for coordinating NIH programs for research in aging. He succeeds Dr. G. Halsey Hunt, who is now chief of the Division of General Medical Sciences, of which the Center is a component. |