WASHINGTON--The 2005 White House Conference on Aging convened last week to address long-term planning needs for the next decade as the first wave of baby boomers approach retirement age.

The White House-sponsored conference, which meets once every 10 years, is charged with making recommendations to the president and Congress on aging policies. Approximately 78 million baby boomers will begin to turn 60 in January, a major concern to policy planners.

Strengthening and improving both the Medicare and Medicaid programs, along with promoting innovative models of noninstitutional long-term care, are among the resolutions presented at the conference. In remarks at the conference, CMS Administrator Mark McClellan cited long-term care as a "critical part of healthy long-term living."

According to McClellan, "We are now in an era when it is possible and often desirable for millions of seniors with long-term care needs to age in place" in their homes. He added that Medicare benefits emphasizing prevention, including the coverage of prescription drugs, are expected to improve seniors' lives.

Other resolutions presented at the conference include:

--reauthorizing the Older Americans Act within the first six months following the 2005 conference;
--developing a coordinated, comprehensive long-term care strategy by supporting public- and private-sector initiatives that address financing, choice, quality, service delivery and the paid and unpaid work force;
--ensuring that older Americans have transportation options to retain their mobility and independence;
--supporting geriatric education and training for all health care professionals, paraprofessionals, health profession students and direct-care workers;
--improving recognition, assessment and treatment of mental illness and depression among older Americans;
--attaining adequate numbers of health care personnel in all professions who are skilled, culturally competent and specialized in geriatrics; and
--improving state- and local-based integrated delivery systems to meet 21st-century needs of seniors.

The final conference report will be given to the president and Congress by June 2006. For more information, including a list of the conference's 50 resolutions, visit www.whcoa.gov.