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Gores Host Conference on Seniors & Caregiving

Wed, 10/18/2000 - 12:00am — Karen Stevenson
Description: 

Family Re-Union is a series of annual conferences moderated by Vice President and Mrs. Gore that bring together families and those who work with them to discuss and design better ways to strengthen family life in America. Each year for the past eight years, Family Re-Union has explored a different topic of critical importance to families, in a format that brings together about 1,000 people on site in Nashville, Tennessee and thousands more around the country in community conversations at down link sites, through live cybercast and live or delayed broadcasts of the entire event. The conferences are sponsored by the University of Minnesota's Children, Youth & Family Consortium and by Vanderbilt University's Child and Family Policy Center.

This year's conference will focus on the issues, strengths and needs of family members of all ages, exploring creative strategies that improve the lives of these families at home and in the community. The conference will highlight programs, policy issues, and research to help communities, states and the federal government respond effectively to these ideas. Conference speakers will look at ways to support family members of all generations as they plan and make choices about living arrangements, health and mental health care, and quality of life.

Some of the key questions to be addressed include:

* How can the invaluable contribution of seniors in our society be expanded and enhanced?
* How can the strengths of each generation be used to meet the needs of the others?
* What is the role of families in ensuring quality health and mental health care for elders?
* How can we support and care for elders while encouraging them to maintain an independent life?
* How can we maintain the health and mental health of caregivers of all generations?
* How can we maximize the contribution of wisdom, experience and dedication of elders to secure our children's future?
* What can we learn from other cultures and traditions?
* What is the potential synergy between elder care and childcare?
* How can we support grandparents raising grandchildren?
* What can seniors give to, and gain from, education at every level?
* What are the options for meaningful work as we age?
* How seniors connect more effectively to family and friends?
* What are the challenges of communicating between the generations?
* How can multi-generation families maintain financial security?
* What is the importance of flexible work arrangements?
* What changes in policy are necessary to address these questions?

Family Re-Union is a series of annual conferences moderated by Vice President and Mrs. Gore that bring together families and those who work with them to discuss and design better ways to strengthen family life in America. Each year for the past eight years, Family Re-Union has explored a different topic of critical importance to families, in a format that brings together about 1,000 people on site in Nashville, Tennessee and thousands more around the country in community conversations at down link sites, through live cybercast and live or delayed broadcasts of the entire event. The conferences are sponsored by the University of Minnesota's Children, Youth & Family Consortium and by Vanderbilt University's Child and Family Policy Center.

This year's conference will focus on the issues, strengths and needs of family members of all ages, exploring creative strategies that improve the lives of these families at home and in the community. The conference will highlight programs, policy issues, and research to help communities, states and the federal government respond effectively to these ideas. Conference speakers will look at ways to support family members of all generations as they plan and make choices about living arrangements, health and mental health care, and quality of life.

Some of the key questions to be addressed include:

* How can the invaluable contribution of seniors in our society be expanded and enhanced?
* How can the strengths of each generation be used to meet the needs of the others?
* What is the role of families in ensuring quality health and mental health care for elders?
* How can we support and care for elders while encouraging them to maintain an independent life?
* How can we maintain the health and mental health of caregivers of all generations?
* How can we maximize the contribution of wisdom, experience and dedication of elders to secure our children's future?
* What can we learn from other cultures and traditions?
* What is the potential synergy between elder care and childcare?
* How can we support grandparents raising grandchildren?
* What can seniors give to, and gain from, education at every level?
* What are the options for meaningful work as we age?
* How seniors connect more effectively to family and friends?
* What are the challenges of communicating between the generations?
* How can multi-generation families maintain financial security?
* What is the importance of flexible work arrangements?
* What changes in policy are necessary to address these questions?