News Release

Dilworth-Anderson Appointed to White House Conference on Aging Advisory Committee

May 19, 2005

Dr. Peggye Dilworth-Anderson, director of the Center for Aging and Diversity within the Institute on Aging, and professor of health policy and administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Public Health, has been selected by President George W. Bush to serve as one of the 22 members of the bi-partisan advisory committee to the White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA). The role of the WHCoA advisory committee is to advise the policy committee on the content and direction of the WHCoA, and contribute to the development of resolutions and background materials for the delegates.

Dilworth- Anderson is also Associate Director for Aging and Diversity in the IOA. Her research interests include minority aging, family caregiving and aging, health disparities, dementia and caregiving and long-term care. IOA Director Victor Marshall describes Dr Dilworth-Anderson as "an outstanding, nationally renowned expert in aging, including minority aging and family care of the elderly with dementia. She is an ideal choice for this high-level advisory committee for the White House Conference on Aging."

The 2005 White House Conference on Aging will be held Dec. 11-14, 2005, in Washington, D.C. Such conferences are held about every 10 years to develop recommendations for the President and Congress on issues, policy and research in the field of aging. The 2005 White House Conference on Aging occurs as the first wave of the baby boom generation prepares for retirement, creating an important opportunity to creatively assess aging in America and improve the lives of older Americans.

The Institute on Aging has also co-sponsored a Pre-White House Conference on Aging forum held by the Governor's Advisory Council on Aging May 18, 2005. IOA Associate Director for Public Service, Bill Lamb, prepared a synthesis report from local input for organizations who were not presenting. The Institute on Aging will be working with Division of Aging and Adult Services staff to prepare a report from the forum, which will be used to guide North Carolina delegates to the White House Conference on Aging.