News Release

October 14, 2010
Updated October 21, 2010

Record attendance at Governor's Conference on Aging

Photos from the Opening Plenary (left to right): William Friday, Governor Perdue, Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield, William Friday, Barbara Entwisle, Barbara Entwisle, Governor Perdue.

The Governor's Conference on Aging was held October 13-15 in Durham, with a record attendance of over 650 aging service providers, seniors, advocates, and other experts in the field of aging. The UNC Institute on Aging and the NC Division of Aging and Adult services planned and administered the conference. Opening session speakers included Governor Beverly Perdue; William Friday, past UNC-CH president and North Carolina elder statesman; and Ran Coble, executive director of the NC Center for Public Policy Research. Barbara Entwisle, interim UNC-CH Vice-Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, introduced Dr. Friday. William Lamb, UNC Institute on Aging Associate Director for Public Service, was the conference Program Chair.

Governor Perdue noted that North Carolina is undergoing a major demographic shift as the state's 2.3 million baby boomers are beginning to enter the retirement age. Today, 37 North Carolina counties have more people age 60 and older than those 17 and younger. In 2030, it is projected that 71 counties will have more people age 60 and older than those 17 and younger. With the focus on developing policy recommendations, Governor Perdue has called on the time and talents of North Carolinians to help shape the future of the state for "living wise and aging well."

The primary goal of the conference was to develop recommendations to guide future state policy to strengthen North Carolina's response for its aging population. The work of conference participants builds on two activities initiated by Gov. Perdue--the Governor's Policy Roundtables and the Assessment of the State's Readiness for an Aging Population that were conducted through the spring and summer. The work of conference participants--along with that of the roundtables and state assessment--will inform the next State Aging Plan for 2011-2015.