Audience

Conference Session

Focus Areas

In the past, most AAA’s primarily administered Older Americans Act funds. Today AAAs work with over 29,000 local community service organizations that serve seven million older adults and over 436,000 caregivers, through its network of 650 Area Agencies on Aging and 243 tribal organizations. Additionally, in more than half the states, Area Agencies on Aging operate home and community based Medicaid waiver programs that in total spend billions of dollars each year through the aging network. AAAs and Title VI programs were also involved heavily in Medicare Part D and provided millions of Medicare beneficiaries’ enrollment assistance in the past year. These innovations and adaptations to a changing environment are indicative of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the aging network. In essence, over the past ten years AAAs and Title VI organizations have been making the transition between the old way of doing business and the ever changing consumer driven system of care that we are experiencing today.

n4a’s 2008 Annual Conference & Tradeshow in Nashville Tennessee will equip AAA and Title VI directors and staff, aging commission members, aging service providers, academic researchers, and federal, state and local agency officials with the needed tools to meet these new challenges head on. Employing a variety of formats featuring general sessions and workshops, our latest innovation – the Aging Innovations Showcase, and an exhibition featuring cutting-edge products and services, the 2008 n4a Annual Conference & Tradeshow will bring the Aging Network and other professionals and partners together to share ideas about how to be strategic, visual, and effective leaders in our community.

Older Americans Act Services Keeping the Programs Current

Highlight innovative strategies and program enhancements that can help agencies improve program administration and implementation of core Older Americans Act Services. These presentations should focus on home delivered/congregate meals, adult day care and senior centers, caregiving, information and referral/ assistance and senior employment services.

Tools for Running Your Organization

Focus on innovative ways to enhance agencies’ management practices in the areas of finance/auditing, grants/contracts, fundraising, human resources, public relations/media, leadership development, outcome measures/program evaluation, working with Boards and Commissions, and technology. Also, highlight ways for agencies to maximize their efforts to advocate on behalf of older adults and caregivers by mobilizing grassroots advocates, working with elected officials and building coalitions.

Promoting Healthy and Quality of Life Aging in the Community

Workshops within this Focus Area are sponsored by: GA Food Service, Inc.

Focus on innovative programs and services that AAAs and Title VI agencies can implement to improve health outcomes for older adults in the areas of health promotion/wellness, nutrition, physical activity, evidence based disease prevention, prescription drug programs, medication management, mental health/ depression, substance abuse prevention, and Medicare enrollment assistance. In addition, you may focus on the broad range of programs and services needed to help older adults “age in place,” including community planning, housing, transportation, public safety, education/life long learning, workforce development and retirement planning.

Leading the Way in Community Based Long-term Care

Focus on innovative programs and services AAAs and Title VI Programs involved in community based long-term care programs such as the Medicaid Waiver programs, consumer directed care, and Aging Disability Resource Centers. Also featured, models of case management, single-point-of entry systems, consumer direction, and nursing home diversion.

Elder Rights, Keeping Older Adults Safe and Secure, Elder Abuse Prevention

Workshops within this Focus Area are sponsored by: Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability

Focus on innovative elder abuse/neglect prevention, ombudsman programs, care monitoring, emergency response systems, financial assistance, disaster preparedness, crime prevention and legal aid/advocating for older adults.

Working with Diverse Aging Populations

Focus on innovative programs that deal with the ethnic and cultural diversity issues that are occurring with the increase in the aging ethnic minority communities. Area of concentration may include workforce training, accept-vs.-tolerate change, and development and implementation of new policies.

Supporting Title VI Programs and Services

Focus on new and innovative programs in the Title VI Native American aging communities which also include AAA and Title VI programs working jointly together in service coordination. These sessions are designed to assist directors and staffs address the unique situations and service needs of serving elders in Indian country.

AoA (Choices for Independence)

Sessions focus on innovative programs that exemplify the U. S. Administration on Aging’s Choice for Independence initiative. This initiative is designed to modernize community based long-term care and provide greater assurance that elderly individuals in the United States will maintain their independence in the community longer than ever before.

Conference Registration Fees

The conference registration fee includes: the conference packet, entry to the tradeshow, workshops, general sessions, Sunday Pre-conference Workshops, refreshment breaks, Sunday Welcome Reception, Monday Early Bird Walk, Monday Lunch, Monday and Tuesday Breakfasts and the Tuesday Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Reception and Entertainment.

Guest Meals, Monday Mobile Workshops, Monday Ryman Auditorium Event and Certificates of Attendance are not included in the registration fee and must be purchased separately. Advance registration is required, space is limited.

Pre-Conference Intensives require advance registration. Intensives are free but space is limited.

Additional Opportunities Not Included In Conference Registration Fee

MOBILE WORKSHOPS: Monday, July 21
(9:45 am – 12:00 pm)
(Require Advance Registration) Transportation Fee ..... $ 5 each

AN EVENING AT THE HISTORIC RYMAN AUDITORIUM: Monday, July 21
(6:30 pm – 8:30 pm)
(Non-refundable. Advance registration required, space is limited.)
A Fund Raising Event to Benefit the n4a Older Americans Disaster Relief Fund ..... $20 each

COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM RECEPTION AND ENTERTAINMENT: Tuesday, July 22
(6:30 pm – 9:30 pm)
(Must register by July 14. Advance registration required, space is limited.)
Guest Ticket is required for non n4a Registered Attendee ..... $ 55 each
(Conference registrant admission is included in the registration fee.)

CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE
Certificate of Attendance (processing fee) available to all attendees ..... $10

CANCELLATION POLICY: All cancellations must be in writing and postmarked by July 1, 2008, to receive a full refund, less a $50 administrative fee. Cancellations received after July 1, 2008, will not be eligible for refund; however, an alternate person may attend for the registrant. All fees are payable in U.S. dollars.