Published: Thrusday, May 5, 2005
The Topeka Capital-Journal
By: Matt Moline
Kansas Secretary on Aging Pamela Johnson-Betts used a "Wizard of Oz" reference Wednesday to note that there is no magic answer to assuring quality services for senior citizens.
Kansans know you can't just "click your ruby red slippered heels together" and move from the traditional to the more modern.
Johnson-Betts urged participants at the 2005 Governor's Conference on Aging Services to redouble their own on-the-job efforts to improve the overall culture for the state's growing population of seniors, beginning with a full-scale attack on stereotypes of those 55 and older.
"We need to stop perpetuating the stereotype that seniors aren't alive and vivacious," Johnson-Betts said. "We all have relatives who are more active than we are. So I ask you to help me in making the public aware of how valuable seniors are. We've got to get that message out."
The two-day conference, which continues today at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and the Kansas Expocentre's Maner Conference Centre, drew nearly 750 participants from across the state, organizers said, including community service advocates, nursing home administrators and home-health providers.
Johnson-Betts pledged to renew the Department on Aging's public relations resources to help change a frequently unflattering public image of Kansas' senior citizens -- and the professionals who work with older adults.
 Elmer Kellner listens to remarks from Pamela Johnson-Betts, secretary of the Kansas Department on Aging, at Wednesday's opening session of the 2005 Governor's Conference on Aging Services at the Maner Conference Centre. |
| Photo by - Anthony S. Bush/The Capital-Journal |
"Our job is to educate the media that cover our events," she said. "Senior issues just aren't on the radar screen right now."
At a morning workshop that focused on strategies to help find jobs for older workers, Kansas Department of Commerce program coordinator Toni Wellshear cited statistics showing that 63 percent of all seniors want to continue working even after retirement.
Wellshear, who retired in January after a 24-year career as a program coordinator for older adults at KDOC, said 37 percent of all seniors live at or below the federal poverty level, which is figured at $14,000 for a two-adult household.
"Like it or not, we live in a culture that values youth over age," Wellshear said. "Aging in the workplace begins early. Business and industry regard someone age 40 as an older worker. In some businesses, 35-year-olds already feel the age crunch.
The 2005 Governor's Conference on Aging Services continues today at Maner Conference Centre with workshop sessions from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m., 10 to 11:15 a.m. and 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. The featured luncheon speaker is Pearl Rovaris MacDonald.
"We need to address the situation. But instead, we go to great extremes and tremendous expense to hold onto our youth, including many seniors who try to look younger with expensive cosmetics and hair preparations."
Matt Moline can be reached at matthew.moline@cjonline.com.