The Committee on Aging has had a busy summer organizing and participating in visits as part of the APA Stand for Science District Campaign and hosting several events at APA’s 2019 convention in Chicago.
The focus of our efforts within the Stand for Science District Campaign has been to educate lawmakers about the importance of behavioral research with the aim of supporting the health and wellbeing of the large and growing older adult population. During these visits, lawmakers and their staff meet with APA members to discuss the crucial role psychologists play in these efforts. CONA and Div. 20 worked together to identify psychologists to meet with lawmakers within their own districts, demonstrate their work to them and its importance for older adults and provide lab tours. At Florida State University, Walter Boot, PhD, and Neil Charness, PhD, who study the potential of technology to support older adults, especially older adults at risk for social isolation, met with staff members from Senator Marco Rubio’s office and Representative Neal Dunn’s office. At Palo Alto University, Lisa Brown, PhD, with a clinical and research focus on trauma and resilience, global mental health, aging and vulnerable populations, met with Representative Anna Eshoo. At University of Florida, Michael Marsiske, PhD, whose research focuses on cognitive aging and cognitive intervention strategies to support older adults, met with Representative Ted Yoho. These meetings were a success and provided the information necessary for senators and representatives to advocate for more resources to address the current and future needs of older adults. More about the importance of the Stand for Science District Campaign and how to participate can be found online.
At APA 2019, CONA prepared and presented multiple sessions related to the needs of older adults and caregivers. CONA sponsored the session “LGBT Issues Across the Lifespan: How Social Stigma and Multiple Inequities Present Challenges to Successful Aging.” This program pulled together multiple perspectives on the diverse challenges LGBT individuals face across the lifespan. It showcased issues from a developmental lifespan approach and included expertise that reflected the diversity of the LGBT community. CONA also sponsored the extremely well-attended session “Taking Care of Our Own: Diversity in Caregiving Across the Lifespan.” This symposium reviewed issues faced by family caregivers across the life cycle, with attention to special issues of gender, race/ethnicity and age. Roles for psychologists in advocacy, policy, practice and research were discussed. Finally, CONA again hosted their popular CONA Conversation Hour. The theme of the hour was “The Future of Aging and Technology: How Will Technology Support Older Adults in the Year 2050?”The CONA Conversation Hour featured luminaries in the field of aging and technology and charged them with the task of predicting the benefits and potential pitfalls for older adults as society becomes increasingly digital. Luminaries included Neil Charness, PhD; Wendy Rogers, PhD; Joseph Gaugler, PhD; and Anne McLaughlin, PhD; and the panel generated a thoughtful and highly entertaining discussion.
For the remainder of the year, CONA has a number of activities and initiatives planned, including expanding the resources available at our Exploring Careers in Aging Roadmap and updating and expanding APA’s 2002 Resolution on Ageism. Updates on these and other initiatives will be provided in the next newsletter.