Having just examined old age in my last post covering Susan Jacoby’s bummer book, Never Say Die, I was excited to be invited to a conference in Washington DC on productive ways to improve the way we deal with our elders, particularly women, in this country. Volunteers of America is doing a panel discussion on Women and Aging at the National Press Club next Tuesday, May 10, 2011. The panel will include Arianna Huffington, who I always enjoy listening to.

Since I can’t attend, David Burch of VOA was nice enough to permit me access to a feed, so I’ll be able to participate online. I hope to gain some informational gems to bring back to Any Shiny Thing and share with you.

I hadn’t known about Volunteers of America but I found this blurb on their website, and it sounds pretty good:

Through our thousands of human service programs, including housing and healthcare, Volunteers of America helps more than 2 million people in over 400 communities in 46 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  Since 1896, we have supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable groups, including at-risk youth, the frail elderly… Our work touches the mind, body, heart — and ultimately the spirit — of those we serve, integrating our deep compassion with highly effective programs and services.

I was so discouraged about Jacoby’s book that I decided to live as if I never read it, and as if all of us were taking a positive approach instead of wailing, moaning, and giving up. So I have to thank Susan Jacoby for galvanizing me.

In the meantime, VOA has produced a downloadable white paper on the financial implications of aging in America, called Boomer Bust 2011 – Still Unprepared and Unaware. It may motivate you to think about the financial implications of your own “golden years.”

Kindle readers can email me at LMSpreen@yahoo.com.