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**AoA Update**-See also:**BackIssues**

**Volume 3 Issue 3- Administration on Aging - April 1998**

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#### Assistant Secretary stresses need toprepare for baby boomersASA Receives 1998 Leadership AwardHHS Launches Women’s Health Information CenterHHS Launches Donor ProgramTwo-Edged Sword of Technology Spawns Telemarketing FraudOldest Worker Is HonoredCALENDAR OF EVENTS****Masthead

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Assistant Secretary stresses need to prepare for babyboomers

On February 18, **Assistant Secretary Jeanette C. Takamura** traveled toBaton Rouge, Louisiana to testify before a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing on"Preparing for the Retirement of the Baby Boomers." She testified at thishearing at the request of Senator John Breaux (D-LA), ranking minority member of theCommittee. Also testifying were Social Security Administration Commissioner Kenneth Apfeland Health Care Financing Administration Administrator (HCFA) Nancy Ann Min DeParle. 

The Assistant Secretary stressed the need for all those involved in the field of agingand the nation as a whole to prepare "America for longevity, taking into accountpersonal savings, long-term care insurance issues and other resources which will beessential for present and future generations to remain as self sufficient aspossible."

The Assistant Secretary discussed the President's strong support for Social Securityand Medicare, saying that, "the Administration's recent calls to preserve, strengthenand protect these critical programs, are significant steps toward addressing thechallenges and capitalizing on the opportunities of a longevous society."

Dr. Takamura also discussed the Administration's ongoing efforts to combat fraud, wasteand abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which "play critical roles inhelping to prepare our nation for the 21st century." The Assistant Secretary saidthat she was very pleased that the AoA and the national aging network have played animportant role in Operation Restore Trust, the successful anti-fraud demonstration projectlaunched by President Clinton in 1995. Together with HCFA, the Department of Health andHuman Services (DHHS) Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Justice, AoAhas, she said, "worked hard over the last three years to reach out to thousands ofolder persons by recruiting and training local ombudsmen, aging service providers,volunteers and retired professionals to identify and report waste, fraud and abuse intheir own states and communities."

Dr. Takamura said that she was "pleased that there is so much growing interest inattending to the opportunities and challenges of an aging America. I believe that the onlyway we can succeed in meeting these challenges and taking advantage of these opportunitiesis to build partnerships, and to collect and share as much information as possible inorder to be prepared for what lies ahead."

The hearing provided a good opportunity to demonstrate the importance of partnershipsacross the federal government, in particular as they relate to the retirement of the babyboomers, a demographic phenomenon that soon will be soon upon us.

In addition to appearing as an Administration witness at this important hearing, theAssistant Secretary for Aging joined Senator Breaux and his guests for a specialconstituent luncheon at Our Lady of the Lakes Housing complex where Dr. Takamura was ableto talk with and hear the concerns of many of Senator Breaux's senior advisory members. 

Assistant Secretary Takamura visited with Louisiana Governor Mike Foster at theGovernor's Mansion that afternoon, and met with new State Aging Director Paul Arcineaux.She presented Governor Foster with a check for $50,000 for the Governor's Office ofElderly Affairs activities to combat waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicare and MedicaidPrograms. 

Currently, Louisiana receives $4.5 million for supportive services under Title III ofthe Older Americans Act. The Census Bureau projects that the state's 65 plus populationwill rise to 862,685 in the year 2010, a 30 percent increase from 1995. Louisiana is 1 of18 states funded by AoA to participate in activities to combat fraud and abuse through theHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).

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### ASA Receives 1998 Leadership Award

The American Society on Aging (ASA) presented its 1998 Leadership Award to Jeanette C.Takamura, Assistant Secretary for Aging, at their 44th annual conference in San Francisco,California on March 25.

Takamura addressed various sessions of the ASA Conference, which took place March25-28. Her presentations included a "Critical Issues Panel on the Future of SocialSecurity" as well as a Futures Session entitled "The New American Century: Readyfor Longevity." She also participated in an annual Pundits Panel which focused onsuch issues as the Social Security surplus, Medicare reform and the future of the OlderAmericans Act.

At the conference, Takamura discussed her priorities for AoA which include health,long-term care, economic security, consumer protection, and modernizing the OlderAmericans Act for the next century to prepare America for its longevity. 

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### HHS Launches Women’s Health Information Center

The DHHS’ Public Health Service and the Department of Defense’s Women'sHealth Research Program have launched the National Women’s Health Information Center.Anyone with questions about women's health in general or about a specific program,concern, or disease can call 1-800-994-WOMAN.

Trained health information specialists will provide callers with the information, oryou can also access their website at: http://www.4woman.org.

Once callers have connected with the service, they can offer suggestions about ways toimprove it by e-mailing the FEEDBACK option on the website, or by calling the PHS OWHoffice at 202-260-9275.

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### HHS Launches Donor Program

With more than 55,000 people on the national waiting list for asuitable organ, Secretary Donna E. Shahlala launched the National Initiative to IncreaseOrgan and Tissue Donations last December.
The DHHS has been in the forefront of rapid medical advances that have enabled manythousands of Americans to receive organ and tissue transplantation, and the list ofpersons needing organ donor transplants grows by 500 persons every month.

Some 20,000 Americans, about 55 each day, received organ transplants in 1996.Nevertheless, about 4,000 Americans died last year while waiting for a suitable organ tobecome available.

Anyone wishing to join the organ donor program must first sign a donor card; designate"organ donor" on their driver’s license; and specify their wishes in theirwill, power of attorney, and other legal documents. Secondly, they should share theirdecision with their families and close friends, since families are consulted regardingtheir willingness to have their relative’s organs donated to the program.

Additional information regarding the Organ and Tissue Donation Program is availablefrom the Coalition on Donation at: 1-888-90-SHARE or visit the DHHS web site at: http://www.organdonor.gov
**Go Back to Contents Menu**Two-Edged Sword of Technology Spawns Telemarketing Fraud
While technology is creating a host of products and services that make life for theelderly both better and easier, it has also made it possible for the elderly to be easilyvictimized in their own homes. The culprit is telemarketing fraud--a multimillion dollar"industry" that has bilked hundreds of thousands of elderly andothers--sometimes out of their life’s savings--through phony promises, harassment andintimidation.

A profile of victims, compiled by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP),shows that the average victim is not only an older American but relatively affluent,well-educated, well-informed and socially active in his or her community. The AARP’sresearch indicates that the critical difference between victims and non-victims is theirability to recognize that telemarketing fraud is a crime.

The AARP has produced educational materials in English and Spanish that informrecipients of telemarketing calls about ways to distinguish between legitimate andfraudulent calls; how to respond safely to calls without becoming a victim; and how toreport suspicious calls. 

The fact that older persons are placed at risk for becoming economically vulnerablethrough the sale of fraudulent sales and services--a very serious problem for the elderlysince many have no means for recouping lost resources--is a critical elder rights issues,as envisioned by the Older Americans Acts Title VII, Vulnerable Elder Rights ProtectionActivities.

The Administration on Aging (AoA) has joined with AARP, the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation, the National Consumers League, the National Fraud Information Center, theU.S. Postal Inspections Service, and other groups in implementing the national educationcampaign on telemarketing fraud. In December of 1996, AoA participated in "OperationUnload," named after a boiler-room operation commonly used by fraudulenttelemarketers. AoA staff joined with some 200 "Operation Unload" volunteers,including senior citizens, state presidents of AARP, Attorneys General from 30 states,staff of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, and other federal and corporate agenciesin placing over 7,000 calls nationwide, to persons whose names appeared on"mooch" lists. 

Together these volunteers warned more than 2,100 victims and potential victims thattheir names appear on telephone lists composed of persons known to have fallen victim totelephone scams. One victim that was contacted had already lost thousands of dollars andthen was offered the "opportunity", by a different telemarketer, to have hismoney returned. All he had to do was give his credit card number to cover the"low" service charge.**Telemarketingfraud is a crime believed to cost Americans $40 billion a year. The Administration onAging has urged State and Area Agencies on Aging to adopt telemarketing fraud as an elderrights advocacy issue and to develop ways to distribute the AARP’s educationalmaterials to older persons in their area.

Materials and information concerning ways to assist older persons in avoidingtelemarketing fraud are available from:

Anita O’Riordan American Association of Retired Persons 601 E Street, N.W.Washington, DC 20049 (202) 434-6046Web site: http://www.aarp.org
**Go Back to Contents MenuOldest Worker Is Honored
Milton W. Garland, 102, is living proof that if staying involved is one of thedetermining factors in becoming a centenarian, then continuing to work may make you ahealthy one as well. Mr. Garland says that his only medical problems are declining sightand hearing and that "my own goal right now is to just keep going. I do enjoy mywork, so why should I retire? It’s my greatest pleasure."

Mr. Garland has worked for the Frick Company, a subsidiary of York International, inWaynesboro, Pennsylvania for the past 78 years and continues to work 20 hours a week. Amechanical engineer and refrigeration expert, Mr. Garland also is a consultant to theHershey, PA Bears, a minor league hockey team. He holds 40 patents for inventionsincluding one for the compressors that make and preserve the ice where the Bears play.

Mr. Garland was this year’s recipient of the Oldest Worker Award given by GreenThumb, a Title V Older Americans Act Community Service Employment Program grantee, whichassists low-income older workers through training and community-service job placements.

Mr. Garland and his wife spent the week of March 7 in Washington, D.C. where they werehonored by the Senate Special Committee on Aging and the House Older Americans Caucus andmet with First Lady Hillary Rodam Clinton, and other dignitaries, including AssistantSecretary for Aging, Jeanette C. Takamura. The AoA and the U.S. Department of Laborassisted in the search which resulted in Mr. Garland’s recognition as theNation’s oldest worker, and the honoring of 52 other older workers from across thecountry.
**Go Back to Contents Menu**CALENDAR OF EVENTS
**APRIL 1998
19-25. National Volunteer Week. Points of LightFoundation, (202) 223-9186; email: [email protected]
**20-21. N4A's 4th Annual Legislative Briefing, PhoenixPark Hotel, Washington, DC, Jean Daniel, (202) 296-8130
**23-24. Aging Network ‘98: Charting the CourseWisconsin Aging Network Training, Madison, WI, Southeastern WI AAA, (414) 821-4444(registration information)
**27. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Announcement ofNational Awards for Role Models of Healthy Aging, (312) 297-6161
**29-May National Institute for People with Disabilities19th Annual International Conference on MR/DD, New York City, NY. Catherine Rogan orAimee Matza, (212) 273-6359.
**MAY 1998
**Older Americans Month 1998, Theme: Living Longer, GrowingStronger in America. Administration on Aging, (202) 619-0724

**National Osteoporosis Prevention Month:**  National Osteoporosis Foundation**National Arthritis Month. Arthritis Foundation, (800)283-7800
**National Mental Health Month. National Mental HealthAssociation, (800) 969-NMHA
**National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, (202) 690-9000
**Stroke Awareness Month. American Heart Association,(800) AHA-USA1
**2-6. American College of Health Care Administrators 32ndAnnual Convocation, Atlanta, GA., (703) 739-7900
**1-2. Senior Action in a Gay Environment (SAGE) NationalConference on Aging in the Gay and Lesbian Community, Fordham University’sLincoln Center Campus, New York, NY, (212) 741-2247
**2-5. The National Association for Senior Living IndustryExecutives’ "Captains of Industry at Expo ‘98", Goat Island,Newport, RI, (850) 513-9230
**10-16. National Nursing Home Week. American HealthCare Association, (202) 898-2814
**13-16. National Rural Health Association's"Collaborating for Access" Conference,Orlando, FL, CarlosMcClain, (816) 756-3140**14-15. Safety for the Elderly Conference, ConsumerSafety Institute, Leiden, The Netherlands. Mrs. Elise van Rooij, (31) (71) 518-1885.**19-20. 4th World Conference on Injury Prevention andControl: Building Partnerships for Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention, Amsterdam,Netherlands, Mrs. Karen de Graaff, (31) 20 511 45 24**JUNE 1998

2-4. American Association for Retired Persons BiennialConvention, Minneapolis, MN, (202) 434-2760

* **American Medical Association National Meeting
JULY 1998

1-3. National Association of Nutrition and Aging ServicesPrograms Annual Conference, Seattle, WA, (616) 531-9909
**8-11. National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc. 1998National Health Symposium, Washington, DC, (202) 347-0895 (fax)
**10-15 National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging, 1998Summer Workshop: Using Multiple Data Sets in the Study****of Aging, University ofMichigan, Ann Arbor, MI, Henry Heitowit, (734) 764-8392
**19-22. N4A's 24th Annual Conference, Adams's ParkHotel, Tulsa, OK, Jean Daniel, (202) 296-8130
**SEPTEMBER 1998

13-17.**National Association of Retired FederalEmployees National Convention,** Orlando, FL, (202) 234-0832, E-mail: [email protected].
**26-29. Georgia Gerontology Society Annual Meeting andConference, "Set-Sail for Global Aging", Savannah, GA, Pat Whitmore, (912)264-7363
**OCTOBER 1998

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Office ofCancer Communications, National Cancer Institute, (301) 496 -5583
**Crime Prevention Month. National Crime PreventionCouncil, (800) NCPC911; email: [email protected] ; http://www.weprevent.org
**Talk About Prescriptions Month. National Council onPatient Information and Education, (202) 347-6711
**3-4. American Heart Walk. American Heart Association,(800) AHA-USA1; email: [email protected] ; http://www.americanheart.org
**18-24. National Consumers Week. US Office of ConsumerAffairs, (202) 565-0040****Go Back to Contents Menu
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AoA Update

**Jeanette C. Takamura**Assistant Secretary for Aging

**Harry Posman**Director, Executive Secretariat

**June B. Faris**Editor

**AoA Update**Administration on AgingU.S. Department of Health & Human ServicesWashington, DC 20201(202) 619-0724TDD: (202) 401-7575 FAX: (202) 260-1012E-mail: [email protected]Internet Web Site: http://WWW.AoA.DHHS.Gov

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