Conference on Aging supports vision research

Washington, DC-Delegates to the White House Conference on Aging supported the need for vision-care research and Medicare and Medicaid reform to deal with increased numbers of older Americans.

The landmark meeting, held every 10 years to make government research and policy recommendations, ended Dec. 14 with the adoption of 10 priority resolutions by the conference's 1,200 delegates.

The resolutions include calls to reauthorize the Older Americans Act, Medicare and Medicaid reform with a long-term care benefit and expanded mental health benefits, training for more health-care providers in geriatric care, coordination of senior services, and expanded transportation options for seniors.

"The top 10 priorities have potential significant implications for the vision community in terms of access to care, screening programs, aging/vision research, and development of assistive/adaptive technologies to facilitate independence," said James Jorkasky, executive director of the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research. Jorkasky served as an at-large delegate to the conference.