Connie Benton Wolfe, left, and Dr. Ken Dychtwald lead a general discussion regarding aging and responding to questions.
FORT WAYNE — The annual Aging and In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana annual meeting May 16, celebrated its 50th anniversary.
“The New Age of Aging” was the theme, for the event named stakeholder summit and community conversation.
The close to 500 attendees heard from keynote speaker Dr. Ken Dychtald, psychologist, gerontologist and best-selling author, who touched on the changing demographics of mature adults.
Audience participation and table discussions were encouraged on several occasions. His presentation concluded with a time for questions and answers.
Dychtwald, who stated 81% of the population is over the age of 65, identified five issues for today’s aging population: new longevity life stages, matching health spans to lifespans, averting mass elder poverty, eliminating ageism and establishing a new purpose for maturity.
He included facts of how the stages of life have changed from the 1800s to today. Those stages have changed from childhood, adult and old age at the age of 50-60. Today, those stages include childhood up to age 12, adolescence up to age 19, young adulthood through age 25, adulthood through age 50, middlescence through 65, late adulthood through age 78 and elderhood over the age of 79.
Beth Evans will take over as president and CEO of Aging and In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana, starting July 1.
He provided statistics on how the US lags behind many countries in both lifespan and health span, and the great financial worries of health care and long-term care.
“We need our elders to be futuristic, those who can make things happen,” he said. He noted the need for an elder corp to share their talents, experiences and help kids.
He encouraged those in attendance to talk about the issues, and to get the right issues being talked about, make a list and do it.
When he spoke about creating an elder corp, he said it can fall in the not-for-profit sector, with state and local officials saying it’s time and talk about it.
“It’s finding the right sponsor,” he said adding, “at the same time, it doesn’t require a great deal of money.”
The audience also heard from Kristi Harkenrider, board chair, and Connie Benton Wolfe, president and CEO.
Wolfe noted the challenges ahead, new goals, thinking differently and inspiration with a bold new vision that reflects tomorrow’s demographics.
It was announced Beth Evans will be taking over the helm of Aging and In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana, as president and CEO, July 1. Wolfe will be stepping down, but continuing as chief visionary officer.
Evans closed the event by stating, “We find ourself right now, on a daily basis, what feels like overwhelming change. … We are being asked to do more with less … we are pivoting fast, staying nimble and unwaivering in our commitment to excellence and innovation. We will find a way to do our part for our clients … we’ll be a great strategic partner for the state of Indiana, local and national foundations, academic centers of research and the health care systems serving northeast Indiana. …
“I am so proud to announce Aging and In-Home Services has been selected as one of the five area agencies in the nation to lead in the development of Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience … an eight-year demonstration program through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, and we will officially launch this program to the community July 1.
“This program is geared to help address the unique needs of those living with dementia and their caregivers and will offer ongoing clinical and social support through care coordination, care planning and provision of caregiver services. …
“It’s all about going forward into the new age of aging … we have to embrace the whole new future that takes us squarely to proving our value to new audiences and funders, through hard work determination, fearlessness and yes laughter … We need you. We need your faith in us. We need your advocacies for our clients … but most importantly, we need your belief that there is a new aging in front of us and AIHS is a community resource that will help northeast Indiana realize that mission. Together, we can demonstrate that northeast Indiana is the best place in the country to grow old, to retire, to live in community, to contribute to community and to flourish no matter the age.”
A 50th anniversary yearbook was available to guests. The yearbook featured AIHS leadership, locations, programs and services, achievements, research and keynote speakers at past annual meetings.
Many of the guests checked out the numerous vendors set up outside the hall at Parkview Mirro Center before the 50th Anniversary Stakeholder Summit and Community Conversation event for Aging and In-Home Services. The vendors ranged from health care services, pharmacies, elder lawyers, technical services, and AIHS programs.
