The Project Independence symposium “Aging in Place in Suburbia: Living Better With Technology” drew upwards of 1,000 attendees, including scores of health care and wellness providers of senior services to the “Yes We Can” Community Center in Westbury on Aug. 21.
“This is the beginning of something that promises to grow in this country,” said Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman. “Project Independence is an investment into the people who, through hard work and dedication, helped build our communities. I thank all of you who helped make Project Independence the success it has become.”
The conference focused on using technology to enhance the lives of the burgeoning population of aging Americans, 90 percent of whom, according to an AARP survey, wish to remain in their own homes as they grow older.
Along with Kaiman, the panel of speakers for the day-long event included Lawrence Levy, executive dean at the National Center for Suburban Studies, Dr. Jacqueline Moline, who delivered the greetings for Michael Dowling, president and CEO of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, Dr. Marc Silver, chair of the Department of Sociology at Hofstra, and keynote speaker U.S. Rep. Steve Israel.
In their talks, each of the panelists pointed to a trend that overwhelmingly supports the need for programs like Project Independence and cast the backdrop for the conference the skyrocketing increase of the 65 and older population. In a development Moline said experts are referring to as the “Age Tsunami,” it is predicted that by 2020 the number of older adults in the US will increase by 300 percent. Moline, who practices at North Shore LIJ, also noted that in the LIJ Health System’s service area alone, the population of the 65 and over set is projected to grow by 14 percent in the next three years.
In addition to the more than 200 health care industry providers on hand at the conference to provide information, attendees were also treated to four breakout technology sessions focusing on healthcare, social media, safety and transportation/mobility management. There was also computer and iPad training all day, as well as Zumba, Wii Fitness and training on a virtual health website.
For the digitally-challenged, Abby Stokes, the author of “Is this Thing on? A Computer Handbook for Late Bloomers and Technophobes,” led a session on basic computing.
“I want people to know about technology so they can have the option of using it or not using it,” she said.
“Right now, services like these as well as more intricate procedures will be delivered through technological innovation like video chat and telemedicine,” Israel said.
“The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children, those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly, and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped,” Israel added, quoting former U.S. Vice President Hubert Humphrey.
