2019 Conference

Conference Objectives and Goals:
1. Understand the concept of ageism and the impact it has on individuals and communities,
especially as our aging population continues to grow at a rate that will result in a doubling of
the age 60+ population by 2050.
2. Discuss policy and regulatory issues impacting seniors in PA to inform SWPPA’s policy focus
in 2020, with specific attention to the direct-care workforce challenge and Pennsylvania’s
system of long-term services and supports.
3. Equip attendees to effectively advocate for policy solutions.
4. Understand the eight domains of the livability framework as part of the Age-Friendly
Communities movement, with a specific focus on transportation, housing, social inclusion
and civic participation/employment.
5. Explore how transportation systems can work in a livable community to support all residents,
and review challenges and opportunities to improve transportation infrastructure.
6. Identify various housing options available and accessible in livable communities that meet
the needs of a diverse population while isolating the challenges and opportunities that exist
to improve and extend better housing options for all.
7. Contribute to a blueprint of initiatives and opportunities that address current gaps at the
community level and promote ways to build a collaborative network that works collectively
to create and implement plans for change.
8. Explore the Aging Your Way Toolkit to learn how to assess community and individual
strengths to support communities that work for everyone.

8:00AM – 8:30AM       Registration/Continental Breakfast/Vendor Visits
8:30AM – 8:45AM       Welcome/SWPPA/Update/Business Meeting
8:45AM – 10:00AM     Keynote/Opening Presentation “Living Up to Our Ideals and Taking on Ageism”
10:00AM – 10:30AM  Refreshment Break/Vendor Visits
10:30AM – 11:45AM  Concurrent Sessions
“Age-Friendly Transportation: Ingenuity in Action”
“Building Momentum in Health and Housing”
11:45AM – 1:00PM    Buffet Luncheon/Vendor Visits
1:00PM – 1:15PM       Pruitt-Kelly Awards
1:15PM – 3:00PM     “Aging Your Way: Creating Age-Friendly, People-Centered, Healthy Neighborhoods”
3:00PM – 3:15PM      Refreshment Break/Visit Vendors
3:15PM – 4:30PM      “Be Inventive: Policy Advocacy and the Blueprint for Strengthening Pennsylvania’s Direct Care Workforce”
4:30PM – 4:45PM     Closing/Evaluation/Raffle
5:00PM – 6:30PM      Networking Social

“Living Up to Our Ideals and Taking on Ageism“

Penny Cook, MSW
President and CEO
Pioneer Network

Penny Cook is the President and CEO of Pioneer Network, an organization dedicated to changing the culture of aging and the culture of long-term care. She began her career in New York as a social worker focusing on older adults in acute and post-acute settings and then moved to Colorado and worked in the policy and advocacy arenas as the Program Manager of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program and as the Executive Director of the Colorado Culture Change Coalition. Penny is passionate about helping us value and respect our own aging as well as those that we support.