Library: News Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) is joining an effort to help improve the health of older Oklahomans. The “Healthy Aging Summit: Living Longer Better” will be held from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. December 15 at the Reed Conference Center, 5800 Will Rogers Road, in Midwest City.
DHS will join Governor Mary Fallin and the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) to bring together older adults and the families, friends, health care providers and service organizations that care for them. The summit’s purpose is to reach agreement on statewide goals for significant improvements in health outcomes for older adults from 2015 through 2018.
Across the United States, older adults can expect to have about two more years of healthy life than in Oklahoma, according to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study on healthy life expectancy indicated that older adults in some states can expect to have three to four more years of good health than older adults in Oklahoma.
“This is a critical time to hold a summit for healthy aging in Oklahoma. While we have many challenges in Oklahoma, we are well positioned to build on and strengthen innovative partnerships to drive dramatic improvements in the health of our older adults,” said Dr. Terry Cline, Commissioner and Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The summit will include presentations on national, tribal and local initiatives to promote healthy aging. Governor Fallin and Dr. Cline will headline the event. The keynote speaker is Dr. Roger Landry, president of Masterpiece Living and author of “Live Long, Die Short: A Guide to Authentic Health and Successful Aging.”
Other speakers include: Laurence Z. Rubenstein, Professor and Chairman, Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine; Betty Wharton, Director of Healthy Aging for the Choctaw Nation; Tina Burdett, a family caregiver for an older adult; Oklahoma State Senator Frank Simpson; Stan Hupfeld, Former President & CEO, INTEGRIS Health, and author of “Political Malpractice: How the Politicians Made a Mess of Health Reforms;” Ken Smith, Mayor of Yukon; The Rev. Ray Douglas, Senior Pastor, Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church, Oklahoma City; Lance Robertson, Director, Oklahoma Department of Human Services Aging Services; Dr. Monica Woodall, Durant; and Susan Purcell, Quality Director, TMF Health Innovation Network.
The Governor’s Healthy Aging Summit: Living Longer Better is being sponsored by the Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatric Medicine in the OU College of Medicine, the Oklahoma State Department of Health, DHS Aging Services, and the Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative. The Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative is supported by a grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.
Registration for the summit is free and lunch will be provided. Interested persons should phone (405) 325-1022 to register. Doors will open at 9:00 a.m.
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