Professionals interested in LGBT aging issues will have a lot to choose from at the 2013 Aging in America Conference in Chicago, March 12-16. Workshops, poster sessions, trainings from the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, and the Diversity Summit will offer current research, replicable programs, best practices and policy updates, bringing issues facing LGBT older adults to the forefront.

Every year ASA recognizes a number of individuals and organizations for their contributions to ASA, to the field of aging, and to older adults. We are proud to announce the 2013 ASA Award recipients, who will be recognized during the Aging in America Conference in Chicago, March 12-16.

ASA Award

Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D.

The American Society on Aging (ASA), in collaboration with MetLife Foundation, announces three winners of the 2013 ASA-MetLife Foundation MindAlert Awards. Funded by MetLife Foundation, the MindAlert Awards recognize innovative, science-based programs that enhance mental function and prevent functional decline in older adults.

In April of 2012 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the creation of the new Administration for Community Living, which brought together the Administration on Aging, the Office on Disability and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities into a single agency.

By Jarmin Yeh

The New Ventures in Leadership program is designed to increase the leadership capacity within the field of aging for leaders of color.  Joncia Johnson shares her story of success in this AgeBlog post. Don’t miss out on this transformational experience!

UPDATE: The registration deadline for the program has been extended to Wednesday, February 27.  

By Mindy Haar and Tobi Abramson

By Julia Turner

Mounting evidence suggests food may play an important role in the prevention of, progression and management of mental health disorders. This article addresses how food affects mood, energy and cognition, describes how to identify and correct underlying nutrition problems that may contribute to mental health disorders and outlines simple steps to promote optimal brain health and function.

By Carol Hegeman

Nothing in Uncle Morton’s (not his real name) life predicted that he, a retired professor of English literature who lived on the East Coast and was an avid devotee of New York City opera, theater and dance would die, at age 86, in a nondescript nursing home a continent away from the city and culture he held dear.

This story begins about two years after his retirement when, at age 67, he followed a newfound life partner to a small town on the West Coast. It was the first time he had lived with anyone other than his immigrant parents.

Architects make a living solving design challenges: how to fit big house on a small lot, or how to make an industrial building appear approachable and user-friendly. The New York chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIANY) is now taking on a 21^st-century challenge: how to create sustainable urban housing solutions for older adults in New York City.

On May 18, 2013, AIANY will conduct a one-day design charrette (a French word for a final, intensive effort to finish a project) to explore solutions to this very real problem.