International Rural Aging Project

Conference Information-Press Releases

INTERNATIONAL CELEBRITIES AND DIGNITARIES TO ADDRESS RURAL AGING CONFERENCE

CHARLESTON, WV (June 7, 2000) – The First International Conference on Rural Aging, at the Charleston Civic Center kicks-off today. Two thousand delegates from 33 countries are expected to attend.

Wednesday’s opening ceremony included Cecil Underwood, Governor of West Virginia; Dr. John Langmore, director of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs in the United Nations Secretariat; Hugh Downs, former co-anchor of ABC News’ “20/20” and author of several books on aging. Charleston Mayor, Jay Goldman, gave welcoming remarks to the participants. 

A well-known media figure and author on aging, Hugh Downs gave a heartfelt keynote address to conferees. “Too often the elderly are forgotten in our society,” says Hugh Downs. “We must address the issues of the elderly, and particularly the rural elderly, as they are an important and growing segment of our society.” 

Cecil Underwood, Governor of West Virginia, also addressed the conferees. “West Virginia is proud to be host to the International Conference on Rural Aging,” says Governor Underwood. “West Virginia has been at the forefront of rural aging issues in the United States, and we are pleased to be able to share our experiences with an international audience.” 

Following the opening ceremony, the international audience was welcomed to Charleston with a grand International Reception offering foods from the many countries represented at the conference. “Over sixty percent of the world’s elderly live in rural areas,” says Robert M. D’Alessandri, M.D., Conference Chair and Vice President for Health Sciences at West Virginia University. “The health issues associated with rural aging are unique and the conference will enable experts from around the world to address those issues in a collaborative forum.”

The conference goal is to better understand the global implications of rural aging and gain a greater commitment by governmental, non-governmental and professional bodies to help rural people secure the right to healthy aging. “A Plan of Action on Rural Aging in the 21st Century” will be compiled from the plenary sessions at the conference and incorporated into the United Nations International Plan of Action on Aging (2002). United States Senator Robert C. Byrd; Alexandre Kalache, Chief, The World Health Organization, Programme on Ageing and Health; and Alexandre Sidorenko, Officer-in-Charge, United Nations Programme on Ageing and Robert Butler, President/CEO, International Longevity Center – USA, Ltd. are participating in the plenary sessions during the conference.

The conference is part of The United Nations Programme on Ageing four-year International Rural Aging Project (1997-2001) which will culminate in Vancouver, Canada at the XVII International Congress on Gerontology in 2001. Sponsored by West Virginia University Center on Aging, The United Nations Programme on Ageing, The World Health Organization and The International Association of Gerontology, the four-day conference (June 7 through 11) will draw academicians, policy makers, health professionals, social workers and community activists from throughout the United States as well as thirty two other nations. The largest international delegations are from Nigeria, the Philippines and Australia.

In addition to the keynote address by Hugh Downs, other conference highlights include daily policy debates on issues affecting rural aging, daily sessions designed for senior conference attendees on topics pertaining to healthy and successful aging in rural areas, paper presentations, an International Welcome Reception, a luncheon with Willard Scott and a dinner banquet with contemporary political humorist, Art Buchwald. 

West Virginia University Center on Aging has been named by the United Nations Programme on Ageing as its advisory organization for the area of rural aging. The Center on Aging of the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center manages educational programs, research projects, health care projects, community service and outreach programs, and evaluation of programs contributing to better lives of older men and women.