Josefina G. Carbonell, Assistant Secretary for Aging (ASA) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will conduct the sixth in a series of National Town Hall Listening Sessions. This session is being held in conjunction with the 2003 North Carolina Conference on Aging to hear from older people, families and caregivers, along with members of the Aging Network, on the critical issues around aging and long-term care. Key areas of discussion at the meeting include:

• What can the Aging Services Network do to empower older people and their families to make informed decisions about their care options.
• How to build upon the initial success of the National Family Caregiver Support Program and expand access to information, make services more consumer-friendly, and allow caregivers more choices?
• What innovations are occurring at the state and local level related to access and service delivery that could serve as models for other states and communities across the country?

A brief media opportunity will be available immediately following the Town Hall Listening Session.

When: Thursday, September 12, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Where: Adam’s Mark Hotel
Royal Ballroom A&B
555 S. McDowell Street
Charlotte, NC 28204

Contact: AoA Press Office, (202) 401-4541

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The AoA is a Federal agency dedicated to policy development, planning and the delivery of supportive home and community-based services to older persons and their caregivers through the national aging network of state and local agencies on aging, tribal organizations, service providers and volunteers.

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