Haslam Convenes Summit on Aging in Partnership with Lipscomb University

Focusing on potential partnerships among public, private and non-profit sectors to better serve seniors

NASHVILLE - Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today challenged key stakeholders from across the state to be creative in finding ways to better serve seniors through partnerships among public, private and non-profit sectors during his opening remarks at the Governor’s Summit on Aging held at Lipscomb University. 

“This is an opportunity to bring experts from across the state and nation together to devote time to discuss ways that we can better care for our seniors,” Haslam said.  “We all are served well when Tennesseans are able to age with dignity and are healthy and independent.  Our senior citizens are valuable assets who contribute a wealth of knowledge and a variety of skills to our communities.”

Lipscomb University’s School of TranformAging and the Nelson and Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership collaborated with the governor’s office to plan, facilitate and host the invitation-only event.

“One of the School of TransformAging’s primary objectives is to be a neutral convener of conversations of significance regarding aging issues, while also educating the aging services workforce of the future. The summit provides an opportunity for this very important issue to be discussed at the highest level by leaders who have the ability to make an impact in developing and implementing solutions,” said Charla Long, creator of the School of TransformAging.

“We are honored to work with Governor Haslam’s administration to bring together this unique gathering of leaders from public, private and non-profit sectors to collaborate on this important issue,” said Linda Peek Schacht, executive director of the Andrews Institute.

Other notable speakers at the summit include Maddy Dychtwald, author and co-founder of Age Wave, the nation’s foremost thought leader on population aging and its profound business, social, health care, financial, workforce and cultural implications and Sandy Markwood, CEO of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.  A variety of experts are also participating in panel discussions to share lessons learned and best practices including representatives from the NCB Capital Impact, Village to Village Network, Green House Project, Congregational Health Network, FiftyForward, SilverSneakers and ITNAmerica. 

During the afternoon, participants will be placed into working groups to discuss specific topics such as accessibility to care, improvement of healthy aging, a seamless delivery system, communication and public awareness. At the end of the day, working groups will share ideas that emerged from their conversations. 

Tennessee First Lady Crissy Haslam is scheduled to deliver closing remarks with a call to action for the organizations that support and serve seniors and directly to seniors themselves to get out in their communities across the state and volunteer.  Whether it is devoting their time to activities such as reading with children, mentoring young students and teachers or supporting parents, there are a number of gifts that senior citizens offer that can have an immediate impact.  

About Lipscomb’s School of TransformAging: Leading Transformation for Aging Services
The School of TransformAging at Lipscomb University is designed to address the issues facing seniors and the individuals who serve them by finding lasting and meaningful solutions to America’s aging crisis. This crisis requires everyone to think differently about aging services and demands innovative leadership from all sectors, including education. The School of TranformAging offers a multidisciplinary graduate certificate program and master’s program in aging services leadership.

About the Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership
Founded in October 2010 to build on the legacy of Nashville leader Nelson Andrews, the Nelson and Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership engages emerging and current leaders in programs to create thriving communities. The institute promotes and showcases government, business and not-for-profit leaders working together for the common good. Its programs provide for the study and practice of this collaborative civic leadership model — a model built on the idea that great communities are intentional, not accidental.