Beth Battaglino, RN-C, CEO of HealthyWomen
Beth brings a unique combination of sharp business expertise and women's health insight to her leadership of the organization. Beth has worked in the health care industry for more than 25 years helping to define and drive public education programs on a broad range of women's health issues. She launched and has expanded the HealthyWomen.org brand. As a result of her leadership, HealthyWomen was recognized as one of the top 100 women's health web sites by Forbes for three consecutive years, and was recognized by Oprah magazine as one of the top women's health web sites. HealthyWomen now connects to millions of women across the country through its wide program distribution and innovative use of technology.
Beth is responsible for the business development and strategic positioning of HealthyWomen. She creates partnerships with key health care professionals and consumer groups to provide strategic, engaging and informative award-winning programs. She serves as the organization's chief spokesperson, regularly participating in corporate, non-profit, community and media events. She also is a practicing nurse in maternal child health at Riverview Medical Center- Hackensack Meridian Health, in Red Bank, NJ.
In addition to her nursing degree, Beth holds degrees in political science, business and public administration from Marymount University.
To stay sane, she loves to run and compete in road races. She enjoys skiing and sailing with her husband and young son, and welcoming new babies into the world.
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Some think of growing older with a sense of appreciation. They feel liberated, proud, vital—and even happier. They flourish. They get to spend more time with their families, travel more for pleasure and have more time to devote to hobbies, volunteer work or even starting a new career.
Yet others associate aging with the word "invisible." They think their opinions matter little; they feel cast aside and disparaged. They fear illness, disability and memory loss.
Like everything in life, growing old comes with its upsides and downsides.
But the fact is that people are living longer. Every day, tens of thousands of boomers turn 65. About 39 million Americans—that's roughly 13 percent of the U.S. population—are 65 and older, thanks to advances in medical science and public health. According to Pew Research projections, by 2050 about one in five Americans will be over age 65 and about 5 percent will be 85 and older (up from 2 percent now).
On July 13, 2015, a special event that's been held each decade since the 1960s, will take place once again. The White House Conference on Aging takes steps to improve the quality of life of older Americans and helps guide policy decisions for future generations.
Watch the conference live below!
The public's voice is instrumental in shaping this conference. To gather the most pressing and important issues that affect older Americans, "listening sessions" with key aging leaders and older Americans began in July 2014 and will continue up to and during the conference. Some common themes include retirement security,
healthy aging, long-term services and support, and elder justice.
Although the number of tickets to the event is limited, everyone can participate in the event virtually, because it will be streamed via webcast. You can even send questions during the conference via Twitter.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of three of the most important programs for seniors: Medicare, Medicaid and the Older Americans Act. It's also the 80th anniversary of Social Security. These programs were put in place to assure the best care for Americans.
With these anniversaries, it's heartening to know that the White House Conference for Aging will offer an opportunity to not only learn what the future has in store for all aging Americans, but also to have your voice heard and make your opinions matter.
Like Sophocles said: "No one longs to live more than someone growing old."
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