A third (35%) of Virginia business leaders feel that the impending retirement of a large number of workers in the future will have a significant impact on their company. Source: 2008 Older Dominion Project Business Leaders' Study
Partners
Partner Profiles
Name: Thelma Bland Watson
Title: Executive Director
Company/Organization: Senior Connections, The Capital Area on Aging
ODP Partner Since: December 7, 2008
ODP Committee Affiliation: Civic Engagement, Community Readiness
Summarize your professional background relevant to Age Wave preparedness.
Professional background includes graduate degree in Gerontology, service as Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the Virginia Department for the Aging and currently Executive of Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging.
Worked at the national level as Executive Director of Field Services for the National Committee on Social Security and Medicare. At the local and regional levels, served in several positions with the Crater Planning District Commission and as Deputy Director of the Crater District Area Agency on Aging. Serves in leadership positions with the Boards of the Virginia Health Quality Center, Central Virginia Health Planning Agency, Capital Area Health Education Center, the Greater Richmond Alzheimer's Association and Covenant Woods Retirement Community.
What expertise or other strengths do you bring to the Older Dominion Partnership?
Interest in providing affordable and assessable community and home based services to meet the needs of current and future retirees. Experience in bringing about collaborative working relationships among community agencies is one of my interests and strengths. Looking forward to working with the Age Wave planning effort for the Richmond Region as a model for other communities.
What do you believe are the most pressing issues in Age Wave-preparedness in Virginia today?
Community readiness, volunteer engagement and health care. It is important that we bring together diverse individuals to create livable communities for citizens of all ages.
What advice do you have for age wave planning in Virginia?
Include the broad community with leadership from business, government, advocates and citizens. We need to build on our past and current success in providing services that promote independence for older adults to plan for the future. We need to include the grassroots in our deliberations.