White House Conference on Aging, 1981. Older Americans as a Growing National Resource. Report and Executive Summary of the Technical Committee.

This Technical Committee Report describes various forces compelling the recognition of older persons as a resource and looks at the older person as a national resource. General gains that come from the utilization of the skills and experiences of older people are discussed and gains specific to the employer, society, and the older person are examined. Several opportunities for older persons which have been promoted or expanded by the federal government are described, including: (1) the Retired Senior Volunteer Program; (2) the Foster Grandparents Program; (3) the Senior Companion Program; and (4) the Senior Community Service Employment Program. A discussion of barriers to the fuller utilization of older persons examines age discrimination and negative attitudes about age, along with the older person's functional ability, fear of rejection, lack of finances, difficulties with transportation, fear of crime and concern for personal safety, and lack of information about opportunities to be a resource. Key issues are presented and specific recommendations are suggested for the federal government, employers, the volunteer sector, educational institutions, media campaigns, local communities, public, private, and non-profit sectors, and older persons themselves. An executive summary of this report is also included. (NRB)