Putting Polish On Golden Years

Aging begins long before Willard Scott starts wishing you Happy Birthday.

Now’s the time to figure out how to do it well. A Washington State University conference next week might be a start.

Called “Quality of Life for Our Elders: A Journey to Positive Aging,” the conference will be at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park in Spokane on Monday and Tuesday.

“Growing up and old resembles a continuous journey down a river flowing inexorably toward the sea,” says Thomas Cole, the keynote speaker for the conference and author of “The Journey of Life: A Cultural History of Aging in America.”

The conference, designed for health professionals, elders and family members, was organized by WSU’s Health Research and Education Center in Spokane. It was endorsed by the 1995 White House Conference on Aging.

Other speakers are:

Robert Blancato, executive director of the White House Conference on Aging, on “Public Policy for Positive Aging.”

Dr. Walter Bortz, a Stanford University medical professor and past president of the American Geriatric Society, on “Old and New Medicine: Geriatrics as Model.”

Enid Cox, director of the Institute of Gerontology and an associate professor at the University of Denver, on “Elder Empowerment.”

Eugene Bianchi, religion professor at Emory University and author of “Elder Wisdom: Crafting Your Own Elderhood,” on “Storytelling for Creative Aging.”

The conference also will feature workshops on topics such as nutrition, wellness and spiritual awareness.

It begins Sunday evening with the performance by Brian Harnetiaux of a one-act drama called “Going Home.” It will be presented free and open to the public at 7 p.m. at Cavanaugh’s Inn At the Park.

The cost of attending the two-day conference is $175. Scholarships are available for seniors. For more information, call 358-7630.

, DataTimes