PRESS RELEASE
June 15, 2007

SAN DIEGO – More than 1,000 aging San Diego County residents attended the San Diego County “Vital Aging Conference: Caring for Yourself and Others” on Friday, which featured information on important health concerns for older adults and family caregivers on topics such as diabetes, nutrition, fitness and stress management.

For the first time, the biennial event coordinated by the San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency Aging & Independent Services was held in two locations – simultaneously.  (Story Continues Below)

County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price (above) addresses the Vital Aging Conference on Friday, June 15, on the importance of lifelong healthy living to avoid diabetes. (Photo by Erika Black)

The San Diego conference, which featured keynote speaker and famed actor Edward James Olmos, was held at the Town & Country Convention Center in Mission Valley. The North County conference, which watched simulcasts of Slater-Price and Olmos, was held at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido.

“It’s wonderful to be able to hold this event in North County, with North County speakers and exhibitors,” Slater-Price said. “The Vital Aging Conference reminds us about our responsibility for our health and fitness as we age.”

Slater-Price has spearheaded efforts to fight childhood obesity and raise awareness on obesity-linked Type 2 diabetes.

“Even though it might be harder to fight weight gain as we age, it’s important to keep working at it,” Slater-Price said. “Unfortunately, less than 25 percent of people 65 or older engage in regular physical activity.” 

The supervisor challenged the conference attendees to engage in about 30 minutes of light-to-moderate physical activity five days a week.

The focus on obesity at the Friday conference was the result of the most recent Aging Summit, where community members began a study on the obesity problem in San Diego County. A committee has continued the work of the Aging Summit to bring some of the information presented at the conference, Slater-Price said.

“A person’s health is their most valuable asset,” Slater-Price said. “Let’s maintain health through fitness.”

CONTACT: Erica Holloway at (619) 531-5857.