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For Immediate Release
May 4, 2007

For more information:
Erin Weller
(212) 308-1414 x 329

American Geriatrics Society Honors Long-Term Care Pioneer Nora Gibson and Seattle Times "Growing Older" Columnist Liz Taylor With Awards

Seattle, WA - For her tireless, groundbreaking work on behalf of older adults, the American Geriatrics Society presented its David H. Solomon Distinguished Public Service Award to adult day health services and long-term care pioneer Nora Gibson here today at its Annual Scientific Meeting. The Society also honored Seattle Times reporter Liz Taylor with its 2007 Aging Awareness Media Award for her exemplary coverage of aging and health.

For more than 30 years, Gibson has been an innovator in providing crucial services designed to keep older adults at home and in their communities. She has been Executive Director of the Seattle-based ElderHealth Northwest for the last decade. Under her direction, the organization has become the largest provider of adult day health services in the Pacific Northwest. At its five neighborhood adult day programs, older adults can access skilled nursing and rehabilitation services, meals, exercise programs, activities and specialized dementia care. The non-profit organization also offers home care and has pioneered and operates small, supported living homes -- alternatives to skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. Gibson was responsible for developing the first day program for brain-injured adults in Washington State and helping create a small residential facility and adult day health center specifically for Asian elders, as well. In addition, she has been a Practicum Instructor at the University of Washington School of Social Work for nearly 30 years and an Affiliate Instructor for almost 20 years.

"We are delighted to honor Ms. Gibson with this award, in recognition of her dedication to improving the quality of life of older people, particularly those who are most vulnerable," said Dr. Todd P. Semla, who began his tenure as AGS President during AGS' annual meeting. Named in honor of David H. Solomon, MD, founding director of the Center on Aging at UCLA's School of Medicine, the award is presented annually to an individual or organization demonstrating excellence in geriatrics research, teaching, patient care, or administration.

Taylor, the winner of AGS' Aging Awareness Media Award, has also been involved in issues concerning aging for three decades. She has written for numerous publications, including Seattle magazine and NW Prime Time and authors The Seattle Times' weekly column on aging, Growing Older." A delegate to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging, Taylor is also one of the leading private geriatric-care managers in the Pacific Northwest and has worked with thousands of families to help them find high-quality care for their older loved ones. She recently founded Aging Deliberately, a business that teaches adult children how to plan and care for their aging parents and later, for themselves.

Intended for middle-aged adults who are concerned about the needs of their aging parents and their own future needs, Taylor's "Growing Older" column offers practical information to help people make informed decisions concerning aging. The column covers the gamut of issues facing older adults: planning for retirement; fall-proofing body and home; asking the right questions when selecting a care facility; knowing when it's time to leave home; managing the stresses of caregiving; handling your estate; fighting memory loss.

"AGS established this award because the media plays such an important role in shaping attitudes, policies and practices that affect the health and well-being of older adults," said Dr. Semla.

Taylor, who began her career as a federal consumer-fraud investigator, started working in the aging field in 1975 when Elizabeth Dole appointed her to direct a nationwide Federal Trade Commission investigation of the nursing-home industry.

ABOUT THE AGS

Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (www.americangeriatrics.org) is a nationwide, not-for-profit association of geriatrics health care professionals dedicated to improving the health, independence, and quality of life of all older people. The Society supports this mission through activities in clinical practice, professional and public education, research, and public policy. With an active membership of over 6,700 health care professionals, the Society has become a pivotal force in shaping attitudes, policies, and practices in geriatric medicine.