Gene M. Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., spoke at the New Jersey Foundation for Aging’s 10^th Annual Conference which was held on Thursday, June 12, 2008.  He is the author of more than 150 publications, including two books The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life; and The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain.  Dr. Cohen challenged conference attendees “to use it or lose it.” Studies on developmental intelligence show that “many positive things happen later in life, not ‘despite’ aging, but because of aging.” Dr. Cohen emphasized the positive aspects of an individual’s pragmatic creativity, i.e. practical intelligence, in the second half of life. This is essentially derived from life-long psychological growth and an accumulation of experiences together with our ability to reason, to think; and to create.  Dr. Cohen encourages everyone to strive to maintain a sharp mind with aging – to exercise both our minds and our bodies.  In efforts to exercise our minds, Dr. Cohen recommends playing games and puzzles; planning book/video discussion groups; traveling; enrolling in continuing education classes; exploring new hobbies or craft; volunteering; considering part-time employment; corresponding with family and friends; and/or writing about our dreams, memoirs or family history. 

The Foundation was pleased to welcome Ramsey Alwin, Wider Opportunities for Women’s (WOW) National Director of the Elder Economic Security Initiative (EESI) as its afternoon keynote speaker.  The “Elder Economic Security Initiative (“the Initiative”), a national project examining the actual living costs for seniors compared to typical types of income in retirement as well as the national poverty guidelines. WOW has recently announced its newest partnership with New Jersey (New Jersey Foundation of Aging). The New Jersey Foundation for Aging will work with WOW and other local stakeholders to construct an index “calibrated to household size, geographic area and life circumstances” which will be “broken down on a county-to-county basis” throughout New Jersey.  Kindly contact the Foundation for additional information regarding this upcoming project and kick-off meeting.