Event Helps "Sandwich Generation" Women Plan for the Future

Fairfax County Department of Family Services
12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 500
Fairfax, VA 22035-1102
Contact: Belinda Buescher, Public Information Officer
703-324-7758, TTY 703-222-9452
DFSPIO@fairfaxcounty.gov

April 11, 2007

May 5 event helps “sandwich generation” women plan for the future –
for themselves, their parents, and their children

“Mothering Our Mothers, Mothering Ourselves,” is a unique, half-day event targeted to women of the “sandwich generation,” to provide information and resources to help women address issues related to long-range planning for themselves, their aging parents, and their children.

"Women are masters of multi-tasking, taking care of everyone else, leaving little for themselves,” observes Penelope A. Gross, Fairfax County’s Mason District Supervisor.  “Mothering Our Mothers, Mothering Ourselves will provide an opportunity to focus on the hard questions we wish we didn't have to ask, or answer.  Every woman, young or not-so-young, is sure to benefit."

The event will be held Saturday, May 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Richard J. Ernst Community Cultural Center at the Annandale Campus of Northern Virginia Community College, 8333 Little River Turnpike. Registration is required. The $25 registration fee includes lunch.

Event sponsors include the Women’s Advisory Board of Capitol Financial Partners, the Women’s Alliance for Financial Education, the Fairfax County Commission for Women, and two agencies of the Fairfax County Department of Family Services – the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging and the Office for Women.

The keynote speaker is Olivia Mellan, a Washington-based psychotherapist and money coach, who has authored four books and has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC’s TODAY Show, ABC’s 20/20, and Fox Morning News. Mellan writes a regular column for Investment Advisor and in 2006 was named one of the magazine’s Top 25 individuals with the greatest influence on the financial planning profession.

After the 9 a.m. keynote address, five workshops will be offered:

• Someone I Love Lives Far Away – for long-distance caregivers
• Living Alone Won’t Be an Option Much Longer – Then What?
• Someone I Love Is Becoming Forgetful or Anxious
• Financial Issues for Seniors
• The Keys to Successful Aging

Presenters include experts on elder care, elder law, and mental and physical health.

To make reservations, to request special accommodations, or to request to have this information in an alternate format, please contact the Fairfax County Office For Women at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ofw  or call them at 703-324-5730; TTY: 703-324-5706.  To request additional information about the program, e-mail info@MotheringOM@aol.com.

News media inquiries may be directed to Ina G. Fernández, Director, Fairfax County Office For Women, Cell phone: 703-475-1037; Office phone: 703-324-5723, TTY 703-324-5706.