Obama says US must step up care for aging Americans

Obama says US must step up care for aging Americans
President Barack Obama speaks at the 2015 White House Conference on Aging, Monday, July 13, 2015, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. The president said a secure retirement is a critical component of what it means to be middle class in America. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama warned Monday of an increasing urgency for the U.S. to care for older Americans as millions of baby boomers head into their golden years.

At a White House conference on aging, Obama called on the nation to take proactive steps to address rising costs, protect Social Security, train more workers and help seniors remain active contributors to their communities. He said every day, almost 10,000 Americans born in the aftermath of World War II turn 65 years old, creating a heavy load for the organizations and government agencies that help care for the elderly.

"Were going to have to work for it," Obama said. "We have to work to do more to ensure that every older American has the resources and the support they need to thrive."

Every 10 years, the White House holds a conference addressing the needs of aging Americans. Ahead of this year's summit, Obama wrote in an editorial for the AARP website about the importance of making sure that a lifetime of hard work is rewarded "with a retirement that is secure and dignified."

The president has asked the Labor Department to crack down on conflicts of interest in the retirement savings advice people may get from financial advisers. He's also put forward proposals to expand access to employer-based retirement savings accounts.

In his speech to the summit, Obama also praised Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the "toughest" member of the high court, noting her popular nickname as "the notorious RBG."

  • Obama says US must step up care for aging Americans
    President Barack Obama speaks during the 2015 White House Conference on Aging, Monday, July 13, 2015, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. The president said a secure retirement is a critical component of what it means to be middle class in America. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
  • Obama says US must step up care for aging Americans
    President Barack Obama speaks at the 2015 White House Conference on Aging, Monday, July 13, 2015, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. The president said a secure retirement is a critical component of what it means to be middle class in America. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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