Josefina Carbonell, Advocating for Older Americans
By Luis E. De La Cruz

Josefina G. Carbonell, Assistant Secretary for Aging for the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is a woman of many concerns, occupations, and convictions who, for many years, has dedicated her life to caring for the elderly.

Carbonell was born in Cuba. When she was a child, she traveled with her parents to Florida to bid farewell to a sister who was leaving for Spain. The visit coincided with the break of diplomatic relations between her country and the United States. In the aftermath, the Carbonell family settled in Florida.

"I worked 29 years in the service of the community there, to become the head of the largest agency in the United States providing social services for elderly Hispanics. This agency cared for more than 60,000 people," Carbonell recalls, referring to the Little Havana Activities & Nutrition Center.

Her work has acquired a new dimension since her nomination—she has become responsible for a population of 46.7 million people over 60 years of age, among them 2.7 million Hispanics.

‘I think we must reach our Hispanic family at an earlier age. We must use our family, our culture, and our grandparents as a means of prevention for our young’

During an interview with AARP Segunda Juventud, Josefina Carbonell defined herself proudly as a baby boomer whose only son, a physician, will soon give her the privilege of becoming a grandmother. She emphasized her work goals and her projects with AARP, with whom she has worked through the years in different programs and initiatives, in Florida and at the national level.

The assistant secretary particularly remembers a campaign she led to have the state of Florida establish a department on aging. "I worked with the current director of AARP in the state of Florida, my good friend, Bentley Lipscomb. Through those efforts to promote the cause-the work of the community and the AARP chapter leaders-the proposal met with success."

Carbonell is very familiar with AARP's mission and goals and is ready to develop collaborative projects with the Association-as she confirmed in person to AARP's Executive Director, Bill Novelli, during a recent meeting.

"We spoke about three areas in which AoA and AARP have common goals and visions: health improvement, the establishment of a national long-term care system, and the promotion of volunteerism in the community." Carbonell added, "These goals are not only the responsibility of the government and AARP, but involve the private sector and the world community as well."

Carbonell is committed to continuing her work to achieve the establishment of a long-term care system. "We must search for a system that offers different options, in which the elderly can decide the type of service that they need," remarked Carbonell. She added that there are other matters of vital importance-retirement planning, as well as the need for older Americans to keep active and healthy, and to share the wealth of their life experiences through voluntary work.

Another of her biggest commitments is the well-being of older Hispanics. The Hispanic population is the fastest growing group in the United States representing 12 percent of the total population, of which five percent are people over 60 years of age.

"This reality brings great challenges, such as diabetes and other chronic illnesses in this population, HIV, and for this reason we must make people conscious of the importance of good health. I think we must reach our Hispanic family at an earlier age. We must use our family, our culture, and our grandparents as a means of prevention for our young," states Carbonell.

She speaks with equal passion of her struggle to get older Americans a health plan they can afford. She says we are experiencing a situation so dire that "nowadays many people have to decide between buying food or medication."

Josefina Carbonell has a lengthy work agenda. Many people in the United States hope that this hardworking Hispanic will contribute substantially to helping "[our] dear elderly to live a life that is dignified, independent of their age, economic situation, race, gender, or religion."

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