What is the main topic of this speech? [br] [originaltext] Today, I’d like

Today, I’d like to preface my remarks with a story from my own life. Several years ago when my grandparents were well into their eighties, they were faced with the reality of no longer being able to adequately care for themselves. My grandfather spoke of his greatest fear, that of leaving the only home they had known for the past 60 years. Fighting back the tears, he spoke proudly of the fact that he had built their home from the ground up, and that he had pounded every nail and laid every brick in the process. The prospect of having to move into a retirement home was an extremely upsetting experience for them.
    For them and some older Americans, their so-called "golden years" are at times not so pleasant, for this period can mean the decline of not only one’s health but the loss of identity and self-worth. In many societies, this self-identity is closely related with our social status, occupation, material possessions, or independence. Furthermore, we often live in societies that value that which is "new" or in vogue.
    Now, many lectures given at this conference have focused on the issues of pension reform, medical care, and the development of public facilities for senior citizens. While these are vital issues, I’d like to focus my comments on an underlying issue that will affect the overall success of the other programs mentioned. This has to do with, realigning our perspectives on what it means to be a part of this group, and finding meaningful roles the elderly can and should play in our societies.