Aging/Older Adults

With Ageism Awareness Day just around the corner on October 7, members of the American Society on Aging (ASA) are actively using social and printed media to spotlight ageism and advocate for change. The September-October edition of ASA's "Generations Today" publication focuses on the portrayal of aging in media, marketing, and culture. Articles within the issue emphasize the pressing need for transformations in journalism, advertising, and entertainment that better reflect and represent older individuals.Readers are encouraged to join the Ageism Awareness Day movement, connect with ASA, and be part of the transformative efforts to address aging more positively, as discussed in the publication’s content.

Millions of Americans are experiencing social isolation and loneliness, which has a significant impact on health and wellbeing. Studies have demonstrated life longevity, physical, and mental health conditions are all negatively impacted when an individual is socially isolated or lonely.1 Social isolation and loneliness are also costly issues, with significant economic impacts. A 2017 study identified an estimated $6.7 billion in additional annual federal spending for Medicare due to a lack of social contacts among older adults.2 For these reasons, social isolation is emerging as a preeminent health and social policy issue.

ADvancing States is pleased to be a collaboration partner on this important project focused on age-friendly care in rural communities. If you want more information please contact Kathy Greenlee, kgreenlee@advancingstates.org. The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) has received grant funding from The John A. Hartford Foundation to establish the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative, aimed at enhancing comprehensive health care for older adults in rural areas. With a focus on research, partnerships, education, and community outreach, the initiative seeks to address the unique needs of rural populations, who constitute one in five older adults...

WellSky presents a new white paper addressing CMS's proposed Access Rule, which would require the implementation of an incident management system for Medicaid waiver programs to safeguard beneficiaries. This white paper will provide guidance on how to: Simplify reporting of incidents from multiple sources, Triage, investigate, and mitigate incidents efficiently, Standardize critical incident definitions across your network, and Automate the process to ensure timeliness The white paper also describes how to achieve comprehensive oversight by linking several state programs and healthcare providers to a single incident management system.

Join Transit Planning 4 All for two upcoming webinars centered around inclusive transportation planning. The first session will introduce inclusive planning through Transit Planning 4 All's coordinated projects, offering practical examples spanning a decade. The second webinar will explore strategies and lessons learned for establishing steering committees that enhance trust, strengthen communication, and ultimately improve coordinated transportation services for older adults and adults with disabilities. Transit 4 All’s Inclusive Planning Webinar will take place on Thursday, August 24 at 1:00 p.m. Transit 4 All’s Steering Committees for Inclusive Transit Planning Webinar will take place on Thursday, August 31 at 1:00 p.m.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has developed a series of practical guides centered around housing and home equity for aging adults. Given the complexities of retirement, debt, and savings, these guides cover essential subjects including managing changes in health, passing down homes to children/heirs, utilizing home equity for financial needs, and addressing the loss of a spouse/partner. These guides offer insights and considerations to assist older individuals in making informed decisions regarding their homes and financial security in later stages of life.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is partnering with the HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to offer free COVID-19 test kits to aging and disability networks, ensuring continued access for older adults and individuals with disabilities. State Units on Aging (SUAs) and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) can directly order test kits from ASPR's Office of Industrial Base Management and Supply Chain (IBMSC) for distribution to the people they serve. Currently, test kits from various manufacturers (Siemens, Ellume, or Quidel) are available, with a minimum order of 200 kits. Registration is open until September 15, 2023...

AARP recently released a fact sheet describing the prevalence of food insecurity among adults aged 50 and older in 2021. The fact sheet reveals that over 9 million Americans in this age group (approximately eight percent) experienced limited or uncertain access to nutritious food. Moreover, this fact sheet highlights the impact of food insecurity on the health of older adults, showing a higher prevalence of health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, asthma, and depression among food-insecure individuals. The report also explores important variations in food insecurity based on factors such as age, race, ethnicity, income, and educational attainment.

This week, CMS announced its Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model, which aims to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia, reduce strain on unpaid caregivers, and help people remain in their homes and communities through care coordination and management, caregiver support, and respite services. Through the GUIDE Model, CMS will test an alternative payment for participants who deliver key supportive services to people with dementia, including comprehensive, person-centered assessments and care plans, care coordination, and 24/7 access to a support line. The intended beneficiary population is community-dwelling Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, including beneficiaries dually eligible for Medicare...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) July 21st report, “Use of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines in Older Adults: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2023 (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2023;72:793–801)," describes the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation that adults aged 60 and older may receive a single dose of the RSV. Beginning in May 2022, the ACIP Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines Adult Work Group met to review available evidence regarding the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of these vaccines among adults aged ≥60 years. On June 21, 2023, ACIP voted to recommend that adults aged ≥60 years may receive a single dose..