Aging/Older Adults

LECOM Health, an ACL 2024 CDSME Behavioral Health Training grantee, is seeking survey responses from community-based organizations and members of the Aging and Disability Network, including State Units on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging, and service providers working in senior centers and congregate meal sites. The purpose of the survey is to better understand the training needs of organizations supporting older adults with behavioral health challenges. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete, the responses will be confidential and anonymous, and can be completed at once or saved and returned to. The survey closes on December 27, 2024.

The American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Homelessness and Poverty and the ABA Commission on Law and Aging have collaborated to develop a resource hub designed to aid attorneys and advocates representing and/or supporting older adults at risk of poverty and homelessness. The resource hub includes information from the ABA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and other national organizations like Justice in Aging, Administration for Community Living, USA Aging, and more.

The Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and the Minnesota Department of Health published a report in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association on identifying different approaches and indicators to evaluate the quality in assisted living communities in the United States. The report concludes that the lack of standardized measurement of quality interferes with person-centered care in US-based assisted living settings. The report identified 9 unique domains that they concluded should inform future concerted efforts to develop standardized quality measurements in assisted living communities.

The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care is holding a Training Workshop in June 2025. JFNA is seeking breakout session proposals for the training event. This is the only event in North America dedicated to innovations in aging and person-centered, trauma-informed (PCTI) services. The event participants will connect with hundreds of professionals, experts, community leaders, academic leaders, and policymakers in the aging space. Session proposals are due before 11:59 p.m. ET, Thursday, January 9, 2025.

To assist states designing and/or revising HCBS waivers, in this report ADvancing States analyzed how waiver language defines family caregivers and how those definitions relate to older adults without immediate family available as caregivers.

Kelly Cronin, Deputy Administrator of the Administration for Community Living, contributed an essay to the Milken Institute's Power of Ideas Series. This series is composed of essays with varying themes including health care, women's health, and chronic disease treatment. Read the essay to learn more.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report, "Homelessness: Actions to Help Better Address Older Adults' Housing and Health Needs". The GAO conducted this study due to the high levels of homelessness, the aging U.S. population, and rising housing costs which concerns researchers that a growing number of older adults could experience homelessness. The report explores the needs of older adults who experience homelessness and the challenges to addressing those needs. The study selected nine communities for diversity of geography and population density, and the GAO conducted nongeneralizable interviews with 45 service providers and 34 older adults with experience of homelessness. Read the report to learn more.

The Adult Protective Services Technical Assistance Resource Center (APS TARC) has released the seventh adult maltreatment data from the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS). This system is voluntary reporting of data from state adult protective services programs. The data in this report was submitted for federal fiscal year 2022 by all states, territories, and DC. The report includes efforts to improve NAMRS data collection and how the data has been used to increase understanding of adult maltreatment and APS programs. Read the report for more information, and watch the webinar presentation on the report to learn more.

The John A. Hartford Foundation & Age Wave has released new research and resources that demonstrates a disconnect between the care that older adults receive and the care that they want. The report includes some of the following insights: survey results revealing wide-ranging dissatisfaction, challenges faced in underserved communities, and innovative technology solutions. Also included are recommendations to improve health care for older adults, data that illustrates dissatisfaction with health care, and methodology of the research. The JAHF provided several resources for older adults to aid in seeking age-friendly care, and the resources span over varying living conditions and circumstances. Read the report and survey data to learn more.

Seven states are under presidential disaster declaration due to the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Join USAging in helping the AAAs and Title VI programs in these areas support older adults as they recover. Contributions to USAging's Disaster Relief Fund helps provide assistance to as many agencies as possible purchase food, clothing, and medical supplies to help support older adults in their communities. USAging's Disaster Relief Fund exists to support AAAs and Title VI programs offer critical support while communities recover.