Aging/Older Adults

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released the first in a series of two reports examining issues related to housing for older adults. This first report looks at how federal agencies currently work together to meet the needs of older Americans in federally assisted housing. In this report, GAO recommends including USDA in collaborations and defining outcomes in order to inform stakeholders of results achieved and strategies or areas on which to focus.

This paper discusses the role of the public health field in promoting the health of older adults. It summarizes a meeting of aging stakeholders in Fall 2017 and analyzes the document developed at the meeting, called the Framework for an Age-Friendly Public Health System. This framework outlines the potential for the further involvement of public health in aging by presenting five major directions the field can take to make a positive impact on the aging process.

This report describes key considerations and policy decisions that states should consider as they work to implement EVV systems in accordance with the mandate included in the 21st Century Cures Act. The paper also examines different approaches that states may wish to use to establish EVV within their HCBS programs, and discusses some of the benefits and challenges associated with each approach. Lastly, it includes case studies of four states with existing EVV systems.

This brief uses a series of interviews to explore the ways that Medicaid health plans can work to meet the nutritional needs of low-income older adults. Best practices identified include hiring staff with strong nutrition experience, using assessments to create targeted interventions, adapting effective programs from other populations, and utilizing community resources. This paper is particularly optimistic about the potential of Medicaid partnerships with community-based organizations.

The Spring 2018 issue of Generations, the quarterly journal of the American Society on Aging, is divided into three main parts. These three sections are building community partnerships, building business practices, and examples of successful CBO use of business acumen. This issue also has a special focus on how the social determinants of health influence the experience of older adults in the community.

OHA has published volume IV of A State of Decay. This report examines the progress of states in promoting oral health in older adults, analyzing a combination of publicly available data and information from surveys conducted with state dental directors. It uses six main variables from these sources to rank states according to the quality of their oral health care for adults aged 65 plus. The report also highlights a number of future recommendations for supporting oral health in older adults.

This fact sheet and issue brief explore how federal programs support older Americans. The focus is on four main areas, including health programs, economic security, housing and food, and legal assistance. These publications help explain how various federal programs can ideally work together to allow older Americans to meet their basic needs and maintain a high quality of life.

This report from AARP's Public Policy Institute is part of a series of papers focusing on innovative strategies. It explores the benefits of self-directed care and looks at best practices used in Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Florida. The report also provides a toolkit for educational and training purposes to help states improve and expand upon their self-directed LTSS programs.

CMS recently released a 2017 update to its 2012 MLTSS inventory, compiled by Truven Health Analytics. This study reviewed available information about the status of Medicaid MLTSS programs, and provides updates on the prevalence of MLTSS programs, total enrollment, and specific program design elements as of August 2017. The report surveys the landscape of MLTSS programs across the country, provides detailed summaries of each MLTSS program, and identifies national trends.

This report from the Center for Oral Health highlights how an alarming number of Californians age 65 years and older are suffering from untreated tooth decay and poor oral health. This report includes a series of recommendations to eliminate barriers to care and improve oral health.