The initiative is in keeping with President Biden’s Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers, signed April 18, 2023. This executive order directs federal agencies to take more than 50 actions including those that could expand access to home and community-based services; grow and strengthen the direct care workforce; support family caregivers; and more — giving us a unique opportunity to transform our long-term care systems and mitigate the challenges faced by family, kin, and tribal caregivers.

The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) is a group-based preventative service that area agencies on aging, centers for independent living, community-based organizations (CBOs), community care hubs, and networks of CBOs can offer to Medicare beneficiaries at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

ACL is pleased to announce the 2024 awardees of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) grants. Empowering older adults to engage in evidence-based CDSME programs greatly impacts overall health and well-being, including improved physical activity and nutrition, better health-related quality of life, and improved health literacy, as well as reduced loneliness and social isolation.

Join the Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR) virtual stakeholder meeting, which will focus on disability research in the evolving digital landscape. This interactive meeting will include presentations, panel discussions, and breakout groups for participants to engage around the theme of digital accessibility and inclusion.

The successful grantee and their partners will work to build the capacity of OAA-funded Title III-E/VI-C programs and the entities administering them (e.g., state units on aging, area agencies on aging, tribes, local service providers) to provide caregiver navigator services.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through ACL, released “Aging in the United States: A Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging.” Developed by leaders and experts from 16 federal agencies and departments on the Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC) on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities, the report reflects input from community partners and leaders in the aging services network. Next week, ACL will host a webinar to provide an overview of the framework.

The webinar will feature a discussion on LGBTQ+ inclusive programs and outreach and is intended for area agencies on aging, aging and disability resource centers, centers for independent living, ombudsman programs, Senior Medicare Patrol programs, State Health Insurance Assistance Programs, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) programs, and community centers serving older adults.

Guests will hear from people with disabilities, federal leaders, and national experts about the impact of Olmstead, barriers to community living and true inclusion that people with disabilities still face 25 years later, and what is needed to fully realize the promise of this landmark decision.

Each year, Medicare loses an estimated $60 billion due to fraud, errors, and abuse. Fraud happens every day — from charges for supplies that were never received to coercion to share financial information and Medicare numbers. Fraud can happen to anyone, and its impact on individuals and families can be devastating.

Lois Curtis (plaintiff), Sue Jamieson (attorney), and Elaine Wilson (plaintiff). Photo courtesy of Atlanta Legal Aid.