The United Nations designates October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons.  This year’s theme—The Journey to Age Equality—focuses on pathways of coping with existing and preventing future old age inequality.

ACL joins the country in celebrating the start of National Disability Employment Awareness Month and recognizing the often overlooked talents that people with disabilities bring to the workforce President Donald Trump proclaimed October "a time to celebrate the contributions of Americans with disabilities to our country's workforce and economic strength" and "reaffirm our commitment to fostering opportunity for Americans of all abilities to apply their skills and talents in the workplace as they pursue their dreams."

Over the past few years, DNA tests have become popular across the country. Unfortunately unscrupulous people are taking advantage of the buzz around these tests to scam Medicare beneficiaries. Scammers will often target Medicare beneficiaries through telemarketing calls, booths at public events, health fairs, and door-to-door visits. They offer "free" genetic testing to help recipients avoid diseases or find the right medications.

ACL is awarding a total of $1.25 million in funding to help six legal assistance organizations strengthen programs serving older adults. The first-ever Legal Assistance Enhancement Program (LAEP) funding will focus on four key areas: outreach, partnerships, intake, and delivery. Grantees will address a diverse set of issues including the opioid epidemic, supporting grandparents raising grandchildren, utilizing technology to advance elder justice, Medical-Legal Partnerships, reaching under-served communities, and disaster recovery.

More than one third of community-dwelling adults age 65 and older live alone. Many of these older adults have complex health needs. Additionally, many depend upon others for assistance and support—and their loved ones may not live nearby. These circumstances contribute to the disproportionate effect that disasters have been shown to have on older adults. The majority of the victims of the 2018 California wildfires were reported to be over age 70.

    Update To This Blog, September 30, 2019 (this update authored by Keri Lipperini, Director, Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs) On September 26th, ACL visited one of our Falls Prevention Program grantees making a positive difference in the community!

A new issue brief has been released entitled "What I Want my Doctor to Know About How Arthritis and Chronic Pain Affect My Everyday Life" under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).

ACL awarded a five-year cooperative agreement to the Oasis Institute for $3,800,578 annually to establish a National Volunteer Care Corps.  The Oasis Institute, in partnership with the Caregiver Action Network, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and Altarum will foster innovative models in which volunteers assist family caregivers, older adults or persons with disabilities with non-medical care in order to maintain their independence.