Today, we commemorate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) and affirm the rights and dignity of older adults.

We take this stand for elder justice as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect each of our lives and create new threats and challenges.

We know that strong supports and strong social connections are critical to preventing elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation and supporting survivors. Many of these supports and connections are being strained by physical distancing measures we are all taking to slow the spread of COVID-19. Even as the country begins to reopen, many older adults who face higher risk of serious illness will need to continue taking additional precautions such as staying at home.

We can all do our part to maintain the bonds of social connection within our communities while we are physically apart - whether we're organizing a virtual family gathering or just calling to check in. This crisis has brought out the best in so many people, including many aging services professionals who have gone the extra mile to maintain critical services and supports for older adults. From Long-Term Care Ombudsmen programs continuing their work with "virtual walk-throughs" to senior centers quickly launching virtual activities, I am in awe at your dedication and honored to call you colleagues.

Unfortunately, crises can also bring out the worst in some people. It seems like every day we hear about a new scam trying to take advantage of this pandemic to steal from older Americans. These scams are often carried out through calls, e-mails, or text messages claiming to be from federal or state agencies. Last week, at the Elder Justice Coordinating Council (EJCC), we heard from our federal partners who are working to stop these scammers. We can each do our part by reporting scams we encounter and sharing verified information about the pandemic and government programs. You can learn more about identifying and reporting coronavirus-related scams on our COVID-19 web page.  

And today at 1pm EDT, our National Center on Elder Abuse is sponsoring a webinar, Upholding Justice for Older Americans on this World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: A National Conversation. The webinar will feature presentations by ACL Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging Edwin Walker and speakers from the Department of Justice, Social Security Administration, Securities and Exchange Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and ACL’s National Center on Law and Elder Rights.  Each speaker will be discussing their elder justice initiatives and highlighting resources everyone can use. We’ve had an overwhelming response and registration is full, but a recording of the event will be available later this week on the NCEA’s website.

Also today, at 4pm EDT, the National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative will be hosting an online panel on caring for elders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion will include experts from NIEJI, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Adult Protection Services, and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Office for the Aging. The event will be streamed live on NIEJI’s Facebook page.

Like everything else in our lives, WEAAD looks and feels a little different this year. Around the world, communities are finding creative ways to raise awareness and advance elder justice virtually. Webinars are taking the place of people gathering to hear speakers and panel discussions, and posting purple profile pictures is taking the place of wearing purple ribbons to show individual support.  

What has not changed is our commitment to the principle that older adults are equal members of our communities, entitled to the same dignity, rights, and security that each of us expect at any age. Today, on WEAAD, I challenge all of us to think about what we can do in our own lives to uphold that principle. It is those everyday actions, combined with the work being done by organizations and governments around the world, that will make it possible for us to make that principle a universal truth.

Older Americans Month was celebrated for the first time in 1965, when the Older Americans Act (OAA) was signed into law. Fifty-five years later, the nationwide system of organizations, services and programs established under the OAA continue to work together to help older adults live independently in their communities. That work has never been more important, so we had a lot to celebrate when the OAA was reauthorized earlier this year!

More than half a century later, Older Americans Month (OAM) is still going strong, too. Each year, we celebrate a little differently. We choose a fresh theme – this year, it’s “Make Your Mark” – and share suggested activities to celebrate the contributions of older adults to our communities across the country.

OAM 2020 is turning out even more different than expected. Instead of gathering to show our love and respect for each other, we’re staying apart. Here at ACL, we have adjusted our suggested activities and resources for OAM to respond to our new “virtual” situation. Because even when we’re apart physically, we can connect and support each other. We can still make our mark on each others’ lives. In fact, it’s more important than ever.

Social isolation and loneliness are known risk factors for both physical and mental health issues, especially among older adults. Older Americans Month coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month. On May 7, I joined leaders and experts from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Veterans Health Administration, and National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging for a webinar to share recent research and offer ways to combat this growing problem among our older adults. If you weren’t able to join us for that, a recording will be available soon.

The opposite of isolation is connection. Telephone and video chat are two great ways we can connect with each other these days, and I encourage everyone to make the most of both. Another way to connect is through sharing stories. The stories my grandparents told me definitely made their mark on me. They taught me about resilience and love and instilled a sense of duty and dignity that inspires my work here at ACL. Lately, I’ve been reaching out to my daughters (both at Oklahoma State University) and trading stories about the unusual things happening in our lives, which is helping us stay close even though we live apart. We have great suggestions for connecting with others through stories on our activities page, along with general resources for engaging virtually – to socialize, explore, and unwind, and to look out for each other.

Speaking of connection and support, I want to take this opportunity to recognize our dedicated and creative aging services network that makes an indelible mark on this country every day. And right now, network organizations are essential. They’re ensuring older Americans continue to receive the services, supplies, and other resources they need to stay safely distanced and independent.

This year, I encourage you to make your mark by reaching out, connecting in some way with neighbors, friends, and family members. Because we’re all in this together.

(Originally published on the HHS blog.)

Even under the best of circumstances, caregiving can be challenging. For many family caregivers, the routine tasks they perform on behalf of their loved ones are more complex because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only must family caregivers take extra steps to ensure their own health and wellbeing, but there are now additional protective considerations.

Although states and communities have a range of services and supports for family caregivers, many of the resources – like adult day programs, respite services, and other in-home services – are stretched to the limit, or have temporarily curtailed or stopped their services.  

Both professionally and personally, the staff and leadership at the Administration for Community Living (ACL)  is keenly aware of, and we are addressing, the challenges facing all vulnerable people and their family caregivers at this key time in our nation’s history. .

Over the past weeks, ACL has been working diligently on several fronts to help ensure people of all ages with long-term support needs, and their family caregivers, have access to the programs, services, and resources they need to remain in their homes and communities. We have had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with aging and disability network stakeholders to respond to their specific technical assistance needs. Additionally, ACL quickly disbursed CARES Act and Families First Coronavirus Response Act funds, ensuring that states and providers have the resources they need to increase essential services such as home delivered meals, and to find innovative ways to modify existing services like virtual caregiver support groups and ensuring that personal protective equipment (PPE) can be among those supplies that can be provided.    

During two “tele-town hall” events convened by AARP on March 19 and 26, I shared my thoughts on caring for family, friends, and neighbors during this pandemic. I fielded questions about family caregiving, including planning care, coordinating backup care, and accessing local resources for additional support. Most importantly, I stressed the importance of staying connected to isolated loved ones during this difficult time. 

Because reliable information is especially critical during this time, our agency is regularly updating our website with information specifically for older adults, people with disabilities, family caregivers, and our network of service providers.  Our website also contains materials for May’s Older Americans Month observance.  I know and appreciate that older adults across the country, particularly during this pandemic, are making positive contributions in their communities, within the parameters of safety. 

On April 21, 2020, ACL announced the release of nearly $1 Billion in grants to the aging and disability networks to help meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities as communities implement measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. These additional funds will enable our networks to meet the increased need for in-home and supportive services, home delivered meals, family caregiver support and assistance available through Centers for Independent Living in every state. 

Because supporting families and family caregivers is at the very heart of ACL’s mission, I am particularly proud of the ongoing work of the Family Caregiving Advisory Council (FCAC) and the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (SGRG). Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, these two extraordinary groups remain focused and engaged with ACL on improving our system of supports and services for families and family caregivers, grandparents and older relative caregivers. The FCAC recently published a progress report outlining their work and accomplishments.

As one example of our work supporting caregivers, I’d like to describe a collaboration with the National Academy for State Health Policy’s (NASHP) John A. Hartford Foundation-funded RAISE Family Caregiver Resource and Dissemination Center. NASHP issued a report analyzing more than 800 recommendations from twenty-seven national, state and international family caregiving consensus reports, most of which were written during the past decade. This report will help FCAC’s development of the Initial Report to Congress and the National Caregiving Strategy, already under development.

The SGRG Council met virtually for its second meeting on April 23, 2020. During that meeting, Council members solidified their vision and adopted a set of guiding principles that will shape their work on their Report to Congress and other efforts they undertake to improve our nation’s response to the needs of grandparent and older relative caregivers.

As I look ahead to the next several weeks and months, I know that we will face significant challenges as we work to ensure our family caregivers are supported at every turn, so that they, in turn, can support their loved ones. I am confident that together we will surmount every challenge and create a better future for all families who support older adults and people of all ages with disabilities. The vast majority of people want to remain independent and active in their communities, and we salute the millions of caregivers who help them achieve their goals.

Every year during the month of March, we celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and the many contributions of people with DD and their families to our communities and to our country. This year, we had planned a series of blogs and social media to highlight the work of the DD network. However, over the last several weeks, we have shifted our focus almost entirely to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This has been a challenging time for our country and the entire world, and the spread of the coronavirus has created hardships for everyone. These are intensified for many people with disabilities. Many people with disabilities are at higher risk of complications from COVID-19. In addition to the increased health risk, the community measures that have been implemented to slow the spread of the virus are placing great stress on people with disabilities and the families and professionals who support them, including our networks.

We were reminded of the coronavirus’ toll this weekend when we lost April Dunn. April was a valued colleague who chaired Louisiana’s DD Council and a tireless self-advocate who spent her life knocking down barriers for people with disabilities. 

In a tribute to April, incoming Louisiana DD Council Chair Randall Brown wrote::

Madam Chair, good and faithful friend, Louisiana and her people are better because you lived. Rest well, and watch over us. Job well done. Life was better with you in it for us all. Coronavirus took your body but will never take your legacy or your love.

We can all honor her spirit and legacy by continuing her work of empowering people with disabilities during this particularly challenging time.

ACL is working with our grantees and federal partners to help in every way we can. We have been working to ensure personal protective equipment is available for the direct services workforce; to ensure the accessibility of information, facilities, and technology; and to address the increased need for services, particularly to support people in transitioning from hospitals and post-acute care settings back into the community. We also have been working closely with the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities in health care decision-making.

Over the weekend, OCR released a bulletin to ensure that entities covered by civil rights authorities keep in mind their obligations under laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, and exercise of conscience and religion in HHS-funded programs.

We welcome OCR’s leadership on this issue. As we respond to this pandemic, we can never forget that the life of every human being, regardless of age or ability, is valuable and every one of us is entitled to dignity and rights.

I am proud of the work our networks are doing to adapt to challenging circumstances, share critical information, and help minimize the disruptions this national emergency has caused in the lives of people with disabilities and their families.

Here are just a few of the many resources developed by the DD network:

• Green Mountain Self-Advocates worked with the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council and the Self-Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC) on a plain language guide to COVID-19 by and for people with disabilities (also available in Spanish) and tips for working with support staff during COVID-19.
• The Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute at Wayne State University has compiled self-care resources addressing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being and the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities have developed a comprehensive and creative list of activities while sheltering in place (also available in Spanish).
• Communication is critical during emergencies and it is important for all people, including people who do not use verbal communication, to be able to communicate with first responders. Temple University’s Institute on Disability has a two-page emergency communications tool in English and Spanish and the UConn Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities has a flip book with communications tools.

I'm not surprised that our networks are rising to the occasion given the important work they do year-round. The DD Act, independent living, NIDILRR, and assistive technology networks have been leading the way on issues including employment, youth transitions, housing, technology, peer mentorship, access to services, safety,  and civil rights. This work has made it possible for countless people with disabilities to thrive in the community.

At ACL, "community" is not just in our name, it is at the heart of everything we do. This is because we believe that having the option to live in the community benefits older adults and people with disabilities. Just as importantly, we believe that the entire community benefits from their inclusion. DD Awareness Month is about celebrating the many ways in which people with DD are part of the fabric of our communities and contribute to the rich diversity of talents and experiences that make our country strong. For many of us, the urgent need to practice social distancing has driven home just how much our communities, and the diverse people that make them up, mean to us.

For the latest resources and updates on COVID-19 visit acl.gov/covid-19.

Originally published on the HHS Blog.

Today, our country affirmed the rights, dignity, independence, and well-being of older adults when President Trump signed HR4334, the Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020 into law.

The law reauthorizes critical Older Americans Act (OAA) programs through 2024. Since 1965, the OAA has provided critical services that have enabled millions of older Americans to stay in their own homes and communities.  Services supported by the OAA include congregate and home-delivered meals, case management, specialized transportation services, employment and volunteer programs, adult day care, senior centers and activities, personal care, homemaker and chore services, legal support, health promotion, and disease prevention. OAA programs also support family caregivers, who are the backbone of our nation's long-term care system.

These services are provided by a national aging services network, which today includes 56 state and territorial units on aging (SUAs), 618 area agencies on aging, 274 Tribal and Native Hawaiian organizations, more than 20,000 direct-service providers, and hundreds of thousands of volunteers.

This network represents a nationwide infrastructure that reaches every community in this country. Over the past few weeks, the novel coronavirus has tested this network like never before. I am proud to say that across the country, we have dedicated aging services professionals step up under difficult circumstances to get public health information out and ensure the continuation of critical services, even when it has required some creative problem solving.

HHS and the Administration for Community Living stand with the aging network in this difficult time and we are doing everything we can support the important work of the network, including by easing some regulations and providing added flexibility to allow programs to continue their work. In fact, earlier this week, ACL awarded grants totaling $250 million in emergency funding authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to augment the work the network is doing to ensure older adults have access to the nutritious meals they need to stay healthy.

For more than 50 years, the Older Americans Act has helped people live the lives they want, with the people they choose, throughout their lives. Because of the Older Americans Act, communities across the nation benefit from the wealth of knowledge that comes only with life experience. I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the agency responsible for implementing the majority of this important legislation, and I am so grateful for its reauthorization.

Read a statement from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act.

I’ve gotten the fake calls “from the Social Security Administration,” and I bet you have too. I know I don’t need to tell you that the people we serve are getting these calls every day.

Scammers are increasingly using phone calls, emails, and even text messages to impersonate government officials in an attempt to steal money and personal information.

The plan is simple for these “impostor scams.” They call, email, or text claiming to represent a government agency such as the Social Security Administration (SSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Some even “spoof” their phone number or email address so that it looks like the call or email is coming from a legitimate government phone number or e-mail address. They lure victims by telling them they’ve “won the lottery” sponsored by the federal government or “owe a debt” to the IRS that must be paid back immediately. They may even claim that a person’s social security number has been linked to criminal activities and suspended, and all they have to do to reactivate it is to “just confirm” the social security number. They will often use threats of arrest or harsh legal action to create a sense of panic, and demand payment via wire transfer or gift card (so the payment cannot be traced).

For those targeted by these scams, the consequences can be devastating. And while scammers can steal money from adults of all ages, older adults and people with disabilities are often singled-out and targeted.

One of the best protections against this and other scams is knowledge. When people are familiar with these scams, they are less likely to lose money. This is why ACL is working with our federal partners in the Elder Justice Coordinating Council to raise awareness about these scams and to stop the scammers and the harm they cause.

The power of the EJCC lies in collaboration and coordination to achieve a greater impact than we could individually. Through the EJCC, we are greater than the sum of our parts. When we’re tackling a public awareness issue like impostor scams that means each of the 14 EJCC agencies reaching out to stakeholders across the country with tips and tools for spreading the word.

Here is what people need to know:

1. The government will never call out of the blue and ask for a social security number.
2. The government will never ask for payment by gift card or wire transfer.
3. Social security numbers cannot be suspended.

These general tips can also help everyone protect themselves:

• If you are ever suspicious about a call, hang up immediately.
• Never click on an e-mail link or attachment unless you fully trust the sender.
• Never pay someone you do not know well via gift card or wire transfer.
• Always be cautious about giving out your personal or financial information, including your Medicare or Social Security numbers, or any banking information.
• Sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry.

Victims of any scam should file a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Complaint. In addition, SSA has a reporting form specifically for social security impostor scams. I’m asking everyone in our aging and disability network to help people take these steps.

The Department of Justice just filed suit against some companies and individuals who are alleged to be responsible for hundreds of millions of these scam calls. DOJ worked with the Social Security Administration, the Federal Trade Commission, and the United States Postal Inspection Service – all members of the EJCC – as well as several other state and federal partners, to get the data needed to bring this action and stop these calls. That’s why reporting the scam calls matters! 

There are many great resources available to help raise awareness about imposter scams:

• SSA has a one-page flyer available in English and Spanish.
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers meal placemats with information on common scams.
• FTC has short videos on Social Security and IRS impostor scams.
• FTC’s “Pass It On” page has resources on many other types of scams and you can sign up for FTC scam alerts to stay up-to-date on new threats.

To combat these scams, we need to talk about them. This is why I am looking forward to our June EJCC meeting, which will focus on the topic of financial exploitation, including impostor scams. These conversations are important. But even more important are the conversations you can initiate now in your community.

Thank you for helping us get the word out!

At this time of year, we stop to give thanks and spend time with our friends and loved ones to reflect on our many blessings. We spend time renewing the ties that connect families and sharing in the joys of the season. Because November is also National Family Caregivers Month, this is a time of year when we pause to think about the people whose support makes it possible for their loved ones to live independently in their homes and communities, as well as the increasing number of grandparents and other older relatives who take over raising children when their parents cannot. Without them, we could not effectively support community living for older adults and people with disabilities, and millions more children would enter the already overburdened foster care system.

Being here at ACL has given me the opportunity to meet some truly amazing individuals, including many family caregivers, grandparents, and older relatives who provide support for their loved ones. I have also met many talented and dedicated professionals whose mission is all about supporting family caregivers, grandparents, and older relatives. While nearly every program ACL administers, along with many others across the federal government, supports these folks in any variety of ways, I know we have the opportunity to do more on behalf of these incredible people.

Last year, Congress passed two important pieces of legislation that hold tremendous potential to strengthen how we support and sustain family caregivers, and grandparents and older relative caregivers. The Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act will establish a Family Caregiving Strategy to better support families. The Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act focuses national attention on better understanding the complex needs of grandparents and older relative caregivers. It also will help to make information about promising practices and programs more available to them.

Earlier this year, the Family Caregiving Advisory Council and Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren met for the first time here in Washington, DC. I chaired these meetings and came away from them more confident than ever about the potential they have for improving family caregivers’ access to needed support. It was an inspiring two days, and I was so happy to see the level of interest and engagement from members of the public, key partners, and other stakeholders.

At ACL, we know that input from the people most affected by our programs is critical to ensuring our work is relevant and responsive to their needs. Public input will help shape the ongoing activities of the two advisory councils and inform their recommendations. Right now, ACL is seeking responses to a few key questions for each of the councils. We especially need family caregivers, grandparents, and older relatives who are raising children, and people who have been in those roles in the past, to share their experiences and insights. We also need our partners and other advocates to share their expertise.         

We are collecting input online at ACL.gov. Click this link to provide input to the Supporting Grandparents Advisory Council or this link to provide input to the Family Caregiving Advisory Council. (These requests for information will be published in the Federal Register next week, as well.)

The information we collect will provide up-to-date information to the councils and enable them to better understand the challenges facing family caregivers, solicit recommendations for how we can better engage with family caregivers in meaningful ways, and identify the latest promising practices for supporting family caregivers and grandparents raising grandchildren.

I’m asking for your help in two ways. First, please provide your input! Second, please help spread the word so we can ensure we are considering the needs and experiences of the widest possible range of people.

Related links:

• Presidential Proclamation on Family Caregiver Month - 2019 (this link is no longer active and has been removed)
• RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council
• Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
• How Technology can Make Caring for Loved Ones Easier on All Parties

Approximately 200,000 Americans will join the U.S. military by the close of 2019. This year’s volunteers will join the ranks of the 24 million Americans who either currently serve in the military or are veterans. When each of them made the decision to join, they knew the sacrifices that lay ahead, the risks they might be asked to take, and the responsibilities one assumes when they put on the uniform. As a small token of appreciation, our nation sets aside the second Monday in November as a day to honor their service and remember that our freedom rests on the shoulders of those who agree to serve.

In 1988, I was one of those fresh recruits, and more than 10 percent of my colleagues here at the Administration for Community Living have served in the military, and some continue to serve as reservists. The Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force all are represented in our hallways, with service spanning from World War II through our current conflicts. I could not be prouder to serve alongside them.  (You can get to know a few of them in this blog post and in our Facebook album.)

Let me share the stories of two veterans, one who is a member of the ACL staff and another who has been served through one of our grantees.

When Omar Valverde was a freshman at the University of Idaho in 1985, he observed a fellow student become transformed from “party animal” to focused adult in a matter of months. His friend had joined the Army Reserve and a few months at boot camp had helped him mature. Inspired, Omar and two other friends soon signed up under the buddy system. The three of them were shipped off to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.

Omar laughs now as he recalls his 19th birthday. He was being disciplined for a minor infraction and his sentence was to perform a lot of pushups – so many pushups that a pool of sweat formed under his face. That sweat formed a pool so deep and wide he could see the reflection of his own face. Omar knows that the Army took in an inexperienced student and helped him become a finely tuned instrument.

Today, as an Aging Services Program Specialist in ACL’s Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services, Omar harnesses the strength the Army gave him to protect the rights, financial security, and independence of older adults. Omar works with states to build innovative legal service delivery systems to address priority legal issues for older adults most in need, including veterans. 

Erin Cobb’s story is another demonstration of how the aging and disability networks  supported by ACL help veterans.  

Erin was a college student when she joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 2003. While she was in boot camp, the invasion of Iraq began. Erin returned to college and also went on to complete her combat training. In 2005 her studies were interrupted when she was deployed to Iraq. In 2011, after eight years of service, she was discharged from the military. Two months later, Erin’s life changed dramatically. Erin was the victim of domestic violence that culminated in an attempted murder-suicide on September 24, 2011. She suffered a severe spinal cord injury and left the hospital with what soon become a life-threatening pressure sore.

Things were going from bad to worse as the sore progressed. Erin is convinced she would not have survived if she had not become connected to Bernadette Mauro at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation’s Military Veterans Program, part of ACL’s National Paralysis Resource Center. Instead, Erin continues to serve her country as both a peer mentor and Veteran Council member at the Military and Veterans Program.

Bernadette is quick to point out that ACL’s funding has allowed the Foundation to expand its support of veterans, including Erin. Bernadette reports that ACL funding has allowed the Foundation to take their deep knowledge of spinal cord injury and match it to their veteran outreach efforts.

The programs ACL administers under the Older Americans Act serve veterans in a variety of ways.  For example, an estimated 129,000 veterans receive home-delivered meals, and another 178,000 participate in programs at community centers and other congregate meal sites. Approximately 26,000 receive transportation services, and 22,000 receive caregiver support services.

ACL is determined to help bridge the gap between available resources and veterans in need. We applaud efforts such as the St. Mary’s County, Maryland, Department of Aging and Human Services Veterans Resource Day, which is being held today. Through their efforts, older veterans are being connected to social and health programs that help them continue to live in, and contribute to, their communities.

On this Veterans Day, as I contemplate the impact of our work, I feel blessed to be part of the ACL mission. The stories I shared are just a small glimpse into the work we do that helps veterans nationwide. To all those who have served, or are serving, in our armed forces, we thank you. On Monday, may you know that a grateful nation appreciates your sacrifices, and that ACL will always work to support you in living independently, in your community.

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. It is aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda, Goal 10 which is designed to ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequality of outcome, including through measures to eliminate discrimination, and to employ and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, economic or other status.

The 2019 theme is intended to explore how to address demographic and other societal changes and to change the narrative of “old age”. In less than two decades, older adults are projected to outnumber kids for the first time in U.S. history. Starting in 2030, when all Baby Boomers will be older than 65, older Americans will make up 21 percent of the population, up from 15 percent today.  These demographics have great implications for policies related to healthcare, caregiving, social structures, pensions and social security.

At the Administration for Community Living, we strive to maximize the independence, well-being, and health of older adults and people with disabilities. Today, at the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) 57th Directing Council Side Event, I am moderating a panel, The Response to Aging Societies: Challenges and Opportunities in Fostering Sustainable Health and Long-Term Care System in the Americas, highlighting perspectives from the U.S., Europe, Japan and the PAHO Regional.

In August, I had the privilege to represent the United States at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Third Senior Officials’ Meeting. Specifically, I participated in the 9th High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Health and the Economy in Puerto Varas, Chile. There, I shared our vision to help older adults reach their full health potential, live with dignity, and participate fully in society. I presented on the economic imperative for planning to enhance healthy aging, embracing the digital future in support of healthy aging in place, and supporting the global aging agenda.  These presentations included examples of how progress has been made possible in the United States because of the framework we have based in equity, inclusion and nondiscrimination. 

Also, I heard from, and was inspired by, what I learned from others about their structures and innovations in the fields of health and aging. As a result, I urge us all to use today, the International Day of Older Persons, as an opportunity to honor and celebrate the countless contributions and enormous potential of older people throughout the globe. We should rededicate ourselves and continue to promote the health, well-being, community involvement, and independence of older Americans.  Also, we should all work to promote equality in access and opportunity -- including access to healthcare, caregiving, the ability to work and remain employed, access to lifelong learning, or in the range of social protections that lead to productive living throughout the life course.

Learn more about the UN's International Day of Older Persons and celebrations in New York City, Geneva, and Vienna.

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!

Marymount University, and its partners in the Northern VA Falls Prevention Alliance, are hard at work on evidence-based activities, like its SAIL exercise class. We spoke with one of the SAIL participants who said the program, along with taking the stairs and doing daily walks with her dog, help keep her in balance and strong.

SAIL focuses on the single most important thing adults can do to reduce fall risk: exercises that improve strength, balance, and fitness.

We observed a falls prevention screening clinic in action. The screenings were conducted by current and former students and faculty from Marymount University’s Malek School of Health Professions. Screenings were held in a room with different “stations”, providing balance screening, medication reviews, and other assessment of other risk factors for falls. Participants were provided with the results of their screening, and some concrete recommendations and resources they could take to prevent falls. We learned that the older adults liked to help the next generation of health professionals learn, and that students learned how rewarding and enjoyable it can be work with older adults.  

Original Blog by Lance Robertson:

Did you know that, every year, one out of four older adults trips, slips, slides, or loses their balance and experiences a fall. Falls can happen to older adults with and without disabilities. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that falls and fall-related injuries result in nearly $50 billion (with a B) in medical costs in the US. Falls can lead to sprains, broken bones, and even head injuries. These injuries can result in hospitalization and loss of mobility and independence.

People aging with disabilities also experience high rates of falling. The NIDILRR-funded University of Washington Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Promoting Healthy Aging for Individuals with Long-Term Physical Disabilities (Aging RRTC) found that adults with disabilities like post-polio syndrome, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury report falling “more often than not.” Problems with equilibrium, vision, and coordination put people with these long-term physical disabilities at risk of falling and sustaining an injury. Other studies have shown that falling can also be a risk for people who have had a stroke or traumatic brain injury, with loss of equilibrium or vision among the factors increasing that risk.

The great news is that there are many resources available on things you can do to prevent falls and to help you recover if you do fall. These resources can be helpful for older adults with and without disabilities.

• The Aging RRTC has a great fact sheet with recommendations for exercise and activities to improve strength and balance.
• The Administration on Aging, which like NIDILRR is part of the Administration for Community Living, funds Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Programs, including a National Falls Prevention Resource Center. Visit the center for resources for older adults, caregivers, professionals, and advocates. You can also sign up for the Center for Healthy Aging eNewsletter for the latest from the resource center and other programs.
• The National Institute on Aging (NIA) articles on falls and fall prevention tackle balance problems, fall-proofing your home, preventing falls and fractures, and even a tips on talking to your doctor about your concerns about falling.
• NIA also offers an excellent collection of articles and factsheets on fitness and physical activity, including balance and flexibility exercises which can be important for both prevention and recovery.
• The CDC Older Adults Falls Programs include a compendium of effective fall interventions, and a community-based falls prevention program guide.
• Your local Area Agency on Aging or Center for Independent Living may also have programs to assist you, such as in-home falls risk assessments, fitness and balance classes, and examples of assistive devices which can help you stay safe at home, at work, and in the community.

Also, a number of NIDILRR-funded research projects currently are studying falls and falls prevention. For example:

• RERC on Technologies to Support Aging-in-Place for People with Long-Term Disabilities (TechSAge RERC II) Steady Wheels project looks at using smart-phone based postural control assessments for falls risk screening in adults who use wheelchairs.
• The RERC on Technologies to Evaluate and Advance Manipulation and Mobility (TEAMM) is evaluating wearable airbag technology to reduce injuries from falls among people who have had a stroke
• The RERC on Universal Design and the Built Environment conducts human factors research on prevention of slips and falls, use of wayfinding apps, and cost-effective methods to evaluate universal design products during the design process
• Explore more than 40 current and completed projects that have conducted research on falls and fall prevention.

Looking for more research on falls, fall prevention, and rehabilitation after a fall? Call the National Rehabilitation Information Center at 800-346-2742 to chat with an information specialist, Monday to Friday, 8:30-5:30 ET.