{"id":5239,"date":"2023-07-21T13:27:15","date_gmt":"2023-07-21T17:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unite-us-tailwind.local\/?p=5239"},"modified":"2024-06-20T12:51:59","modified_gmt":"2024-06-20T16:51:59","slug":"advocating-for-community-building-bridges-to-better-aging-for-older-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uniteus.com\/blog\/advocating-for-community-building-bridges-to-better-aging-for-older-adults\/","title":{"rendered":"Advocating for Community: Building Bridges to Better Aging for Older Adults"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"advocatingAt Unite Us, we want to empower every individual to advocate for healthier communities. In our latest blog series, Advocating for Community, we highlight key issues facing the populations we serve across the country, describe how we address those needs, and call on others to take concrete actions in support of this work.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Drivers of Health for Older Adults<\/h2>\n

By 2040, one in five Americans will be 65 or older, marking a significant shift in the demographics of the United States. Thankfully, this next generation of older adults is expected to live healthier and longer than previous generations. But while our collective longevity is undeniably good news, it will also come with an increased need for health and social care support.<\/span><\/p>\n

Social Isolation and Loneliness<\/span><\/h3>\n

If current trends continue, this next generation of older adults is more likely than ones before to experience certain social conditions that have adverse impacts on their health. Because they are more likely to live alone, experience the loss of loved ones, suffer from chronic illnesses, or experience hearing loss, older adults are at <\/span>increased risk<\/span><\/a> for loneliness and social isolation. This challenge is a serious one with potentially tragic consequences\u2014the <\/span>U.S. Surgeon General\u2019s Advisory<\/span><\/a> recently noted that \u201cthe mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Health Disparities of Older Adults<\/span><\/h3>\n

While some issues like social isolation specifically impact older adults, other challenges experienced across all age groups also present more risks for adults in their later years. For instance, the high rates of obesity currently observed in American adults of all ages will become more pronounced in older demographics. Meanwhile, <\/span>health disparities<\/span><\/a> experienced by older Americans, particularly across race\/ethnicity and socioeconomic status, are on track to become even more pronounced within the next 10 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

These trends are troubling, and they\u2019re coming in the midst of a significant <\/span>shortage<\/span><\/a> of caregivers. But the good news is that thousands of individuals and organizations are working hard to build a brighter future for older adults across the country. <\/span>What we want, and <\/b>what older Americans say that they want<\/b><\/a>, is the ability to thrive.<\/b> In their later years, older Americans deserve to live in a place of their choice without losing their quality of life, to receive the services they need to age and grow, and remain pillars of our communities. We can make that happen if we work together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Addressing the Needs of Older Adults<\/h2>\n

At Unite Us, we\u2019ve had the opportunity to partner with many of the incredible organizations leading this work. <\/span>Area Agencies on Aging<\/span><\/a> (AAAs), which have been working in and with communities across the country since the 1970s, provide critical care coordination services<\/a> for aging adults and increasingly partner with their local health care systems and Veterans Affairs clinics. Federal and state policies are shifting the landscape to address our coming demographic changes, as Medicare and Medicaid are increasingly supporting the social needs of older adults. Critical food access programs, like Meals on Wheels, are being supplemented with Food as Medicine-focused programs to address individuals\u2019 diet-related health needs. Across all of these organizations and programs, technology is connecting people with resources in a big way. And platforms, including those offered by Unite Us, are making this work sustainable by helping local CBOs get paid for the aging services they deliver.<\/span><\/p>\n

Access to Health and Social Care<\/span><\/h3>\n

To address the needs of older adults, we must continue to improve access to healthcare and social services together\u2014not just with other providers, but with the aging population as a whole. The best way to offer meaningful support is to listen to the community when its members tell us what they need. \u201cEducation is very important for our community,\u201d says Jenna Hauss, President and CEO at <\/span>ONEgeneration<\/span><\/a>. \u201cWe need to make sure our stakeholders understand the important needs of the older adult community. Often, older adults are forgotten. But the reality is that everyone is aging, and everyone knows an older adult. This is a population that\u2019s not going away, and we need to provide services that ensure older adults are cared for. It\u2019s critical that we hear from those we serve and their caregivers, and listen to what their needs are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Providing and paying for CBO resources\u2014including home visiting programs, medically tailored meals, and transportation assistance\u2014can prevent or mitigate the impact of depression, loneliness, and diabetes. Furthermore, we can promote <\/span>better housing conditions<\/span><\/a> that provide safe and comfortable shelter for older adults, including easier access to home care and mobility tools such as stairlifts, improved lighting, and ramps. As the aging population is increasingly using technology platforms and resources, outreach efforts must incorporate and include digital resources that are designed with older adults in mind.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Aging Reimagined<\/span><\/h3>\n

Aging is a fact of life. It\u2019s our <\/span>collective responsibility<\/span><\/a> to ensure the next generation of aging adults live long, healthy lives. This starts with ensuring that the benefits of technologies and services are equally accessible to all, supporting communities in their efforts to deliver better health outcomes for every individual.<\/span><\/p>\n

Together, all of this work is designed to improve quality of life for older adults, empower them to make decisions about their own aging, and support the organizations that address their health and social care needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At Unite Us, we\u2019re committed to:<\/h2>\n