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For Immediate Release |
Contact: Todd Kluss |
Press Briefing: New Report Highlights Boomers’ Need for Preventive Services
Event:
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) — in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), AARP, and the American Medical Association (AMA) — invites reporters to “The Release of a Landmark Report: ‘Promoting Preventive Services for Adults 50–64: Community and Clinical Partnerships,’” a press briefing taking place at GSA’s upcoming Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta, GA.
Date and Time:
Thursday, November 19, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST. (Boxed lunches will be provided.)
Location and Call-in Information:
The briefing will be held in Room 212 of the Hilton Atlanta, located at 255 Courtland Street NE. Journalists can apply for a complimentary media registration online at www.geron.org/ampress.
Reporters who cannot attend in person can listen and ask questions by toll-free conference line. Please dial in at least ten minutes before the start of the briefing. The call-in numbers are as follows:
U.S. toll free: 888-299-4099
Canadian toll free: 866-682-1172
International toll: 302-709-8337
Passcode (to be given to the operator): VK60663
Focus:
GSA’s Atlanta conference will serve as the venue for the release of “Promoting Preventive Services for Adults 50–64: Community and Clinical Partnerships,” a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), AARP, and the American Medical Association (AMA).
The publication includes:
- A core set of 14 recommended preventive services such as influenza vaccination, cholesterol screening, breast and cervical cancer screening, and binge drinking.
- Successful strategies to promote, facilitate, and deliver preventive services in communities.
- National summary and state-by-state data to monitor progress in the delivery of services to Americans aged 50 to 64.
- “Calls to Action” highlighting existing gaps, barriers, and opportunities to deliver multiple preventive services.
This new resource will highlight an untapped opportunity to improve the health of individuals in a rapidly expanding age bracket, with a focus on broadening the use of potentially lifesaving preventive services.
“Given the demographic forces, current economic and healthcare challenges, and important societal contributions of adults aged 50 to 64, the time is ripe for a well-planned public health response to enhance the delivery of preventive services throughout the nation,” said Lynda A. Anderson, PhD, director of the Healthy Aging Program at the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP). “This report highlights the strategies needed to increase preventive services for this age group.”
By 2015, one in every five Americans will be between the ages of 50 and 64, according to the report. Less than 25 percent of people in this demographic currently receive routinely recommended preventive services (i.e., influenza vaccination, colorectal cancer screening, and additionally for women, breast and cervical cancer screening).
“Disparities in the receipt of preventive services and their impact on health and quality of life are a crucial issue for this age group, which is increasingly comprised of individuals representing an array of racial and ethnic populations," said Wayne Giles, MD, director of the Division of Adult and Community Health within the NCCDPHP.
Among the health disparities highlighted in the report are age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, and insurance status.
“One of every four adults aged 50 to 64 is uninsured or has inadequate insurance coverage," said Cheryl Matheis, JD, senior vice president of health strategy at AARP. "Ensuring that these millions of boomers have access to preventive care can improve their health.”
“Promoting Preventive Services for Adults 50–64” is unique because it — for the first time — provides an easily-referenced compilation of national and state-by-state data on key indicators related to recommended preventive services. These indicators include screening for four diseases, two immunizations, six risk factors, and two composite measures that combine selected clinical preventive services.
The report also highlights proven, science-based programs, policies, and strategies essential for achieving broader coverage of preventive services among those aged 50 to 64 in the U.S. Additionally, its calls to action highlight existing gaps, barriers, and opportunities for the delivery of multiple preventive services.
“Promoting Preventive Services for Adults 50–64” will be available electronically on the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/aging following the briefing. An interactive online version will launch in early 2010, with updates at regular intervals.
Participants:
William Hall, MD, Board of Directors, AARP
Matthew T. McKenna, MD, MPH, Associate Director for Medical Affairs, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC
Edward L. Langston, MD, Board of Trustees, AMA
Online Press Kit:
A special online press kit for this briefing will be posted at www.geron.org/ampress. It will include full-length participant biographies with contact information; press releases from the partner organizations, and other fact sheets.
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The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is the nation's oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. The principal mission of the Society — and its 5,200+ members — is to advance the study of aging and disseminate information among scientists, decision makers, and the general public. GSA’s structure also includes a policy institute, the National Academy on an Aging Society, and an educational branch, the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.
