Talking Points

Talking Points for Aging Advocates: Health Care

The United States faces an immediate and growing crisis in caring for our aging population, which is projected to almost double from 37 million today to 72 million by 2030.  By 2030, at least 20% of the U.S. population will be older than 65. By 2050, 19.4 million Americans will be over age 85.  Most (82%) older adults have at least one chronic condition and about two-thirds (65%) have multiple chronic conditions, complicating treatment and requiring coordinated care.

To address this crisis, policymakers should support and promote the following initiatives:

Funding for the National Institutes of Health and National Institute on Aging:

• If rapid discoveries are not made to reduce the prevalence of debilitating age-related disorders, the health-related costs associated with caring for the oldest and sickest Americans will place an unmanageable burden on patients, families and our health care system.
• The single largest driver of Medicare costs in the United States is Alzheimer’s disease.  The NIA is a leader in research focused on the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and developing more effective therapies and strategies for Alzheimer’s prevention.
• NIA’s focus areas also include health longevity; discovery of new Parkinson’s and neurological disease susceptibility genes; and using the interplay between neurons and inflammatory immune cells to improve stroke outcomes.  The need for progress in these areas is crucial as the costs to patients and families continue to grow.
• An increase would allow the NIA to better support new and existing investigator-initiated research projects and better facilitate the acceleration of discoveries to prevent, treat, and cure a wide range of debilitating age-related diseases and conditions.

Geriatric Health Care Workforce:

• Although virtually all health professionals today care for older adults to some degree, the majority are not adequately trained in geriatric care.  We must strengthen geriatrics skills among health professionals so that they can competently care for older adults.
• Currently only a small percentage of healthcare providers specialize in geriatrics.  We must create and expand loan forgiveness programs in order to recruit physicians, social workers, and other professionals to obtain training in geriatrics and gerontology.
• According to a 2008 Institute of Medicine report, there are only about 7,100 geriatricians and the number is declining; there are only about 1,600 geriatric psychiatrists; and less than 1% of nurses and pharmacists and less than 4% of social workers specialize in geriatrics.

Talking Points for Aging Advocates: Civic Engagement

• The United States faces a dramatic demographic shift as 77 million baby boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964, representing a quarter of the U.S. population—begin to turn 60.  In 2006, the first of the baby boomers reached age 60; by 2025, all of the baby boomers will have reached age 60; and one in five Americans will be 65 or older by 2030.
• Older Americans want to continue to contribute to the nation’s vitality after retirement.  Older adults have the time, talent, and expertise to address critical societal needs in education, health care, and human services.
• Older adult volunteers donate more time than any other age group.  Older adults volunteer an average of 96 hours annually, compared with a median of 52 hours generally.
• Barriers to community engagement by older adult volunteers include a lack of transportation options and inadequate volunteer training, support, and placement systems.
• Policymakers should support and promote civic engagement—purposeful activity that contributes to the common good.

Programs & Proposals for Older Adult Civic Engagement:

• The 2006 Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act calls for “a comprehensive strategy for utilizing older individuals to address critical local needs of national concern.”  The time has come to fully fund and expand civic engagement opportunities.
• Current federal programs: 
  • Senior Corps of the Corporation for National and Community Service includes the Retired Senior Volunteer, Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companion Programs.
  • Experience Corps links tutors and mentors to elementary school students.
  • The Senior Community Service Employment Program places low-income adults in paid positions at senior centers, schools, hospitals, and national parks.
  • Additional programs include Troops to Teachers, Volunteers in Medicine, and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), which connects retired business leaders—as mentors—with budding entrepreneurs and small business owners.