Elder Law News

HHS Announces $15 Million Collaboration On Prevention For Older Americans

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced a $15 million collaboration with The Atlantic Philanthropies to improve the health and quality of life for older Americans at the community level. As the leader of President Bush’s HealthierUS Initiative, Secretary Leavitt has identified prevention as a priority issue in order to highlight the importance of preventive care and chronic disease management

“This collaboration, led by the Administration on Aging (AoA) and involving several HHS agencies, states, and various public and private organizations at the community level, will empower older people to take more control of their own health through life style and behavioral changes that have proven effective in reducing the risk of disease and disability among the elderly,” Secretary Leavitt said. “Simply put, this collaboration will put the results of our research investments into the hands of older people so they can use it to improve the quality of their lives.”

Older Americans are disproportionately affected by chronic diseases and conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and heart disease, as well as by disabilities that result from injuries such as falls. Chronic conditions currently limit activities for 12 million older persons living in communities. These conditions collectively account for seven out of every 10 deaths, and more than three-quarters of all health expenditures in the United States.

The HHS research has generated a growing body of scientific evidence on the effectiveness of interventions that can help older people to improve their health status by better managing their chronic diseases, improving their nutrition and diet, exercising more, and avoiding injuries such as falls.

Building on that knowledge base and subject to the availability of funding, HHS will support efforts over three years in up to 12 states to mobilize public/private collaborations that will support the delivery of evidence-based programs for seniors at the community level. These programs will be administered at the community level through non-profit aging services provider organizations, such as senior centers, nutrition programs, senior housing projects and faith-based organizations. At least 30 local communities will have programs up and running within a year. HHS is providing support to the Center for Healthy Aging at the National Council on Aging (NCOA) to provide technical assistance to the state grantees and local projects. Read more at aoa.gov

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	Did You Know?
	Estimated that 820,000 elders became victims of elder abuse in 1994 The National Aging Resource Center on Elder Abuse (now the National Center on Elder Abuse) estimated that in 2004 there were 820,000 elders became victims of elder abuse. 106 percent increase in the number of reported cases between 1986 and 1994, from 117,000 to 241,000.