Home health and personal care aids were the largest occupation in the United States in 2023. However, in addition to paid professionals, the caregiver workforce consists of 53 million unpaid caregivers who provide support to loved ones.
Among the many challenges faced by people growing older in the U.S., housing remains one of the most complex and costly. As people age, their income may be reduced, their mobility may decrease, and accessible and affordable housing stock is simply not widely available.
One of the public health sector’s most valuable, yet often overlooked, partners in supporting healthy aging is academia. Colleges and universities, including staff, researchers, and students, can be great partners in bridging research and practice and offering a wide array of knowledge and resources that are crucial tools for promoting older adult health and well-being.
Supporting healthy aging is a complex challenge that requires coordination across disciplines.
One of the public health sector’s most valuable, yet often overlooked, partners in supporting healthy aging is academia. Colleges and universities, including staff, researchers, and students, can be great partners in bridging research and practice and offering a wide array of knowledge and resources that are crucial tools for promoting older adult health and well-being.
Social connection is a “vital ingredient in developing and maintaining overall health and well-being,” as well as a “social imperative” for individuals and communities, according to Dr. Paul Reed, Director of the HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
A comprehensive public health preparedness system is crucial for protecting the health of individuals and communities in the face of emergencies and disasters. Trust for America’s Health’s annual report Ready or Not 2024: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism
This episode of the AFPHS podcast, Building an Age-Friendly Ecosystem in Mississippi, features Dr. Kina White, Director of the Office of Community Health Improvement at the Mississippi State Department of Health, joins host, TFAH President and CEO Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, to discuss her work to build an age-friendly ecosystem in her home state.
State and local health departments across the country are beginning to prioritize older adult health and well-being and are hungry for guidance, resources, and tools to help expand their programs and policies in this area.