Report: Planning for America's Aging Population

If you are age 65 or older and living in the United States, you are part of a large and growing population segment. According to the 2020 Census, one in six Americans are over 65. In fact, the number of Americans over 65 grew nearly five times faster than the total population between 1920 and 2020.

To address the needs of our aging population, a partnership of 16 federal agencies and departments produced Aging in the United States: A Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living released the report in May 2024. It outlines a strategic framework aimed at enhancing quality of life for older Americans through coordinated policy actions, innovative programs, and sustainable support systems.

According to Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a priority of the Biden-Harris Administration has been to ensure that every American can age with dignity.

“From day one, we have focused on lowering prescription drug costs, improving support for family caregivers, strengthening the workforce that provides in-home services, increasing access to health care, and more to support older adults,” Secretary Becerra said in a news release. “The Strategic Framework provides a roadmap for us to build upon that progress to improve the experience of aging in our country.”

Four Domains of the National Plan on Aging

The plan outlines four domains, or areas of life, it intends to address:

1. Age-Friendly Communities. The goal of Domain 1 is to ensure that all older adults live in communities that respect and include them and are designed to encourage health, well-being, engagement, and connection.
    
2. Coordinated Housing and Supportive Services. The goal of Domain 2 is for the older population to have access to housing and services they need to maintain their independence in their homes and thrive in their communities.
    
3. Increased Access to Long-Term Services and Supports. The goal of Domain 3 is to make sure all seniors have easy access to affordable, high-quality services and support that promote their independence and goals.
    
4. Aligned Health Care and Supportive Services. The goal of Domain 4 is to help older adults maximize their health and reduce preventable disease and injury through comprehensive care that includes health and social services in their homes and in their communities.

Domain 1: Age-Friendly Communities

Seniors will benefit from living in communities designed to encourage healthy living, connection, and engagement. Communities can achieve this in several ways:

• Purpose and Engagement. Seniors can find purpose and engage within their communities through cultivated opportunities to participate with others in meaningful ways that align with their individual goals.
• Social Connection. Communities can create opportunities for the development and maintenance of quality relationships and social networks.
• Accessibility and Universal Design. Senior-focused communities can prioritize active, inclusive environments that support all their members in everyday activities.
• Transportation. For communities to be supportive of, and accessible to, seniors, they need to offer affordable transportation options that can convey seniors to and from their everyday destinations.
• Economic and Financial Security. Having access to proper benefits and services will help seniors achieve economic stability and live more independent, healthier lives.
• Employment. Hiring older adults recognizes their expertise and boosts their sense of purpose and promotes a sense of economic independence.
• Age-Friendly Health Systems. Health care providers can coordinate to provide for the whole health care needs of older adults by focusing on individual strengths, needs, and outcomes.

Domain 2: Coordinated Housing and Supportive Services

Most adults in older age prefer to remain in their homes for as long as they can. To allow for this, they must have affordable, stable housing that is accessible to them. Some older adults need in-home supportive services if they are to remain in their residences instead of moving to a nursing home. Policymakers can help make this a reality with:

• Housing Stability Through Coordinated Services. Federal, state, and local governments can collaborate to improve access to housing assistance and related services to help older adults remain stably housed, live safely on their own, and thrive in their communities.
• Affordable Housing. By expanding and streamlining federal, state, and local policies, partnerships, and funding, more options for affordable rental and for-purchase homes for older adults may emerge.
• Accessible Quality Housing. Opportunities can be created for older adults to have access to accessible, quality housing that is healthy, safe, and climate resilient.
• Preventing and Addressing Homelessness. To prevent homelessness among older adults, all levels of government can work together to provide viable solutions.

Domain 3: Increased Access to Long-Term Services and Supports

According to estimates, over half of Americans who turned 65 in 2022 will develop a disability serious enough to require long-term services and supports (LTSS). Having access to high-quality services and support will help seniors recover more quickly and afford them more independence. The report outlines some ways to attain this goal:

• Paid and Unpaid Caregiving. Continuing to support a well-trained and well-paid LTSS workforce will help ensure that qualified help is available to older adults who need it. Enhancing collaboration between paid and unpaid caregivers can help meet the needs of caregivers, those receiving the care, and their families.
• Whole Person Health Financing. Promoting coordination across health systems and improving access to Medicaid LTSS for people who are eligible can increase access to care and promote independence.
• Elder Justice. Promoting the rights of older adults, including those who need LTSS, and preventing adult maltreatment can lead to safer, more stable communities.
• Person-Centered Access Systems. The federal government is creating a more person-centered system of care that is more easily accessible so older adults can find and receive LTSS more quickly.

Domain 4: Aligned Health Care and Supportive Services

Receiving comprehensive care, including health and social services in their homes or communities, can help older adults maximize their health and reduce preventable diseases and injuries.

• Benefits Access. Ensuring older adults have timely access to affordable benefits will help them age well within their communities.
• Optimize Health, Well-Being, and Functioning. By increasing older adults’ use of services and programs that help them maximize their physical and behavioral health, they can reduce the costs borne by health care systems and caregivers.
• Align Health and Human Services. Promoting seamless coordination among service providers that offer support to older adults will help older adults avoid adverse social and financial conditions, such as poor nutrition, financial insecurity, and housing instability.

Creating a Better Later-Life Experience

Aging in the United States seeks to encourage dialogue and action at the local, state, and federal levels for the benefit of older adults across the country. It will take a concerted effort from public and private entities to bring about the changes older adults need to live their lives to the fullest.

Learn More About Planning for Retirement

It’s never too early to start planning for retirement. There are many ways you can plan for your post-career years. Contact an elder law attorney near you today to learn how you can ensure you have the resources you need to live a comfortable, fulfilling life after you retire. They can discuss your specific situation and your options with you.

For additional reading on retirement and aging, check out the following articles:

• The Five Phases of Retirement Planning
• Five Tips for Starting Retirement Planning in Your 50s
• Getting Help When Providing Care at Home for Aging Parents
• Free and Inexpensive Meal Delivery Options for Older Adults