States recognize 'something's got to give' in providing services to older adults

As the population of adults 65 years and over continues to overtake the share of younger adults in the U.S., a recent survey shows that just 15% of Americans are confident that the government is prepared to handle the incoming ‘silver tsunami.’ 

Policymakers are increasingly concerned about older adults’ ability to afford housing, manage their increasing health needs and age in place.

But among the federal government, states, cities and the private sector, “there’s not necessarily a whole lot of consensus on who is supposed to take the lead” to address those challenges, said Narda Ipakchi, vice president of policy at The SCAN Foundation, an independent charitable organization dedicated to advancing health and supporting services for aging adults. 

“States are recognizing that something’s got to give,” Ipakchi said. 

Policymakers in recent months have unveiled new plans to inform policies and programming aimed at meeting the needs of aging individuals with an emphasis on keeping them connected to their communities. 

New Jersey, for instance, released its Age-Friendly Blueprint in May. The blueprint goes beyond issues such as housing affordability and health care access, said Kaylee McGuire, deputy commissioner for aging and disability services at the New Jersey Department of Human Services. “It’s also about the sense of … community. There are plenty of older adults in New Jersey who are not struggling financially but are isolated.” 

In fact, a 2023 report from the state’s Department of Human Services found that 44% of adults ages 65 or older reported feeling lonely. The findings are based on survey responses from 960 individuals from October 2021 to February 2022.

New Jersey's plan calls for expanding services like Mr. Fix It, a program that some counties in the state offer to provide people over 60 with free help with yard work and basic home repairs. About 4,000 residents received help from the program last fiscal year, according to McGuire.

Similarly, Oklahoma’s plan on aging, announced in June, also calls for expanding programs that improve older adults’ housing. “Helping older adults remain in their home also requires living conditions to be safe and appropriate for their unique needs,” the plan states. “For instance, a $30 grab bar installed in a bathroom can prevent a fall that could cost thousands of dollars.” 

The blueprint also suggests that helping older adults become more tech savvy can help them stay connected with friends and neighbors, and make it easier to access telehealth and government services that are increasingly online. 

In 2022, New Jersey’s Division of Aging launched the GetSetUp initiative, a free interactive online learning platform that teaches adults ages 60 and older how to use technology and social media and offers online classes on aging in place, budgeting, mental fitness and other topics. Since its inception, McGuire said the program has seen more than 17,000 unique visitors sign up and access more than 94,000 classes. 

More states are implementing programs to help train and engage older adults in the adoption of technology, Ipakchi, of The SCAN Foundation, said. But officials should consider involving older adults in designing those programs so they actually meet their needs. 

States are also turning their attention to older adults in the workforce, she said, as “a lot of older adults [report] jobs give them a sense of purpose and an ability to interact with people outside of the home.” 

Pennsylvania's aging roadmap published in May suggests officials could improve processes to make it easier for older adults to continue working or to seek new employment, as outlined by the state’s workforce development strategy. 

State agencies could, for instance, increase assistive transportation services to help individuals travel to and from work, invest in training and reskilling programs for people entering or returning to the workforce and improve education and awareness among employers to reduce stigma and bias toward certain working individuals, such as older adults or formerly incarcerated people. 

Plus, “keeping employment opportunities attractive and available to older adults also helps to address existing and anticipated workforce shortages,” according to the plan. 

States must keep in mind, however, that for some older adults earning above a certain amount of income could disqualify them from receiving social services, Ipakchi added. 

When addressing the needs of older adults, she said, states should consider how to ensure the resources and services they offer are equitable to all older adults. How Pennsylvania’s plan unfolds, she added, will be particularly interesting for other states to watch because of its diversity in geography, political will and demographics, which could indicate how older adult-targeted efforts play out in different areas. 

Ultimately, McGuire said, policymakers should consider that the aging population is an opportunity to leverage the value of older adults in communities, rather than “a problem to solve.”