The Future of Aging and Longevity - Flipbook - Page 34
IN CONV E RSAT I O N
Economic Security for
Every Older American
Ramsey Alwin
President and CEO,
Na琀椀onal Council on
Aging
The Na琀椀onal Council on Aging (NCOA) set
a goal of improving the lives of 40 million
older adults by 2030—and reached it early.
What does this milestone signify?
We are extremely proud of this achievement,
and it shows what we can accomplish when we
work together with focus and determina琀椀on.
Social impact is not just a buzzword for us. It’s
a galvanizing force that allows us to engage
our na琀椀onal, state, and local partners toward
a common goal. Thanks to our joint e昀昀orts, 40
million older adults today are preven琀椀ng falls,
managing their chronic condi琀椀ons, connec琀椀ng
to bene昀椀ts, and ge琀�ng trained to reenter the
workforce. These are real, tangible improvements
to their daily lives.
Programs that millions of older adults
depend on—Medicaid, Medicare,
Supplemental Nutri琀椀on Assistance
Program—are under scru琀椀ny. How can
advocacy help protect what’s been built?
ensuring every person can age well. With 11,000
Americans turning 65 every day through 2027,
we need to strengthen and improve them to
meet the moment. We hear every day from our
community-based partners that too many older
adults are struggling with the rising cost of living.
They are forced to make painful choices between
buying nutri琀椀ous food or medica琀椀on or paying
for a roof over their head. That’s not aging with
dignity. While our federal programs ensure the
bare necessi琀椀es, they do not accurately re昀氀ect
the true costs of aging in America today. Instead
of scru琀椀nizing federal programs, we need to
advocate for inves琀椀ng in them for today’s older
adults and ourselves as we age.
What is NCOA’s vision for changing
systems so everyone can age well?
Our mission is to create the condi琀椀ons for all to
age well—today and into the future. Our goal is
100 million happier, healthier birthdays by 2040.
It’s not about adding more years, it’s about adding
more life to those years. More family celebra琀椀ons,
more 琀椀me with friends, more meaningful
contribu琀椀ons through work and volunteering.
In short, more of what makes life worth living—
whatever that is for each of us.
In 20–30 years, millennials, who are 74 million
strong, will bene昀椀t from the changes we make
today. Everyone should be involved in crea琀椀ng
the condi琀椀ons to age well because everyone will
bene昀椀t.
These programs are the bedrock of economic and
health security in America, and they are cri琀椀cal to
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MIL K EN I N S T I T U T E | T H E FU T U RE O F AGI N G A N D LO N GEV I TY
