HHS releases wide list of programs aimed at improving lives of seniors

Today, in conjunction with the White House’s Conference on Aging, the HHS has announced several initiatives that focus on improving the care and quality of life for older Americans, according to a press release.

“Celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act, as well as the 80^th anniversary of Social Security, HHS today is announcing several programs designed to enhance the loves of older Americans and provide resources to their families, friends and other caregivers,” according to the press release.

The announced plans for senior care include:

An update to the safety and quality requirements of more than 15,000 nursing homes and nursing facilities may be needed to update their quality and safety standards, the first time in almost 25 years, proposed by CMS.
The Go4Life exercise and physical activity campaign from the NIH is designed to support programs for physical activity among older adults, and the YMCA and Surgeon General will join together to encourage younger and older adults to partake in exercise together.
In the Spring of 2016, the National Prevention Council will release a strategy, the Healthy Aging Action Plan, to detect federal actions to promote the well-being of seniors.
The National Plan to address Alzheimer’s Disease will be updated to include what steps will be taken over the next year by the government to address Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is providing $35 million to fund geriatric education courses, designed to help health care providers be more prepared for the issues surrounding their aging patients. Additionally, HRSA has announced a training curriculum designed to help professionals accurately and proficiently diagnose Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, and what the best practices for care are.
A $4 million campaign, the Brain Health Awareness Campaign, will be launched by the Administration on Community Living that is aimed towards helping adults comprehend and discuss changes that occur in the brain as they get older.
A free online training course will be offered by the CDC to help health care providers incorporate preventable injury strategies into clinical care.
The CMS will partner with various organizations to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries understand and use the preventative benefits that are at their disposal.
The NIH will hold a workshop that helps health care providers understand, identify and prevent elderly abuse.