U.S. Finally Has a Plan on Aging: Will We Use It?

A new strategic plan, A Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging, has been released by a consortium of 16 federal departments and agencies, along with three philanthropies focused on aging. The 38-page report, described as "unprecedented" by Lindsay Goldman, CEO of Grantmakers in Aging, aims to raise awareness of the needs and priorities of an aging population and to promote a person-centered approach to aging. The plan, developed by the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities (ICC), which was established by Congress in 2020, outlines four major priorities: age-friendly communities, coordinated housing and supportive services, increased access to long-term services and supports, and aligned health care and supportive services.

The Goals and Challenges of the Aging Plan

"There were multiple goals," said Kari Benson, assistant secretary for aging at the Administration for Community Living (ACL), which chairs the ICC. "To raise awareness of the needs and priorities of an aging population and to authorize federal agencies to come together to elevate older Americans as vital members of society - to address ageism and to reframe aging." However, the experts interviewed by Next Avenue expressed skepticism about the feasibility of the plan's goals, citing today's political climate and budget constraints. Ken Dychtwald, CEO of AgeWave, praised the plan's comprehensive approach but noted the absence of a clear, time-based action plan. Bob Kramer, founder of Nexus Insights, emphasized the importance of funding to turn the plan's priorities into action, while Paul Irving, former chairman of the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging, highlighted the "elephant in the room" - the cost of implementing the plan.

An Aging Population in Need of Action

The strategic plan comes at a time of increasing concern about aging in the U.S. Two-thirds of respondents in the West Health-Gallup 2024 Survey on Aging in America expressed little confidence that the country can care for its aging population. Despite these concerns, the plan's success will depend on the ability of its creators to secure funding and navigate a challenging political landscape. As the U.S. population continues to age - 16% of Americans are currently 65 or older, a figure projected to rise to 22% by 2035 - the need for a national aging plan becomes more pressing. Whether this new strategic plan will lead to meaningful change or become just another well-meaning government report remains to be seen.

The Road Ahead: Implementation and Feedback

"We want everybody to kick the tires on this strategic framework to see what they think," Benson said, emphasizing the importance of feedback from older adults and their families. With a potential 2025 White House Conference on Aging in the balance, the future of the plan - and the broader aging policy agenda - may hinge on the outcome of upcoming elections. As Irving noted, "Who's elected in Congress and the White House will make a huge difference over whether [aging] programs will be expanded or contracted and whether any of these things can be meaningfully implemented at scale or in ways that reflect real change."