Health Policy
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Browsing Health Policy by Subject "Aging populations"
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Item The Role of Senior Centers in Mitigating Alzheimer's and Other Forms of Dementia(Institute for Public Administration, 2019-01) O'Hanlon, Julia; Jacobson, Eric D.; Perillo, KellyDementia, a common term associated with memory loss, causes problems with an individual’s memory, thinking, and behavior to the point where it affects day-to-day life and social functioning. Alzheimer’s, the most common and familiar form of dementia, is becoming more prevalent among the older adult population. Of all individuals diagnosed with dementia in the United States, Alzheimer’s accounts for sixty to eighty percent of the cases. Understanding the severity and impact of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia on older adults and their family members is crucial for policy makers, stakeholders, supportive services, and medical professionals due to the implications on national, state, and local governments, health and social services, nonprofits, and communities. To address national demographic trends, it is important to understand the appropriate programs and services necessary to prevent, treat, and evaluate Alzheimer’s, as well as the large impact the disease has on U.S. healthcare costs. With definitive ways to address prevention and a cure, it is vital that this disease become better known.Item Senior Centers and Aging-Related Challenges(Institute for Public Administration, 2009-07) Jacobson, Eric D.; O'Hanlon, Julia; Scott, JacquelynThe United States’ older adult population is growing at a rapid rate due to the aging of the baby boomers and medical advancements that are increasing the population’s overall longevity. According to the Institute of Medicine, the U.S. is not prepared for the impact that this population increase will likely have on healthcare services, including the need for appropriately trained geriatric professionals. As the varying needs and interests of older adults become more apparent (e.g., opportunities for active community involvement for baby boomers versus health supportive services for elderly seniors), leaders of community-based programs may become interested in learning new ways of addressing the increasing diversity of the population. For example, senior center directors and their staff may pursue new or expanded program ideas to address the changing needs of the aging population. This is issue brief one in a two-part collection.