4246.0: Tuesday, November 14, 2000: 4:30 PM-6:00 PM

Integrated Approaches: Assurance of African American Elders and Providers Participation in the Development of State and Local Action Plans

The African American (AA) population is aging, living longer, and facing several challenges in the assurance of quality care. The changing demographics and the increase in preventable chronic diseases pose many needs assessment and service delivery challenges for providers of services in the Aging Network. To ensure that the needs and concerns of AA elders are understood by states, localities, and service providers, ethnic community representatives and African American elders and their families should become familiar with and participate actively in the Aging Network’s State and area planning processes. The Administration on Aging (AoA) is committed to programs and policies that better the quality of life of America’s elders. During this presentation, we will provide an overview to the Aging Network and describe services currently provided under the Older Americans Act. We will also discuss the Act’s special commitment to “older persons in greatest economic and social need, with particular attention to low-income minorities.” Finally, we will describe how the unique needs of African American elders can be identified for inclusion in state and local plans, which serve as blueprints for service delivery and examine how access to culturally-appropriate services can be assured
Learning Objectives:
Panelist(s):Carol M. Crecy, MBA
Sunday Mezurashi, MPH,, MBA
Evelyn J. Yee, MPH, MPP
Organizer(s):Jeanette Takamura, PhD
Sponsor:Black Caucus of Health Workers
Cosponsors:Community Health Planning and Policy Development; Gerontological Health; Socialist Caucus

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA