251319 Advancing Environmental and Policy Change for Healthy Aging

Monday, October 31, 2011: 3:10 PM

Rebecca H. Hunter, MEd , UNC Institute on Aging, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
The new n4A report, The Maturing of America, indicates that "many U.S. communities have been unable to make significant progress in preparing to meet the needs of the country's rapidly aging population... advancements are no where near the level of progress that has to be made to ensure that communities are livable for people of all ages". This session directly addresses this challenge, drawing upon lessons learned and recommendations from a CDC-Healthy Aging Research Network action-oriented environmental and policy change initiative, and outlining goals for public health leadership in this area. The session will include priorities for action and essential methods, such as the necessity for cross-sector learning and collaboration; coalition and capacity building; and engagement of older adults and people with disabilities in planning and evaluative processes. Participants will be provided with access to practical strategies, resources and tools to help ensure comprehensive planning and implementation that is consistent with broad public health goals, but also specifically responsive to an aging population that is diverse in ethnicity, resources, health and functional status. Also discussed will be the potential for peer support and guidance to foster environmental and policy systems change through strategies such as online communities and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Materials shared will be useful to participants as they create environmental and policy change in their own spheres of influence.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the potential role of the public health community in promoting environmental and policy change for healthy aging. 2. Identify goals, priorities and strategies for accomplishing environmental and policy change for healthy aging. 3. Describe examples of successful use of tools and resources to effect environmental and policy system change for healthy aging. 4. Explain the role of online communities, peer support and cross-disciplinary collaboration in fostering environmental and policy systems change for healthy aging.

Keywords: Environment, Aging

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been working in this area for over 20 years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.