Caregiving & Support
Learn insights about the critical role of caregivers in supporting aging populations and the resources needed to strengthen it.
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77% of Older Adults Want to “Age in Place” - Housing, Health Care, and Transportation
If there is one thing Americans can agree on, it’s that they do not want to end their life living in a nursing home. In fact, about 77% of older adults say that they want to “age in place,” remaining in their communities surrounded by the places, people, and things they love. For some this means continuing to live in their current home. For others this might include living in the home of a relati...
Navigating Family Caregiving as We Age
Increasingly, caregiving roles are extending into later years for adults. According to the 2025 AARP Caregiving in the U.S. Report, 59 million Americans provide care for adults age 18 and older, who typically have complex care needs. The average age of these family caregivers is 51 years old, and they are lifelines to sustaining families and filling gaps in the U.S. long-term care system given the...
From Isolation to Connection: Supporting Older Adults in Connecting to Community
Social Isolation and loneliness — what is the difference? Social isolation means a person has few social relationships and/or little contact or support from others. Loneliness is the subjective experience of feeling alone or not close to others. Someone can, objectively, have many social connections, but still feel alone. Social isolation is a growing public health concern in the United States, l...
Preparing for the Future: Using Data to Support Aging in America
It’s no secret that communities worldwide are experiencing a demographic shift, with older adults soon outnumbering younger generations. In the U.S., the Census Bureau projects that by 2034, adults ages 65 and older will outnumber children younger than 18 for the first time in history.West Health has worked with federal and state agencies to facilitate aging-focused planning, and a common challeng...
Leveraging Multisector Plans for Aging to Promote Health Equity
As our population skews older, ensuring equitable access to healthcare and social services becomes increasingly important. Multisector Plans for Aging (MPAs) have emerged as a pivotal framework for addressing the diverse needs of older adults and promoting health equity. This comprehensive strategy encompasses initiatives aimed at enhancing well-being and quality of life for older Americans, while...
Creating the Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging
Aging in America and the Case for a National Plan on AgingThere are more than 77 million adults ages 60 and older living in the United States, representing more than 23% of its total population, and this cohort is expected to continue growing rapidly in the coming years. In addition, more people are aging with a disability. Our changing demographics require all levels of government, along with key...
Why MPAs Are Critical to Equitably Meeting the Needs of Aging Communities
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, states have an opportunity to rebuild their systems serving elders to better serve all older adults and people with disabilities. This massive feat must begin with a plan.Multisector Plans for Aging—also known as master plans, strategic plans or aging-well plans—offer a powerful tool for communities to better meet older adults’ long-term services and supp...
Serving Adults with Serious Mental Illness in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly: Promising Practices
IN BRIEFProgram of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) organizations now serve a greater number of older adults with serious mental illness (SMI) than ever before, and increasingly include behavioral health providers in their care teams to meet the complex needs of this population. This brief highlights promising practices for assessment, care planning, and care coordination for older adults...
Achieving Value in Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Care: Considerations for Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Programs
States are increasingly adopting value-based payment (VBP) models to tie payment to outcomes including quality of care, health status, and costs for their Medicaid programs. Although most Medicaid VBP models are for primary and acute care services, states are beginning to explore VBP for long-term services and supports (LTSS).This guide, made possible by the West Health Policy Center, describes co...
The Mobility Crisis in Aging America: How Geography and Disability Shape Access to Transportation
Reliable transportation is essential for maintaining independence, accessing healthcare, and participating fully in community life. Yet for many older adults and people with physical disabilities across the United States, mobility remains one of the greatest barriers to healthy aging. The West Health National Aging Readiness Dashboard, shows that 1 in 5 (21%) adults age 65 and older who live alone...