AARP Endorses Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008

A recently released report, “Retooling for an Aging America,” issued by the Institute of Medicine, emphasized this need. The report was partially funded by AARP.

The report stated that America’s workforce will be unprepared to handle the aging population. It specifically identifies the expansion of education, the recruitment and retention of geriatric specialists and other caregivers. The Institute of Medicine report also advocated improving the competence of those who are providers of geriatric care as well as redesigning care models. Broadening provider and patient roles to achieve greater flexibility to meet this need for quality care was also strongly recommended.

AARP announced its endorsement of "Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008" (S. 2708), a bipartisan piece of legislation cosponsored by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME). Senate bill S. 2708 addresses the escalating need to provide care for the country’s aging population by encouraging training in geriatrics, gerontology and long-term care.

"There are already 10 million Americans who need help with their daily activities, and that number will double by 2040," said Jennie Chin Hansen, AARP President-Elect. "Caregivers-whether they are geriatricians, home health nurses, social workers or home care aides-are going to become even more important to the health and long-term care workforce as the baby boomers age."

In addition to steering caregivers toward geriatric and long-term care roles, the legislation creates a Health and Long-Term Care Workforce Advisory Panel. This panel’s function is the analysis of this sector in order to make recommendations to address its changing needs.

"We know the problem, and we know how to begin to fix it," Hansen said. "We're proud to support Senators Boxer and Collins in their effort to help not only the people who need care, but also the 44 million family caregivers who are currently sacrificing so much to care for the ones they love. A larger and better prepared workforce is needed to provide crucial support and assistance for family caregivers who cannot do it alone."

AARP submitted testimony for April 16th’s hearing on workforce and family care giving in the Senate Special Committee on Aging.