In this episode, we explore how states are integrating mental and behavioral health into their strategies for aging—addressing access, stigma, and the unique needs of older adults. From community-based supports to cross-sector collaborations, learn how mental health is being prioritized in planning for an age-friendly future.

The second episode explores the importance of data for developing, implementing, and refreshing MPAs. Listeners will learn about the challenges of finding good data and how a new tool developed by West Health, the National Aging Readiness Dashboard, is helping to address this challenge.

By 2030, older adults will outnumber children in the United States for the first time in history. That demographic shift will reshape our communities, systems, and priorities. The question is: how do we prepare? In this episode, we break down the Top 5 Things to Know About Multisector Plans for Aging (MPAs)—statewide, cross-sector blueprints that align government, nonprofits, businesses, philanthropy, and advocates to make sure every American can age with dignity.

In the latest episode of the Leverage Podcast, we review the impactful events of Hill Day 2024. Joined by advocates from the National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA), the focus was to raise awareness about the unique needs of Indigenous Elders. This episode covers the discussions about the importance of improving access to obesity care for this community and the steps taken during Hill Day to influence policy and drive change. Tune in for an insightful conversation on advocacy, healthcare, an...

Alan Gutterman recently launched the Older Person’s Rights Project to advance awareness of the challenges and opportunities inherent in our increased longevity. In this podcast, he speaks with Karl Pillemer, professor in the Department of Psychology and professor of Gerontology in Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, about what motivates people to get involved in advocating for climate issues, overcoming ageism, being open to intergenerational activities, and rethinking approaches to bringing ...

Alan Gutterman, a long-term partner and senior counsel in law firms, recently launched the Older Person’s Rights Project to advance awareness of the challenges and opportunities inherent in our increased longevity. In this podcast he speaks with Mick Smyer, who runs Growing Greener, Climate Action for a Warming World, and was Guest Editor of a recent Generations Journal issue on Climate Change, about how older adults can become more involved in solutions around climate change issues, rather t...

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) released the comprehensive 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers in September, with hundreds of actionable recommendations and tactics for federal and state agencies, communities, employers and families. Spend a few minutes with The John A. Hartford Foundation’s Vice President Rani Snyder, ASA Board Member and Health and Well-being Advisory Council co-chair, as she talks with ASA’s Leanne Clark-Shirley about the strategy, how it came...

Loneliness affects more than one-third of adults, and as we age, experiencing loneliness can increase our risk of adverse emotional and physical health outcomes. Programmatic interventions to decrease loneliness and isolation are growing, but what policy solutions are there to tackle this problem? Daneen Sekoni from the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness joins ASA’s Leanne Clark-Shirley to frame loneliness as a policy issue and talk about about the importance of building a compr...

CMS guidance includes behavioral health services as a key component of fully integrated models of MLTSS. How do MLTSS programs structure integrated models and how should they? Hear from Alice Dembner, Community Catalyst, and Jennifer Raymond, AgeSpan as they talk about the importance of behavioral health and highlight successes in Massachusetts.

The Older Americans Act is the foundation of our aging network. In this episode of Leverage, we take a closer look at its history and promises for the future. Richard Browdie, Guest Editor of Winter 2021-22 Generations Journal: The Older Americans Act, interviews Edwin Walker, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging. Listen as Mr. Walker reflects on the achievements of OAA, interactions with Congress, and how prepared we really are for our aging society.

Peter Kaldes and Leanne Clark-Shirley talk with Sara Kessel and Justin Hong, two ASA interns from Tufts University who have been researching climate change policy. Then, Peter gives a quick update on ASA’s new legislative tracker, which members can access here.

President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal into law. It has historic investments in roads, bridges, and other physical infrastructure improvements. But this new signed legislation also focuses on one of ASA’s policy priorities, bridging the digital divide, as it invests $65B into affordable broadband, ensuring every American can participate in the modern economy. Our guests discuss what’s in the new law, how it is being implemented, and how older adults stand to benefit. Read...

When it comes to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, or ARPA, most people are familiar with the COVID-19 vaccination program, stimulus checks, and unemployment insurance provisions. But there are also significant resources to support older people who want to live in the community. Dr. Maddy Shea and Aaron Tripp from Health Management Associates talk with ASA's Leanne Clark-Shirley about these resources and how states and localities can take advantage of them.

The Well-Being Insurance for Seniors to be at Home (WISH) Act was introduced in early July by Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-Long Island, Queens) to create a new federal Long-Term Care Insurance Trust Fund that would pay for the “catastrophic” period of long-term care for those who need many years of it. In this episode of Leverage, Josephine (Josie) Kalipeni, Deputy Director of Family Values @ Work talks with ASA’s Peter Kaldes about the opportunities and limitations of the WISH Act, and how we s...

The Elder Justice Reauthorization and Modernization Act of 2021 was introduced in the House and Senate on August 9. This bill would channel funding to existing and new elder justice initiatives including long-term care workforce, Adult Protective Services and programs to address social isolation. On this episode of LeverAGE, ASA's Leanne Clark-Shirley talks with Bob Blancato and Meredith Ponder Whitmire, both of Matz Blancato & Associates, about this bill, likely next steps and how ASA me...

10 states in the US have authorized Medical Aid in Dying legislation, and several more are have introduced it. On this episode of Leverage, Kim Callinan of Compassion + Choices and Dr. Chandana Banerjee of City of Hope talk with ASA’s Leanne Clark-Shirley about what Medical Aid in Dying means, how they see it as part of the continuum of care for people at end of life, and what providers and patients alike should know. Hosted by: Leanne Clark Shirley, PhD, Vice President, Programs & Thou...

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias impact more than 6 million families, with 15 million projected to be affected by 2050. Although we’re learning that it is possible to reduce the risk of dementia and slow the rate of cognitive decline, we do not yet have a national effort focused on prevention. Kelly O’Brien from UsAgainstAlzheimer’s and Dr. David Hoffman of Maria College and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors talk about why we need a national dementia prevention go...

A large share of healthcare costs results from unplanned hospitalizations, many of which happen as a result of chronic diseases among older patients. But acute care doesn’t necessarily need to happen in the hospital. Innovative models are successfully responding to unplanned acute health episodes among older people, and interrupting care trajectories that typically lead to hospitalizations. This LeverAGE episode covers initiatives like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ new A...

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telehealth and virtual care was growing, slowly. But since last March, telehealth use has skyrocketed as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) quickly expanded access to telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries, and many private insurers followed suit. Healthcare organizations that had already adopted value-based care models were able to pivot to telehealth more quickly. In this episode of LeverAGE, ASA talks with a panel of experts abo...

Prescription drug prices are at unprecedented levels. There is a huge human impact to not being able to afford medications: according to a new study by West Health, over 1.1 million people insured by Medicare could die over the next decade because they cannot afford their prescription medications. For some time, drug spending in Medicare Parts D and B has grown faster than overall Medicare spending. Rather than negotiate drug prices itself, Medicare allows private insurers to negotiate prices...