Abstract

The growing aging population and the challenges for older adults demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for focused attention and action. In May 2022, the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) convened the Task Force on Healthy Aging to develop recommendations to support aging in place in North Carolina communities.

The task force was supported by funding from The Duke Endowment, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) Division of Aging and Adult Services and Division of Public Health, and AARP North Carolina. The task force focused on four key areas of aging in the community setting: falls prevention, mobility, nutrition, and social connections. Between May 2022 and April 2023, the full task force met 11 times; in addition, more than 35 topic-specific meetings or interviews were conducted. Dr. Tamara Baker, MA, PhD, professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and Dennis Streets, MPH, MAT, retired, former Director of DAAS and former Executive Director of the Chatham County Council on Aging served as task force co-chairs. They helped guide the 63 task force members through insightful conversations that led to the creation of the recommendations in this report.

Through task force meetings and discussions with leading experts, it became evident that the four key areas are closely interconnected. For example, poor nutrition may lead to increased falls risk, and poor mobility issues may decrease an older adult’s ability to connect with others in their community. There are also external factors that affect these four key areas, such as lack of transportation, unsafe environments for walking and daily activities, low income, and limited access to food.

The final report presents the 12 recommendations and 30 supporting strategies from the Task Force on Healthy Aging. Recommendations and strategies are organized by the following overarching topics:

• Upstream factors that affect how we experience aging;
• Promoting a culture of aging across the lifespan;
• Community services and programs; and
• Workforce to meet the needs of older adults.

Links to sections of the report:

• Executive Summary
• Chapter 1 – Healthy Aging
• Chapter 2 – Social and Economic Factors that Affect How We Experience Aging
• Chapter 3 – Promoting a Culture of Aging Across the Lifespan
• Chapter 4 – Community Services and Programs that Support Aging in Place
• Chapter 5 – Workforce to Meet the Needs of Older Adults
• Conclusion
• Appendix – List of Recommendations and Strategies

Links to recommendations and strategies in the report:

• Recommendation 1 – Financial Resources
  • Strategy 1 – Saving for Retirement
  • Strategy 2 – Employment Opportunities
  • Strategy 3 – Tax Policy
  • Strategy 4 – Increase Uptake of Food and Nutrition Services
  • Strategy 5 – Cost of Health Care Coverage
  • Strategy 6 – Protection from Fraud
• Recommendation 2 – Safe and Affordable Housing
  • Strategy 7 – Focus on Housing
  • Strategy 8 – Housing Programs and Services
• Recommendation 3 – Digital Equity 
  • Strategy 9 – Broadband Access
  • Strategy 10 – Digital Literacy
• Recommendation 4 – Community Culture of Aging
  • Strategy 11 – Aging in All Policies
  • Strategy 12 – Age-Friendly Communities
  • Strategy 13 – Physical Activity and Strength
• Recommendation 5 – Collaboration
  • Strategy 14 – Research and Data
  • Strategy 15 – Cultural Stigmas
  • Strategy 16 – Legislative Attention
• Recommendation 6 – Strengthen Programs
  • Strategy 17 – Senior Centers
  • Strategy 18 – Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
  • Strategy 19 – Knowledge About Programs
  • Strategy 20 – Evaluation of Programs
  • Strategy 21 – Home and Community Care Block Grant
  • Strategy 22 – Adult Protective Services
• Recommendation 7 – Community Health Assessments
  • Strategy 23 – Community Health Assessments
• Recommendation 8 – Health Care and Aging
  • Strategy 24 – Adequate Nutrition
  • Strategy 25 – Screening and Assessment
• Recommendation 9 – Aging Network Workforce 
  • Strategy 26 – Workforce Characteristics
  • Strategy 27 – Current and Future Workforce Needs
• Recommendation 10 – Community Workforce
  • Strategy 28 – Community Workforce
• Recommendation 11 – Community Health Workers
  • Strategy 29 – Community Health Workers
• Recommendation 12 – Family Caregivers
  • Strategy 30 – Family Caregivers