by Geralyn Magan
LTSS Center Co-Directors Robyn Stone and Marc Cohen participated in the Convergence Dialogue on Reimagining Care for Older Adults. A new report contains recommendations that emerged from the dialogue.
A new report from the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution proposes ways to ensure that America’s systems of care reflect the unique needs and realities of older adults. The report, Improving Care for Older Adults, features recommendations produced by leaders and experts from across the political spectrum who participated in a multi-stage convening sponsored by Convergence, a national organization focusing on problem-solving and bridge-building.
Robyn Stone and Marc Cohen, co-directors of the LeadingAge LTSS Center at UMass Boston, and Ruth Katz, senior vice president of policy at LeadingAge, participated in the convening, which was supported by The John A. Hartford Foundation and The SCAN Foundation.
THE DIALOGUE PROCESS
In October 2020, Convergence assembled nearly 50 experts in the field of long-services and supports (LTSS) to brainstorm on the topic of “Rethinking Care for Older Adults.” A follow-up meeting in the summer of 2021 brought together 30 stakeholders who met regularly for a year to identify concrete policy and practice actions that could help trigger immediate and long-term change in how we care for older adults.
“The recommendations in this report are not only a concrete blueprint for improving the lives of older adults,” said Stuart M. Butler, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a member of the Convergence Dialogue on Reimagining Care for Older Adults team. “They are also the result of true collaboration—among people who came to this process with very divergent interests—and indicate which reform ideas can attract wide support.”
The report includes 32 recommendations focusing on three major areas for improvement:
- Creating a constellation of care settings with viable business models, so preferred options are available as a person ages.
- Ensuring that there are enough caregivers qualified to provide needed care and to support family caregivers.
- Adequately funding the system of care with payment systems and other features that are aligned with the reality of aging.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information, read Improving Care for Older Adults: Convergence Dialogue on Reimagining Care for Older Adults or visit the Reimagining Care for Older Adults website.