May 12, 2023 Washington, DC — Leaders of 12 of the nation’s leading faith-based provider associations serving older adults joined LeadingAge today to call on President Biden to create a White House Office on Aging Policy that can deliver focused, effective coordination of the country’s many aging-related federal programs. The request was made during Older Americans Month  in a public letter dated May 12.

Aging services organizations rooted in powerful faith traditions have long played a special and critical role in communities; their leaders know first-hand the challenges nearly every family faces accessing essential care and support. “We witness the confusion. We guide them through the complex and conflicting eligibility requirements. We assuage their trepidation of being left behind, lonely, and lost,” the letter reads.

“The nation is at an inflection point on policies related to older adults. Our leaders have a moral obligation to deliver on fundamental commitments to millions of Americans,” said Katie Smith Sloan, LeadingAge president and CEO. “We urge the Administration to act quickly to establish a strong, visible White House Office on Aging Policy.”

Today’s letter adds urgency to the request LeadingAge first issued in December. 

Ten thousand Americans turn 65 each day and nearly one in every 10 adults over 65 lives below the poverty level. As noted in the letter, “We’re growing older and living longer—and the nation isn’t prepared. But with thoughtful, coordinated leadership, your Administration can make a vital improvement to how we age in this country.” 

The more than 25 federal agencies with responsibility for policies related to older adults oversee initiatives and programs that have evolved without overarching leadership and coordination. The result is severely inadequate support, with redundancies, gaps, and conflicting eligibility requirements. Families have to sort through unnecessary complexity and confusion to access services.

Collectively, the signing organizations represent over 5,000 organizations based on a range of faiths and denominations, including Catholics, Episcopalians, Jews, United Church of Christ, Methodists, Mennonites, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Presbyterians, and Quakers. “Our organizations are diverse in our religious traditions, but we are united in our request that you create a White House Office on Aging Policy,” the letter concludes.

The following are signatories of the letter.