On September 15, LeadingAge submitted comments to the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities (ICC) on its Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging. The ICC, created to develop a coordinated approach to addressing key areas related to healthy aging and age-friendly communities, is led by the Administration for Community Living, an operating division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“The work of the Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC) to create a National Plan on Aging comes not a moment too soon for our rapidly aging nation faced with a highly fragmented healthcare system and ever-pressing health-related social needs,” LeadingAge president and CEO Katie Smith Sloan said in our comments.

LeadingAge’s comments also discussed the Framework’s lack of consideration for residential-based aging services, like nursing homes. “LeadingAge is mystified by the lack of consideration and support for a strong residential care component in the Strategic Framework,” Ms. Sloan said. Our comments reviewed the Framework’s four domains (age-friendly communities; coordinated housing and supportive services; increased access to long-term services and supports; and aligned health care and supportive services) and urged the ICC to ensure that equity, geographic consideration, and adequate funding undergird any Plan on Aging.

Read our comments here.