Last week, we celebrated Martin Luther’s King’s birthday. For some, it is a day off from work. For others, a day of service. But for all, it is an occasion to renew hope and to remind ourselves that our nation’s history is a long journey of self-correction.
In many ways, on a narrower scale, as part of our commitment to a quality of life for ALL older adults as they age, we have and continue to be on a journey of self-correction. From “homes for the incurable” or “homes for the relief of homeless and friendless females” of yesteryear, we have created vibrant communities that celebrate age. We have eliminated physical restraints and invented new options—PACE, assisted living, and adult day centers. We are on a path of innovation, reinvention and, yes, self-correction. Our journey is not over.
Research released by NIC last spring was a stark reminder that there are older adults that are grossly underserved. In this case, NIC’s focus was the “middle market”—those with too many resources to qualify for Medicaid and too few to avail themselves of much of what the market currently has to offer. Absolutely, there is a dearth of options for the middle market. However, they are not the only ones who are underserved. Case in point: the increasing number of older individuals who are homeless; those on long waiting lists for an affordable apartment; families in communities that have a paltry array of community services; older individuals living in neighborhoods considered “food deserts” without a grocery store, which undoubtedly means there are few services available to them.
There are vast opportunities to serve, to create, to partner and to network—to support the underserved. LeadingAge members are doing so. Iona Senior Services is opening an adult day program in a vastly underserved part of Washington, DC. St Paul’s Senior Services is providing supportive housing for the homeless in San Diego. Juliette Fowler Communities in Dallas is bringing generations together by providing housing for young women “aging out” of foster care who are survivors of abuse and neglect. The Weinberg Center for Elder Justice at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale provides a safe shelter for older victims of abuse. And, Volunteers of America has, for 125 years, served the nation’s most vulnerable be they older, people living with disabilities, veterans, or others with needs.
These, and others, are the exemplars in our midst. They understand our common humanity, as Dr. King would remind us, and take action every day of the year. I commend you and am humbled to work alongside you.