Abstract
Background and ObjectivesThe public health system in America—at all levels—has relatively few specialized initiatives that prioritize the health and well-being of older adults. And when public health does address the needs of older adults, it is often as an afterthought. In consultation with leaders in public health, health care, and aging, an innovative Framework for an Age-Friendly Public Health System (Framework) was developed outlining roles that public health could fulfill, in collaboration with aging services, to address the challenges and opportunities of an aging society.Research Design and MethodsWith leadership from Trust for America’s Health and The John A. Hartford Foundation, the Florida Departments of Health and Elder Affairs are piloting the implementation of this Framework within Florida’s county health departments and at the state level. The county health departments are expanding data collection efforts to identify older adult needs, creating new alliances with aging sector partners, coordinating with other agencies and community organizations to implement evidence-based programs and policies that address priority needs, and aligning efforts with the age-friendly communities and age-friendly health systems movements.Results, and Discussion and ImplicationsThe county health departments in Florida participating in the pilot are leveraging the Framework to expand public health practice, programs, and policies that address health services and health behaviors, social, and economic factors and environmental conditions that allow older adults to age in place and live healthier and more productive lives. The model being piloted in Florida can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each community and their older adult population.
Highlights
Background and ObjectivesThe public health system in America—at all levels—has relatively few specialized initiatives that prioritize the health and well-being of older adults
The county health departments in Florida participating in the pilot are leveraging the Framework to expand public health practice, programs, and policies that address health services and health behaviors, social, and economic factors and environmental conditions that allow older adults to age in place and live healthier and more productive lives
Over the past 50 years, some steps have been taken toward a more collaborative approach, such as the formation of the Aging and Public Health section of the American Public Health Association in 1978, or the mandated role for CDC in providing disease prevention and health promotion services offered through the Older Americans Act in 1987 (Anderson et al, 2012)
Summary
Background and ObjectivesThe public health system in America—at all levels—has relatively few specialized initiatives that prioritize the health and well-being of older adults. Over the past 50 years, some steps have been taken toward a more collaborative approach, such as the formation of the Aging and Public Health section of the American Public Health Association in 1978, or the mandated role for CDC in providing disease prevention and health promotion services offered through the Older Americans Act in 1987 (Anderson et al, 2012).
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