New Resources from ACL (January, 2025)

In reflection of the great work that occurred throughout 2024 to advance a National Plan on Aging, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) released two new resources: a report and toolkit. Read on to learn more about these resources and how they can be used to continue building momentum for the National Plan on Aging. 

What We Heard: Initial Feedback on the Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging

Since May 2024, the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age Friendly Communities— with support from the National Plan on Aging Community Engagement Collaborative (a partnership between West Health, The SCAN Foundation, and The John A. Hartford Foundation) —­ has focused on gathering feedback on the Strategic Framework and other input to ensure the national plan focuses on the most important issues and addresses them in a way that will meet the needs of older adults. 

Input has been collected from a wide variety of people and organizations from communities across the country. Older adults and others have shared their input through four in person listening sessions and several virtual events; a nationally representative Gallup poll, and an online feedback portal.

The Administration for Community Living created this report to share what has been learned so far. The report describes some of the common themes that are beginning to emerge from the experiences, insights, and recommendations that have been shared, with a goal of sparking ongoing discussion. It includes input on factors that influence the aging experience, such as affordable and accessible housing, aligned health care and supportive services, accessible communities, age-friendly workplaces, and sufficient, high-quality long-term services and supports. The report is a snapshot in time, as input continues to be gathered on the framework. 

Community Engagement Toolkit 

Created by the National Plan on Aging Community Engagement Collaborative, this toolkit is designed to support community partners in engaging with older adults to collect their input and to support peer-to-peer conversations among older adults. 

In the toolkit, you will find the following content.

• Background about the Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging and a corresponding fact sheet

• Tips for human-centered engagement that advances pro-aging values

• Plain-language discussion prompts, worksheets, notetaking forms, and background related to aging issues addressed by the Strategic Framework:

  • Age-friendly communities

  • Coordinated housing and supportive services

  • Increased access to long-term services and supports

  • Aligned health care and support services

• Instructions and tips for submitting feedback

Explore the toolkit here. 

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