LeverAGE

This episode explores the U.S. healthcare system as viewed through the experiences of older adults, drawing from the West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America data. The discussion highlights how older adults rely heavily on the healthcare system due to chronic conditions and ongoing care needs, while often navigating challenges such as affordability concerns, complex insurance coverage, and fragmented care. It also examines how these experiences reveal gaps in access, care coor...

Peter Kaldes and Leanne Clark-Shirley talk with Sara Kessel and Justin Hong, two ASA interns from Tufts University who have been researching climate change policy. Then, Peter gives a quick update on ASA’s new legislative tracker, which members can access here.

When it comes to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, or ARPA, most people are familiar with the COVID-19 vaccination program, stimulus checks, and unemployment insurance provisions. But there are also significant resources to support older people who want to live in the community. Dr. Maddy Shea and Aaron Tripp from Health Management Associates talk with ASA's Leanne Clark-Shirley about these resources and how states and localities can take advantage of them.

The Elder Justice Reauthorization and Modernization Act of 2021 was introduced in the House and Senate on August 9. This bill would channel funding to existing and new elder justice initiatives including long-term care workforce, Adult Protective Services and programs to address social isolation. On this episode of LeverAGE, ASA's Leanne Clark-Shirley talks with Bob Blancato and Meredith Ponder Whitmire, both of Matz Blancato & Associates, about this bill, likely next steps and how ASA me...

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias impact more than 6 million families, with 15 million projected to be affected by 2050. Although we’re learning that it is possible to reduce the risk of dementia and slow the rate of cognitive decline, we do not yet have a national effort focused on prevention. Kelly O’Brien from UsAgainstAlzheimer’s and Dr. David Hoffman of Maria College and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors talk about why we need a national dementia prevention go...

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telehealth and virtual care was growing, slowly. But since last March, telehealth use has skyrocketed as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) quickly expanded access to telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries, and many private insurers followed suit. Healthcare organizations that had already adopted value-based care models were able to pivot to telehealth more quickly. In this episode of LeverAGE, ASA talks with a panel of experts abo...

High healthcare costs, social isolation, loneliness, food insecurity, malnutrition and issues related to housing have impacted older people for decades, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made these issues even worse. In this episode of LeverAGE, we explore America’s healthcare cost crisis, and common-sense ways to lower costs and enhance care for all Americans as we age. We also cover the latest developments in California’s statewide effort to build a Master Plan for Aging, a 10-year blueprint th...

Host and ASA CEO, Peter Kaldes, is joined on LeverAGE by Nkenge Harmon Johnson, the President and CEO of the Urban League of Portland, Oregon. The mission of Urban League of Portland is to empower African-Americans and others to achieve equality in education, employment, health, economic security and quality of life. The Urban League of Portland's adult and senior services program is the only one in the state focused on providing services for older African Americans and is the only Ur...