Action Center    Top Ten Ways

 Top Ten Ways to Build a World That Values All Generations:

Intergenerational Considerations for the Top 10 White House Conference on Aging Resolutions

White House Conference on Aging delegates voted on the top 10 resolutions to recommend to the President and Congress for the next decade. Although a specific resolution to promote intergenerational strategies was not included, each of the top 10 resolutions have great potential to promote intergenerational strategies. Generations United has identified the following recommended action steps for each of the resolutions:

RESOLUTION 17: Reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA) Within the First Six Months Following the 2005 White House Conference on Aging¹

     Increase funding for the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)

     Lower age limit for grandparents and other relatives raising children to be eligible for services under the NFCSP.

     Support all other intergenerational provisions

     View Generations United's (OAA) Fact Sheet For More Information.

     View Generations United's (NFCSP) Fact Sheet For More Information.

RESOLUTION 30: Develop Coordinated, Comprehensive Long-Term Care Strategy by Supporting Public and Private Sector Initiatives that Address Financing, Choice, Quality, Service Delivery, and the Paid and Unpaid Workforce

     Promote the development of intergenerational shared sites in long-term care

     View Generations United's Shared Site Fact Sheet For More Information.

     View Generations United's Guide to Share Sites For More Information.

RESOLUTION 22: Ensure That Older Americans Have Transportation Options to Retain Their Mobility and Independence

     Promote opportunities to share resources between older adult and children’s programs such as community vans

RESOLUTION 50: Strengthen and Improve Medicaid for Seniors

     Reject proposals that would fundamentally alter the program in a way that would pitt children, people with disabilities, and older Americans against each other.

     View Generations United’s Public Policy Agenda For More Information.

RESOLUTION 51: Strengthen and Improve the Medicare Program

     Educate policy makers and the public about how Medicare serves not just seniors but people of all ages and persons with disabilities

RESOLUTION 41: Support Geriatric Education and Training for All Healthcare Professionals, Paraprofessionals, Health Profession Students, and Direct Care Workers

     Advocate for the inclusion of information about the mental and physical benefits of engaging the generations in education and training programs

     View Generations United's Benefits of Intergenerational Programs Fact Sheet For More Information.

RESOLUTION 42: Promote Innovative Models of Non-Institutional Long-Term Care

     Promote effective intergenerational models such as the Eden Alternative (Click Here For More Information on Eden Alternative)  and intergenerational shared sites programs.

     View Generations United's Shared Site Fact Sheet For More Information.

RESOLUTION 36: Improve Recognition, Assessment and Treatment of Mental Illness and Depression Among Older Americans

     Educate policy makers and the public about how intergenerational programs have been shown to decrease loneliness, boredom and depression in older adults while increasing self-esteem. Older volunteers report more enriched lives, a rejuvenated sense of purpose, and increased coping skills for their personal struggles.

     Include information about the mental health needs of and recommended supportive services for grandparents and other older adults raising their relative’s children in mental health assessments and research.

     View Generations United's Benefits of Intergenerational Programs Fact Sheet For More Information.

RESOLUTION 40: Attain Adequate Numbers of Healthcare Personnel in All Professions Who Are Skilled, Culturally Competent, And Specialized Geriatrics

     Encourage intergenerational work study or service learning programs where high school and college students are exposed to opportunities to work with older adults and in intergenerational settings.

     Educate leaders in aging services about the effect of children’s early interaction with older adults and its potential for expanding the aging workforce.

RESOLUTION 71: Improve State and Local Based Integrated Delivery Systems to Meet 21^st Century Needs of Seniors

     Educate state and local policy makers and the public about how communities for all ages are elder friendly communities. Current services for older adults who are aging in place are fragmented and are not integrated into services for other community members.