Healthy aging is a dynamic process that leads to new abilities and knowledge that make our communities stronger and healthier. The number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to increase from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050 - a 47% increase.  And yet, as Americans live longer, the reality is that many people face barriers to aging well: nearly 12 million older adults worry about having enough food to eat, an estimated one quarter of older adults experience social isolation or a behavioral health condition such as depression, anxiety, or substance abuse and nearly 95% live with a chronic health condition. 

Healthy Aging Month occurs every September and is focused on helping older adults improve their physical, mental and social well-being. “We see Healthy Aging Month as an opportunity to celebrate the fact that we are living longer, to acknowledge the valuable contributions of older adults and to raise awareness about what we can all do to live and age well – together,” said Peggy Maguire, president of Cambia Health Foundation. “We begin to age the day we’re born, so this is not an us versus them problem. It’s about identifying and addressing barriers, so everyone can live as well as possible for as long as possible.” 

In 2022, Cambia Health Foundation released a strategic vision to advance equity through whole-person health. One key focus area is prioritizing adults age 55+, specifically investing in solutions that reduce isolation and loneliness, increasing access to behavioral health care within whole-person health models and helping older adults access care and resources through technology. These approaches have been shown to help older adults better manage chronic conditions and improve their quality of life.

Since then, the Foundation has invested more than $1 million in organizations that support Healthy and Connected Aging, including a recent round of funding to three local non-profits. 
 

• Generations with Pride: Older adults who identify as LGBTQ+ have reported high risks of social isolation and difficulty finding appropriate healthcare and housing. This Seattle-based organization offers affirming services and connections to these older adults to address these issues. New funding will allow Generations with Pride to launch an elder-to-elder program in which they’ll recruit and train older adult volunteers who will help identify and connect with socially isolated LGBTQ+ older adults. Over the next year, they’re working to reach 1,000 LGBTQ+ older adults to help reduce social isolation and increase access to affirming programs and health care.
• Wild Whatcom: Spending time outdoors in nature promotes healthy bodies and minds, but many older adults spend the majority of their time indoors, disconnected from their natural environments and communities. Wild Whatcom is committed to fostering lifelong connections to nature for community members in and near Whatcom County, WA. In its current programming, only 3% of participants classify as older adults; with a recent grant, Wild Whatcom is working to increase that to 5% by reaching out to older adults who are most likely to feel socially isolated in the region.
• Cascade AIDS Project: Today almost 50% of Americans living with HIV are 50 years old or older, and many of them are at high risk of loneliness or social isolation due to stigma and other factors. Cascade AIDS Project is piloting a digital literacy course and increasing preventive screenings for behavioral health conditions among older adults living with HIV. They are working to reach 40-60 older adults living with HIV in the greater Portland metropolitan area throughout the first year of the pilot. 

“We’re proud to partner with these organizations to promote healthy and connected aging,” said Maguire. “At Cambia Health Foundation, we believe in a future where every person has an equal opportunity to live the healthiest life possible – and we’re working to ensure that older adults aren’t left behind.”