In late March, Cynthia Stuen took over as chair of the board of directors of the American Society on Aging. She brings 35 years of professional experience in the field of aging to her post as board chair. In a recent conversation with ASA Connection, she offered her perspectives on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the association. “We need to to seek ways to enhance and entice professionals across disciplines to the value of ASA in helping them… learn about programs, practices, services and businesses” that enhance elders’ lives, Stuen says. Read More >>

A new study finds that substantial reductions in disability among U.S. elders ages 70-plus are likely due to advances in medical care and increased use of supportive technologies. The research shows that independent living activities including shopping and managing money have become less difficult for older adults, while reductions in rates of difficulty with personal care tasks such as bathing are smaller. Joann Reinhardt, associate director of research at the Jewish Home and Hospital Lifecare System, assesses what the findings mean for practitioners in the field of aging. Read More >>

“As the baby boom generation enters retirement age, the number of Asian and Pacific Islander older adults in the LGBT community is expected to increase,” writes Denys T. Lau, assistant professor and section director of health services and policy research at the Buehler Center on Health, Aging and Society at Northwestern University, Chicago. “Nonetheless, even in metropolitan areas with high concentrations of Asian and Pacific Islander LGBT people, few organizations specifically address aging issues in these communities…. Service providers need to know that they face distinct concerns.” Read More >>

The 78 million boomers in the United States face an impending crisis: They will live longer with more complex health needs, yet discover a shortage of knowledgeable and skilled health professionals “to care for them capably,” stated Columbia University professor John W. Rowe on the release of a comprehensive new report from the Board on Health Care Services of the Institute of Medicine. “If our aging family members and friends are to live as robustly as they can and in the best health possible, we must have a workforce of adequate size and competency to take care of them.” Read More >>

During the national Aging in America Conference held recently in Washington, D.C., participants attended featured programs, peer groups and networking receptions hosted by ASA's eight constituent groups. Such dynamic professional activities are just one of the benefits offered by the networks, which bring together professionals from ASA's multidisciplinary membership to focus in depth on specific challenges and emerging issues in aging. As part of ASA's commitment to enhancing the value of membership, annual dues now enable members to join any or all of the constituent groups at no extra charge. Read More >>