What's the next step in making N.H. a better place for seniors to live?
The 2019 shared vision of N.H. Alliance for Healthy Aging is "To create communities in New Hampshire that advance culture, policies, and services which support older adults and their families, providing a wide range of choices that advance health, independence, and dignity."
N.H. Alliance for Healthy Aging (NH AHA) is a statewide coalition of cross-sector stakeholders focused on the health and well-being of elders in New Hampshire. NH AHA has been successful in helping identify the issues facing our state's elderly population and recommending solutions; however, we have yet to see many of their recommendations for seniors put into action.
According to the former Chair of the State Committee on Aging, Owen Houghton, New Hampshire has studied and analyzed the needs of seniors but has yet to provide funding for the identified needs and services. "We seem to do a great job of identifying problems which require solutions to the needs of our elderly populations, but have failed to convert plans to significant action," Houghton says.
New Hampshire has one of the fastest-growing populations of seniors in the country, and by 2030 it is predicted that almost one-third of the state's population will be over 65. The state needs to provide funds to solve the identified problems, or else the issues for vulnerable seniors and the state of senior poverty in N.H. will worsen.
Although NH is considered the third healthiest state for older people in the U.S., we also ranked 49th out of 50 states in the percentage of Medicaid dollars invested in-home and community-based support." While the reports show that there are a high number of financially insecure seniors in our state that need additional assistance, New Hampshire has not yet passed the required legislation to address the problems.
Houghton points out that "Our many state plans have failed to generate consistent significant legislative support to solve identified needs. When federal funds invariably seem to disappear into the black hole of balancing the general budget, the specific strategic plans are left to be passed on to the next year."
NH AHA hopes lay in a new "comprehensive state plan" that will have more critical partners involved, less duplication, and for partners to be aligned on the issues and need for a State Commission on Aging.
To read more about Houghton's thoughts on aging in NH visit: https://www.sentinelsource.com/life_and_style/lifestyles/age-wise-aging-in-new-hampshire-good-news-and-bad/article_edeca8e7-cbb7-5b90-8399-20fffc958746.html
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Source:Age-Wise: Aging in New Hampshire: good news and bad news .... https://www.sentinelsource.com/life_and_style/lifestyles/age-wise-aging-in-new-hampshire-good-news-and-bad/article_edeca8e7-cbb7-5b90-8399-20fffc958746.html
