We drive policy, program, and systems improvements through grantmaking to help older adults age well in their homes and communities. Our grants explore solutions around the real needs of older adults, focusing primarily on what those historically left out of decision-making say they need.
This funding supports a plenary at the 2026 Grantmakers in Aging Annual meeting. The plenary will focus on the Aging and Disability Policy Lab and highlight lived experience. This provides an opportunity to introduce the work of the Lab to the broader philanthropic community.
This funding supports a plenary at the 2026 Grantmakers in Aging Annual meeting. The plenary will focus on the Aging and Disability Policy Lab and highlight lived experience. This provides an opportunity to introduce the work of the Lab to the broader philanthropic community.
California’s Master Plan for Aging has strong stakeholder support, but it takes focused leadership to coordinate and sustain momentum. With support of the MPA Fund, Justice in Aging will continue to facilitate stakeholder engagement to advance and ensure implementation of specific policies consistent with the goals of the Governor’s Master Plan for Aging (MPA). JIA will provide staff support to lead MPA stakeholder advisory committees and produce a stakeholder report on MPA progress and priorities.
California’s Master Plan for Aging has strong stakeholder support, but it takes focused leadership to coordinate and sustain momentum. With support of the MPA Fund, Justice in Aging will continue to facilitate stakeholder engagement to advance and ensure implementation of specific policies consistent with the goals of the Governor’s Master Plan for Aging (MPA). JIA will provide staff support to lead MPA stakeholder advisory committees and produce a stakeholder report on MPA progress and priorities.
The Cost of Prejudice: What does it really cost when we discriminate against people in the provision of health care services?
Understanding how lived experience impacts how a person interacts with the delivery system provides an opportunity to highlight how systems might provide better care. This grant to UMass Boston will examine how various forms of perceived discrimination (e.g. racial, age, gender, weight, sexual orientation, physical disability, wealth, etc.) impact both older adults’ experiences with the health care system and any health care costs associated with those experiences within the delivery system. This work will result in a series of policy briefs.
The Cost of Prejudice: What does it really cost when we discriminate against people in the provision of health care services?
Understanding how lived experience impacts how a person interacts with the delivery system provides an opportunity to highlight how systems might provide better care. This grant to UMass Boston will examine how various forms of perceived discrimination (e.g. racial, age, gender, weight, sexual orientation, physical disability, wealth, etc.) impact both older adults’ experiences with the health care system and any health care costs associated with those experiences within the delivery system. This work will result in a series of policy briefs.
Addressing Gaps in Emergency Response Systems for Older Adults Impacted by Wildfires
Older adults and people with disabilities experienced significant barriers to safe evacuation during the Los Angeles wildfires. LeadingAge California analyzed the experiences of congregate living providers and residents during the emergency response. Based on this analysis, they produced recommendations to improve emergency preparedness and disaster response in the future.
Addressing Gaps in Emergency Response Systems for Older Adults Impacted by Wildfires
Older adults and people with disabilities experienced significant barriers to safe evacuation during the Los Angeles wildfires. LeadingAge California analyzed the experiences of congregate living providers and residents during the emergency response. Based on this analysis, they produced recommendations to improve emergency preparedness and disaster response in the future.
Supporting Multisector Plans for Aging Funders Community
Multisector Plans for Aging (MPA) provide a framework for states to support and prepare for their growing population of older adults. This grant, with co-funding from West Health, Health Care Foundation of Western and Central NY, and Taub Foundation, will support a Grantmakers in Aging Funding Community to champion Multisector Plans for Aging (MPA). GIA will convene 22 funders who are exploring opportunities to support Multisector Plans for Aging in their state. The Community works to: 1) Increase awareness and understanding of MPA among the GIA network and the broader philanthropic community. 2) Create a formal community of practice to share information, strategies, and solutions related to MPA. 3) Cultivate relationships with new funders engaged through MPA efforts to expand and strengthen the GIA network and forge strategic partnerships across sectors.
Supporting Multisector Plans for Aging Funders Community
Multisector Plans for Aging (MPA) provide a framework for states to support and prepare for their growing population of older adults. This grant, with co-funding from West Health, Health Care Foundation of Western and Central NY, and Taub Foundation, will support a Grantmakers in Aging Funding Community to champion Multisector Plans for Aging (MPA). GIA will convene 22 funders who are exploring opportunities to support Multisector Plans for Aging in their state. The Community works to: 1) Increase awareness and understanding of MPA among the GIA network and the broader philanthropic community. 2) Create a formal community of practice to share information, strategies, and solutions related to MPA. 3) Cultivate relationships with new funders engaged through MPA efforts to expand and strengthen the GIA network and forge strategic partnerships across sectors.
Developing a National Rural Strategy & Reimagining Rural Policy for the 21st Century
The Brookings Institution’s Reimagining Rural Policy initiative is launching a high-level bipartisan commission in partnership with the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) to call attention to the unique challenges and opportunities in rural America and publish a National Rural Strategy presenting a vision for policymakers and other national leaders to support rural prosperity, resilience, and fairness in the 21st century. This project will ensure that older adults with lived experience, including The SCAN Foundation’s priority populations, will be included in the initiative’s research and featured in a National Rural Strategy that will be present to policymakers, decisionmakers, and the American public in mid-2027.
Developing a National Rural Strategy & Reimagining Rural Policy for the 21st Century
The Brookings Institution’s Reimagining Rural Policy initiative is launching a high-level bipartisan commission in partnership with the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) to call attention to the unique challenges and opportunities in rural America and publish a National Rural Strategy presenting a vision for policymakers and other national leaders to support rural prosperity, resilience, and fairness in the 21st century. This project will ensure that older adults with lived experience, including The SCAN Foundation’s priority populations, will be included in the initiative’s research and featured in a National Rural Strategy that will be present to policymakers, decisionmakers, and the American public in mid-2027.
Additional technical assistance and education on Medicare is needed for states to continue to mature their integrated care understanding and capacity to serve dually eligible beneficiaries. This project continues support for the Medicare Academy, and will employ direct education to select new states that are ready and eager to advance their integrated care success at a time when the federal financial alignment demos are coming to an end. Products developed include state-specific training curriculum and related educational materials.
Additional technical assistance and education on Medicare is needed for states to continue to mature their integrated care understanding and capacity to serve dually eligible beneficiaries. This project continues support for the Medicare Academy, and will employ direct education to select new states that are ready and eager to advance their integrated care success at a time when the federal financial alignment demos are coming to an end. Products developed include state-specific training curriculum and related educational materials.
California Master Plan for Aging (MPA): Aging and Disability Lived Experience Advisory Board (AD-LEAB)
Policies are often designed without input from the people most affected. Supported by the MPA Fund, Mandala Change Group, in partnership with the California Department of Aging (CDA), developed the Aging and Disability Lived Experience Advisory Board (AD-LEAB) to center the experiences and expertise of underserved and underrepresented older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers to address gaps in systems, programs, and services that further exacerbate inequities. At the end of the project, CDA will advance MPA priorities informed by lived experience, along with a replicable model.
California Master Plan for Aging (MPA): Aging and Disability Lived Experience Advisory Board (AD-LEAB)
Policies are often designed without input from the people most affected. Supported by the MPA Fund, Mandala Change Group, in partnership with the California Department of Aging (CDA), developed the Aging and Disability Lived Experience Advisory Board (AD-LEAB) to center the experiences and expertise of underserved and underrepresented older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers to address gaps in systems, programs, and services that further exacerbate inequities. At the end of the project, CDA will advance MPA priorities informed by lived experience, along with a replicable model.
Sharing the stories of people with lived experience provides an opportunity to highlight what they need to live well at home and in community The UCB, Center for Investigative Reporting, through its Aging in America series, will publish at least 14 stories per year related to aging and older adults with a focus on older adults who are low income, of color, and/or living in rural communities, in major media outlets.
Sharing the stories of people with lived experience provides an opportunity to highlight what they need to live well at home and in community The UCB, Center for Investigative Reporting, through its Aging in America series, will publish at least 14 stories per year related to aging and older adults with a focus on older adults who are low income, of color, and/or living in rural communities, in major media outlets.
A shared language is essential to advancing effective home and community-based services (HCBS) policies. Through this project, HSRI will conduct a national environmental scan, engaging diverse voices, and synthesizing findings into a definition of HCBS. The aim of this definition is to support alignment in policy, advocacy, and service delivery—ultimately strengthening the effectiveness, equity, and coordination of HCBS for individuals with long-term support needs.
A shared language is essential to advancing effective home and community-based services (HCBS) policies. Through this project, HSRI will conduct a national environmental scan, engaging diverse voices, and synthesizing findings into a definition of HCBS. The aim of this definition is to support alignment in policy, advocacy, and service delivery—ultimately strengthening the effectiveness, equity, and coordination of HCBS for individuals with long-term support needs.
Strategies for Improving Long-Term Care: Educating State Policymakers
Affordability and access to long-term services and supports (LTSS) ensures older adults can remain in their homes and the community. This project aims to strengthen the capacity and efficiency of state legislatures to consider policy options and innovations to support aging individuals, particularly policies around long-term care financing. This will be accomplished through the development and dissemination of policy birefs, technical assistance, and a meeting of state legislatures.
Strategies for Improving Long-Term Care: Educating State Policymakers
Affordability and access to long-term services and supports (LTSS) ensures older adults can remain in their homes and the community. This project aims to strengthen the capacity and efficiency of state legislatures to consider policy options and innovations to support aging individuals, particularly policies around long-term care financing. This will be accomplished through the development and dissemination of policy birefs, technical assistance, and a meeting of state legislatures.
Advancing Integrated Care for Dually Eligible Populations
Integrated models of care ensure that older adults have access to and can afford high quality care. To promote promising models of integrated care in rural areas, plans need to encourage enrollment by making programs more responsive to consumer needs and increase the availability of these programs in rural areas. Through this project, CHCS will translate the Consumer Perspective into an Action Plan for States. The resulting toolkit will include actionable steps for states to take in: (1) designing or refining their integrated care programs, and (2) communicating with dually eligible populations and providers about the value of integrated care. Through exploring and identifying feasible options to improve provider access and coordinated care delivery for dually eligible populations in rural areas, states will learn to improve access to care.
Advancing Integrated Care for Dually Eligible Populations
Integrated models of care ensure that older adults have access to and can afford high quality care. To promote promising models of integrated care in rural areas, plans need to encourage enrollment by making programs more responsive to consumer needs and increase the availability of these programs in rural areas. Through this project, CHCS will translate the Consumer Perspective into an Action Plan for States. The resulting toolkit will include actionable steps for states to take in: (1) designing or refining their integrated care programs, and (2) communicating with dually eligible populations and providers about the value of integrated care. Through exploring and identifying feasible options to improve provider access and coordinated care delivery for dually eligible populations in rural areas, states will learn to improve access to care.
Supporting older adults to be at the center of identifying issues and codesigning solutions to independence at home and in the community is a cornerstone of systems changes. To further advance systemic change through lived experience, the Center for Outcomes Research and Education (CORE) will create a Toolkit to support creation and operation of additional ECO Groups within and beyond California.
Supporting older adults to be at the center of identifying issues and codesigning solutions to independence at home and in the community is a cornerstone of systems changes. To further advance systemic change through lived experience, the Center for Outcomes Research and Education (CORE) will create a Toolkit to support creation and operation of additional ECO Groups within and beyond California.
The Regents of the University of California, Davis
Rural Policy Publications
Rural older adults and people with disabilities face unique barriers to health care, long-term services and supports, and other vital services. To shed light on these barriers and identify solutions, Pauline DeLange Martinez with UC Davis led a team in analyzing qualitative data from rural communities. Based on this data, they developed three policy briefs that highlight key policy and program recommendations for aging well in rural communities.
The Regents of the University of California, Davis
Rural Policy Publications
Rural older adults and people with disabilities face unique barriers to health care, long-term services and supports, and other vital services. To shed light on these barriers and identify solutions, Pauline DeLange Martinez with UC Davis led a team in analyzing qualitative data from rural communities. Based on this data, they developed three policy briefs that highlight key policy and program recommendations for aging well in rural communities.
A Bipartisan Aging and Long-Term Care Agenda: Integrating Care, Improving Affordability, and Elevating Consumers’ Voices
This project will provide policy insights and evidence-based research to better understand 1) how to best move forward on integrated care policy for dually eligible beneficiaries, 2) make long-term care more accessible and affordable for older adults with low or moderate incomes, and 3) amplify the consumer experience of older adults to inform policy reforms. The work will provide promising pathways for bipartisan consensus on reforms that advance a high-functioning health and aging system for all.
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Total Awarded: $225,000
Award Year: 2024—2026
National
Long-Term Care, Medicare Health and Social Supports, Medicare-Medicaid Integration, Multisector Plans for Aging
A Bipartisan Aging and Long-Term Care Agenda: Integrating Care, Improving Affordability, and Elevating Consumers’ Voices
This project will provide policy insights and evidence-based research to better understand 1) how to best move forward on integrated care policy for dually eligible beneficiaries, 2) make long-term care more accessible and affordable for older adults with low or moderate incomes, and 3) amplify the consumer experience of older adults to inform policy reforms. The work will provide promising pathways for bipartisan consensus on reforms that advance a high-functioning health and aging system for all.
