The Buzz

FIERCE HEALTH – AI is riddled by bias, especially in healthcare. Just one well-known example is a study from 2019 that revealed racial bias in a clinical algorithm used by hospitals showing that Black patients had to be significantly sicker than white patients to receive the same care. The bias stemmed from training data reflecting historical healthcare spending disparities between Black and white patients. READ FULL STORY

The SCAN Foundation is partnering with Dandelion Health to expand their evaluation of racial and gender bias to be inclusive of age-bias in clinical care algorithms. FORBES – While the Biden administration grapples with how to keep up with the fast-changing technology, Dandelion Health is trying to fill the void with a de-identified dataset for developers to build and test how their algorithms perform. READ FULL STORY

Older adults who continue to seek income often also seek flexibility, which makes non-traditional and gig-based employment an attractive option to these workers. AARP MEGATRENDS – The conventional narrative that individuals will retire at 65 is becoming obsolete. Older adults are one of the fastest growing groups in the labor force, and employers who are poised to take advantage of this expanding and experienced workforce with smart, innovative approaches to workforce development/training, benefit packages, and technology that provides flexibility and accessibility can address their own staffing shortages while supporting a more financially stable aging workforce. READ FULL STORY

Early-Stage Workforce Venture Fund Announces $15M First Close – “The SCAN Foundation is proud to participate in the first close of the JFFVentures Fund II, reflecting our unwavering commitment to fostering a world where all older adults can age well with purpose,” said Dr. Sarita A. Mohanty, president and CEO of The SCAN Foundation. “Employment not only provides older adults with a sense of purpose and community, but also enhances their financial resilience. The establishment of this fund is pivotal in driving innovation aimed at creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce that will benefit older adults and enrich the labor market as a whole.” READ FULL ANNOUNCEMENT

The SCAN Foundation has partnered with the Brookings Institution to explore behavioral health among older adults, this story reveals one of the first insights arising from this work. HEALTH AFFAIRS – In November 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an increase in the age-adjusted suicide rate since 2021. The report details that in 2021 and 2022, people ages 75 and older had the highest suicide rate among all age groups, largely driven by males. This report is a salient indicator of the challenge of identifying and addressing suicide risk among older adults amidst the well-publicized mental health crisis in the United States. Underpinning this profound challenge are the direct connections between social isolation, neglect, and suicide. READ FULL STORY

As California moves into year four of its Master Plan for Aging (MPA) implementation, several recently published reports highlight progress to date, while elevating forward-looking recommendations to keep this vital work moving. Since 2019, The SCAN Foundation (TSF) has championed the use of Multisector or Master Plans for Aging in California and states nationwide, recognizing the need for a state level commitment to ensure all of us can age well with purpose. 

The following reports demonstrate the ongoing value of the California MPA and the importance of continued engagement around its goals and objectives:

• The MPA Third Annual Report reflects on key activities of California MPA implementation in 2023, such as promoting access to healthcare and LTSS, investing in housing and services; addressing older adult behavioral health; centering equity; and grounding an all-of-government approach.
• The CA 2030 Final Report creates a roadmap for improving the California aging network, specifically fulfilling MPA Goal 3, Strategy F of the MPA.
• The Little Hoover Commission Report on MPA Implementation provides recommendations, including those elevated in TSF’s testimony, to strengthen MPA implementation, oversight, and stakeholder engagement.

Looking Ahead: TSF’s Future Engagement on the California MPA

The California MPA sets forth a roadmap to address aging well across the state, including critical topics such as health care, housing, transportation, belonging, equity, and economic security. TSF looks forward to continuing its engagement and collaboration with all stakeholders to further the work and implementation of the California MPA.

Specifically, TSF will continue to ensure progress on the California MPA by:

• Joining our partners in advocating for the preservation of previous investments in services and supports for older adults and people with disabilities;
• Building policy support for a home care system that works for all Californians;
• Elevating the need for improved financial security for low and middle-income older adults and people with disabilities; and
• Stressing an “all-of-government” approach to MPA implementation.

As we continue to navigate the best approach for ensuring sustained momentum on the MPA, we recognize that California currently faces a budget deficit of $73 billion, and further expected shortfalls could very likely result in even more spending cuts, additional delays, and deferrals. TSF remains steadfast and engaged in navigating this deficit in a time where progress on aging well in California remains critically important to all Californians.

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The SCAN Foundation (TSF), an independent public foundation that catalyzes bold and equitable approaches to creating a society where every older adult can age well and with purpose, today announced it has awarded $900,000 in grant funds, including co-funding from the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) and Metta Fund. The grants, which were awarded to Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, California Black Women’s Health Project, Healthcare Foundation of Northern Sonoma County and Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation, will help reduce health disparities and enhance quality of life for older adults, especially for those in marginalized communities. READ FULL STORY

MEDCITY NEWS – Equitable AI isn’t an aspiration; it’s an absolute necessity, particularly for the millions of older Americans who remain unseen within the current frameworks and miss out on algorithmic benefits such as risk profiles and early interventions for certain diseases. READ FULL STORY

By Sarita A. Mohanty, President and CEO, The SCAN Foundation

FORTUNE Dec. 2023 – Most millennials and Gen Xers have little idea of what’s going to happen when their parents hit retirement age. That’s about to become an increasingly real problem, particularly for those with parents in the middle-income stratum. READ FULL STORY

Building on the opportunity for further coordination and greater impact to address racial and ethnic disparities, our United for Health Equity in Aging Summit convened the aging and disability sectors with the racial equity and social justice movements for a day of informative panels and energizing dialogue.

The TSF event was rooted in the lived experience of older adults from marginalized communities and we were honored to have several of them join us in person.

Materials from the Summit, including older adult video stories and a photo gallery are now available, as well as a full livestream recording. Take a look!

TSF is driving efforts to ensure equitable aging for all and funding efforts to illustrate key research. The second in a series from the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston uses Health and Retirement Survey data to elucidate health inequities in aging.

During COVID-19, Black and Hispanic older adults reported using telehealth less and delaying medical care more often than white respondents. Access the latest chart pack.

For decades, states have been working to integrate care to improve access to high-quality care for people dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, but progress is limited. Multisector Plans for Aging (MPAs) can support a process by which states can navigate the infrastructure and political constraints that have historically prevented states from advancing Medicare-Medicaid integration efforts.

In a new Health Affairs blog, TSF explores how an MPA can help states navigate barriers to advancing integrated, high-quality health care.

TSF champions Multisector Plans for Aging (MPA) in California, as well as at the regional and local levels. See the latest.

STATE

• As the state’s MPA implementation advances, the Little Hoover Commission is reviewing efforts to ensure accountability and progress toward MPA goals. TSF President and CEO Sarita A. Mohanty recently testified before the Commission to highlight successes and continued priorities. Read her testimony and watch the recording. A second hearing is scheduled for August 24 at 9:30 am PT.

LOCAL

• We launched a two-year rural MPA initiative, funding three members of the California Advocacy Network to develop local MPAs. Early findings from this work were highlighted in Generations, a publication of the American Society on Aging.
• Visit California’s Data Dashboard for Aging for a map of age-friendly communities reporting activity around developing local MPAs.

We’re thrilled to share that President and CEO Sarita A. Mohanty is recognized alongside 199 other entrepreneurs, investors, inventors, and artists on Forbes’ third annual 50 Over 50 list.

The acknowledgment in the announcement about age being a superpower resonates deeply with the worldview we embrace at TSF and the positive impact we strive to make. Read more of Sarita’s reflections on LinkedIn.

By asking individuals with complex care needs “what matters most?” person-centered outcome (PCO) measures drive care that aligns with people’s personal health goals, and encourage organizations throughout the care continuum to work together in an integrated manner.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) convened multidisciplinary experts to review the current landscape of goal attainment scaling methodology and identify best practices for implementing the method with diverse audiences. The learnings from these convenings contributed to the following:

1. Advancing Best Practices for Goal Attainment Scaling (white paper)
2. Using Goal Attainment Scaling (online training module)

These resources can help health care delivery systems and other entities start documenting what matters most to an individual in a structured way.

Finally, a session at NCQA’s Health Innovation Summit will focus on current efforts to test the PCO measures (October 25, 2:50 pm ET). Register today.

Bringing awareness to aging and equity issues, our partnership with UC Berkeley’s Investigative Reporting Program advances unique reporting. A recent piece in The Washington Post examines states’ actions to train paid caregivers in an effort to better care for our growing aging population.

The latest report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality examines opportunities for developing a person-centered care system and integrating the voices of older adults, caregivers, and communities to design effective models of care for improving older adults’ health and well-being. View the spring roundtable report.