title: Public health imperative of the 21st century: innovations in palliative care systems, services, and supports to improve health and well-being of older americans.
abstract: A primary aim of federal aging and health policy must be promoting innovations in palliative care systems, services, and supports that improve the experience of growing old in America. Older adults must contend today with increasing burden over the life course often as the result of life-limiting chronic pain and chronic illnesses as well as social and economic factors beyond their control. These burdens are frequently shared with unpaid family caregivers who provide significant uncompensated medical care and social support to their loved ones. Enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, recognized as a fundamental human right under international law, remains a goal for all older adults and encompasses the right to palliative care. For many older Americans, especially vulnerable subgroups who face health and pain disparities, however, this goal remains elusive. A public health strategy for implementing palliative care policy interventions will help to build age-friendly environments, assure the availability and accessibility of palliative systems of care, essential medicines, and an adequate generalist-level workforce, and sustain diffusion of innovation across all levels of health and social provision. The 2015 White House Conference on Aging must make these realignments a policy priority in order to foster social and economic development for all older Americans.
authors.affiliation: Fordham University Global Healthcare Innovation Management Center, Graduate School of Business Administration, New York, New York. mamorrissey@fordham.edu.
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Morrissey
authors.affiliation: University of Iowa, College of Nursing.
authors.forename: Keela
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herr
authors.affiliation: United Hospital Fund, Families and Health Care Project, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D017028:Caregivers; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010146:Pain; D010166:Palliative Care; D000070659:Patient Comfort; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D011634:Public Health; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States
keywords: Disparities; Human rights; Pain; Palliative care; Policy