Profiles for ACL’s 2017 Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) grantees are now available on our

ACL recently awarded grants totaling nearly $3 million to 14 states to support caregivers by strengthening lifespan respite care programs. These programs seek to improve the well-being of families by coordinating existing respite systems, providing education and training opportunities, and expanding respite services.

Chronic conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes, and heart, lung, or brain diseases, are a part of most Americans’ lives. People with chronic conditions, as well as their caregivers, live with and adapt to the presence of these diseases.

September is Pain Awareness Month, sponsored by the American Chronic Pain Association. Millions of Americans live with pain from injuries, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, cancer, and other disabilities. Pain can be acute, with a beginning and end, or it can be chronic and may last through a person’s lifetime. Acute pain, including pain associated with cancer, can usually be addressed through treatment of the underlying injury or illness.

At ACL we believe that every person has the right to make choices and to control their own decisions. This right is independent of age or disability or stage of illness.  To help ensure that people who have serious illnesses are able to control their care and services, ACL, in consultation with its stakeholders, developed Principles for Person-directed Services and Supports during Serious Illness.

Hurricane Harvey has been devastating for many communities in Texas and Louisiana, impacting people of all ages and abilities. As emergency response rescue efforts continue and recovery efforts begin, understanding and accommodating the unique circumstances faced by older adults and people with disabilities will be critical.

People are coming together to help survivors of Hurricane Harvey in many ways. This support shows the positive side of people helping other people. Our networks are working hard to take care of each other. Americans are supporting those who are in need – they are doing so selflessly and with good intentions. First responders, the military, and regular citizens are working tirelessly to help our aging and disability communities with their needs.

Kaiser Health News (August 31) Soul Purpose: Seniors with Strong Reasons to Live Often Live Stronger

Today, at the National Adult Protective Services Association conference, ACL released the first consistently, systematically, and nationally collected data on the abuse of older adults and adults with disabilities.

New York Times (August 23) Age Like a Former Athlete Being a world-class distance runner in your youth does not guarantee that you will be fit and healthy in retirement. But it helps, according to a new study that followed a group of elite American runners for 45 years. The study’s findings raise interesting questions about how we can and should age and the role that youthful activity might play in our health later in life.