HPA 444Aging Policy in the United States

3 credits · Health Policy and Administration · Penn State

The United States is an aging nation and in the coming decades the number of elders in the United States is expected to grow dramatically. Policymakers faced with growing concern about containing the cost and scope of government face tough questions: Given the current and changing political climate, what course should policy makers chart to meet the challenges of a societies where large numbers of people are moving into old age and living long lives? How will their decisions affect entitlements for older adults now and in the future? What social, economic, political, and cultural factors will influence policymaking? This course will address the impacts of national age-based and age-related policy and programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act. In addition, it will examine the implementation of these programs in state and local settings, where implications are tangible for vulnerable groups such as low-income and frail older people and their families. Policy challenges of issues such as Alzheimer's, long term services and supports, housing, caregiving, transportation, nutrition, emergency management, and disease prevention will be considered.