With a projected population of adults age 65+ to reach 80.8 million by 2040, the health and well-being of older adults — and the service systems that support them — will become even more imperative as states look to the future of their aging policies.

To better support states, the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) and the Milbank Memorial Fund, in partnership with West Health, are collaborating to work with states to strengthen policies for an aging population and the direct care workforce that supports them.

This project aims to assist states with accelerating measurable progress on policies that will address the needs of older adults, while optimizing state spending and capacity. This includes an Aging Policy Academy to engage teams of state leaders from five states. The Aging Policy Academy connects state officials with peers and experts to identify and share strategies and solutions to bolster aging policies across states.

Insights and promising practices on home and community-based services, nursing home reform and payment, and the direct care workforce are shared with state policymakers and the public who seek to improve aging policies across the states.