Title: APHA Task Force on Aging

Author:

Section/SPIG: HIV/AIDS

Issue Date:

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America is aging. At the turn of the 20th century, one in 25 Americans was aged 65 years and older. By 1990, that number had increased to nearly one in eight Americans. Moreover, this trend is expected to continue with one in every five Americans being aged 65 years and older by the year 2050.

In order to address the public health needs of our aging populations, the APHA Executive Board approved the formation of the Task Force on Aging, which was formally launched at the 2001 Annual Meeting in Atlanta. The specific aims of the Task Force on Aging are to: 1) raise awareness and promote education about individual and population aging within APHA and in the public health community; 2) recommend ways to improve the public health infrastructure in the context of an aging population; and 3) develop and advocate for public policies that will improve the health and well being of the aging population throughout the world.

Of particular interest to Section members will be the special session planned by the Task Force for the 2004 APHA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. This session entitled, "The Aging of America: A Crisis for the Health Care Workforce" will provide insights into the unprecedented impact that the growth of the elderly population will have on the U.S. health care system over the next 50 years.

Please feel free to contact April Winningham, the HIV/AIDS Section representative to the Task Force, if you have further interest or questions concerning the Task Force's scope of work.