July 26, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contacts: Lauren Shaham, AAHSA, (202) 508-1219

AAHSA Applauds Introduction of Legislation to Advance Technologies for the Aging

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) President & CEO Larry Minnix today applauded the introduction of bills in both the House and Senate that create a nonpartisan consortium to evaluate the potential of technologies to help the U.S. meet the needs of our aging population.

The bills were introduced by Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Ca). When passed, the consortium will become the first public-private partnership around technology and aging that goes beyond medical records to explore the potential of new technology to assist older adults and their caregivers in such areas as promoting independence, facilitating early disease detection, promoting greater support to caregivers and minimizing medication error. The consortium created in this legislation has been the central policy focus of AAHSA’s Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST).

"This legislation will help transform our broken long-term care system into one that supports families and caregivers," Minnix said. “The consortium will help accelerate to the marketplace technologies that are key to creating a hopeful future where both clinical quality and quality of life are improved."

The consortium will include 17 members appointed by the president, Senate majority leader, Senate minority leader, the Speaker of the House and the minority leader of the House. Members will be selected from the aging services provider, technology, academic, physician, insurance and pharmaceutical industries.

"Applied technology is a key to meeting the needs of our aging society as well as to assuring that a future workforce of caregivers can do what they do best," said CAST Commission member Gayle Kvenvold, president and CEO of Minnesota Health & Housing Alliance. "Sen. Coleman’s and Rep. Ramstad’s legislation will help advance the development of technologies that allow people to stay in their homes longer and that bring greater efficiencies to care settings. In states such as Minnesota, it also is important that the consortium will address the infrastructure needed to bring aging services technologies to rural areas."

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About AAHSA
The members of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (www.aahsa.org) help millions of individuals and their families every day through mission-driven, not-for-profit organizations dedicated to providing the services that people need, when they need them, in the place they call home. Our 5,800 member organizations, many of which have served their communities for generations, offer the continuum of aging services: adult day services, home health, community services, senior housing, assisted living residences, continuing care retirement communities and nursing homes. AAHSA’s commitment is to create the future of aging services through quality people can trust.