2023 Annual Impact Report FINAL - Flipbook - Page 20
The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by increased public
discourse about older Americans, especially related to the policies that
most impact care infrastructure. We’ve seen policy reflect this shift. The
same month as the adoption of the Colorado law, advocates in Michigan
embarked on a new path to improving nursing homes through an initiative
designed to implement systemic solutions like fortifying career pathways
for nursing assistants.
We’ve seen policies like these extend beyond the state level. In April, the
Biden–Harris Administration announced a set of executive actions with
the goal of improving care infrastructure, making care more accessible
and affordable, and providing support for care workers across the
country. While policies like these extend beyond the experiences of older
people, improving care infrastructure is crucial to ensuring that we all have
the support we need to thrive. Notably, the Administration’s
announcement of these actions points to the factors that necessitate
systems change to shape the experiences of older Americans.
The Colorado law is specifically focused on addressing ageism, while the
latter examples indirectly impact older Americans by improving the
infrastructure that shapes their experiences. Yet, all of these examples
demonstrate how advocates have carefully used effective framing and
narrative strategies to shape policy.
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