In working to empower and bring together the best of local communities to support Hispanic older adults and their families, NHCOA works both on a national policy level and on a local level. As a result, its program and policy priorities are parallel.

Program Priorities

• Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
• Economic Security and Civic Engagement
• Leadership Development
• Education and Housing

NHCOA’s major initiatives focus on two pressing issues in the Hispanic elder community – health promotion and disease prevention and economic security. Key programs include:

Salud y Bienestar (Health and Wellness)

Diabetes continues to be one of the most serious healthcare burdens afflicting Hispanics, especially Hispanic older adults, in the United States. According to national statistics, Hispanics are almost twice as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites. Moreover, it is estimated that there are about 2.5 million Hispanics, aged 20 years or older, who have diabetes.

Income Security

The number of Americans aged 65 and older reached 36 million in 2005, representing about one in every eight persons in the United States. By 2030 this number will increase to 72 million, doubling its size. Older Americans are now living healthier lives and are therefore living longer. The same is true for the Hispanic population. According to the United States Census Bureau, Hispanics are the fastest growing portion of the population at or near retirement. A common concern for Americans is to achieve financial stability as they reach their retirement years.

Vacunémonos (Immunization)

There is a wide disparity between Hispanic and White non-Hispanic adults in their receipt of needed immunizations. In addition, to date no minority/ethnic community has reached the Healthy People 2010 goals in immunization for children or adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), over 40,000 adults die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases: 36,000 from influenza and 5,000 from pneumococcal disease. Of these, almost all of those who succumb to influenza and its complications are 65 years of age and older, while about one-half of those who die from pneumococcal disease are elderly.

Housing

NHCOA’s housing initiatives include its low-income senior housing buildings located in Washington, D.C. and Garden City, Kansas.

Community

NHCOA incorporates community education, leadership development and civic engagement into all of its initiatives as it works to develop the knowledge and leadership skills of older adults and their families, promotoras and community-based staff members and to ensure that older adults, with their wisdom and accumulated experience, are involved in the civic life of their communities and nation.

Policy Priorities

• Addressing Health Disparities
• Promoting Economic Security
• Ensuring Availability of Affordable and Elder Accessible Housing,
• Building Stronger and More Cohesive Communities