At Justice in Aging, we believe that we should all be able to access the resources, services, and programs we need to thrive as we grow older no matter our race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, language, or country of origin and these factors should not negatively impact our experiences with these resources, services, and programs.
For generations, systemic inequities and racism in health care, housing, and access to wealth and resources have kept people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, those living with disabilities, immigrants, and those with limited English proficiency (LEP) from meeting their basic needs. As they age, their challenges become even greater due to the compounding effects and unique impact of ageism and other forms of systemic discrimination.
In 2021, we launched our Strategic Initiative to Advance Equity in Aging to provide a framework for pursuing systemic changes in law and policy that improve the lives of low-income older adults who experience inequities rooted in structural racism, ageism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, and xenophobia. The goal of this framework is to center all of our advocacy on eliminating barriers for older adults experiencing systemic discrimination.
Since then, we’ve used the framework to analyze current policies, formulate recommendations, and train advocates to address inequities in areas such as home and community-based services (HCBS), the experiences of tribal elders, the guardianship system, and many more.
