2017 impact report · 4 2017 ncoa impact report sometimes it takes just one benefit to dramatically...

Impact Report

Impr

ovin

g the

lives

of 10 millio

n older adults by 2020

2017

Identify challenges facing older adults

Create solutions through collaborative leadership, innovative services,

advocacy, and social enterprise

Bring these solutions to scale to improve

millions of lives

Our Strategy

Who We AreOur VisionA just and caring society in which each of us, as we age, lives with dignity, purpose, and security

Our MissionImprove the lives of millions of older adults, especially those who are struggling

Our Social Impact GoalsPeople aged 60+ in the United States will have:

• Greater economic security through increased access to benefits, financial resources, and job opportunities

• Improved health and reduced disability through greater access to proven community-based and online programs

• Enhanced capacity to live independently in communities

Community organizations serving older adults will achieve:

• Greater social impact, capacity, and sustainability

Public programs will:• More effectively meet the needs of older

adults, especially those who are struggling

How We Count ImpactIn reporting our social impact each year, we count individuals served by NCOA and our partners who:

• Realized a combined reduction in expenses and/or increase in income equaling at least $1,200 per year

• Completed an evidence-based program that has been proven to deliver improvements to health and well-being**

• Were able to remain in the community instead of being relocated to a nursing home**

• Directly benefited (as defined above) from a policy change that would not have happened without NCOA’s leadership and advocacy

**These measures were expanded and added in FY17 and applied retroactively.

Welcome, and thank you!Welcome to NCOA’s 2017 Impact Report, and thank you for making this good work possible. With your support, we are proud to have helped 1.47 million older adults this year achieve what all of us want as we age—health, economic security, and independence. We cannot do it without partners like you. I hope you enjoy reading about how, together, we are improving lives every day. Jim Firman,

President &CEO

32017 NCOA Impact Report

Our 2017 Impact

EconomicSecurity

Benefits• 415,900 individuals were connected to over $1.19 billion in benefits• 18,100 individuals gained permanent access to Medicare’s Qualifying Individual program

Economic Security• 1,000 individuals received holistic economic assistance, connecting them to $3 million

in savings and supplemental income (freeing up and saving them an average of $3,000 a year)

Hunger• 76,300 seniors were connected with $98 million in SNAP food benefits• 5,100 seniors gained access to a streamlined state SNAP application

Jobs• 6,500 people aged 55+ received job training and placement

Home Equity• 67,800 older homeowners improved their economic security by using NCOA’s home

equity tools and services

Independence

• 39,000 individuals received long-term services and supports in their own home instead of being relocated to a nursing home

Improving the Lives of 10 Million Older Adults by 2020

2011 201720162015201420132012

7.4 million

428,700 430,200 723,400 1,256,800 1,847,300 1,245,100 1,472,400

In collaboration with our partners, NCOA significantly improved the lives of 1.47 million individuals in fiscal year 2017 (July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017).

Health

• 834,400 individuals completed the highest tier evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention programs available in the community, including falls prevention and chronic disease self-management

• 8,300 individuals completed these programs online

4 2017 NCOA Impact Report

Sometimes it takes just one benefit to dramatically improve an older person’s life.

Gwendolyn Paxton, 63, is a good example. Gwen is a licensed social worker with a college degree and 23 years of experience. But she became disabled in 2013 due to a knee injury. Suddenly, it was much harder to pay the bills each month.

“One of the major changes in my life was not being able to buy food and other items that previously it was in my budget to be able to acquire,” she explains.

She turned to Elder Law of Michigan, an NCOA Benefits Enrollment Center.

Over the phone, a counselor assisted Gwen in submitting an application for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Today, she’s receiving $80 per month to buy healthy foods that she couldn’t afford before.

“They talked me through the whole process and they were great,” Gwen says. “They heard and listened to what I was going through. And they helped me step by step, get to where I needed to go.”

BenefitsChallenge: Millions of low-income seniors are eligible for—but not receiving—benefits that could help them pay for daily expenses. These programs help struggling older adults pay for medicine, health care, utilities, and more.

Solution: NCOA leads the Center for Benefits Access, funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), supporting thousands of counselors nationwide as they identify and enroll eligible seniors and individuals with disabilities into benefits programs. Our BenefitsCheckUp® is the nation’s most comprehensive online screening service. Since 2001, it has helped over 6 million individuals find over $22 billion worth of benefits.

FY17 Impact: 415,900 individuals were connected to over $1.19 billion in benefits, and 18,100 gained permanent access to Medicare’s Qualifying Individual program to help pay for health care.

Economic SecurityChallenge: Nearly 26 million Americans aged 60+ are economically insecure—living at or below 250% of the federal poverty level (under $30,000 per year for one person). These seniors often go into debt just to pay for the basics of life.

Solution: NCOA leads a national initiative of community partners that are using our holistic economic casework model to help seniors find and maximize their income, savings, and benefits. Our EconomicCheckUp® website helps them manage their money, avoid scams, and find work.

FY17 Impact: 1,000 individuals received holistic economic assistance, connecting them to $3 million in savings and supplemental income (freeing up and saving them an average of $3,000 a year).

Economic Security

Gwen’s Story


HungerChallenge: More than 10 million older Americans lack the financial means to consistently purchase sufficient food.

Solution: NCOA leads a national initiative to educate older adults about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and enroll those who are eligible. We work with local partners and connect seniors to their state SNAP applications online. We also advocate to streamline and simplify enrollment and defend SNAP from funding cuts.

FY17 Impact: 76,300 seniors were connected with $98 million in SNAP food benefits, and 5,100 seniors gained access to a streamlined state SNAP application.

“Since 2013, we’ve worked with NCOA to improve the lives

of seniors in communities across the country. This includes funding to connect more than 1 million older adults with food benefits. We are excited to support NCOA

in providing innovative community programs and services that promote healthy living and

economic security for older adults.”– Eileen Hyde, Director,

Hunger and Healthy Eating, Walmart Foundation


JobsChallenge: Millions of low-income older adults need or want to work, but many require support, retraining, and assistance to reenter the workforce.

Solution: NCOA manages 27 Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) offices nationwide to train and place low-income people aged 55+ into part-time jobs. NCOA also is 1 of 6 organizations administering the Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) program, which allows older workers to share their skills in environmental jobs.

FY17 Impact: 6,500 people aged 55+ received job training and placement.

“NCOA offers a wonderful program called the

BenefitsCheckUp® … By using this tool, I have been able to help people who in

my area average $725 per month inincome to receive help paying medical

deductibles, utilities, heating bills, prescriptions, receive in-home help,

meals, and food.” – GreatNonprofits reviewer


Home EquityChallenge: Millions of older adults are “house rich but cash poor.” They own their homes, but don’t have enough income to pay their bills.

Solution: NCOA helps older homeowners evaluate how to use their home as a strategic financial asset to stay independent. We support counseling on the use of reverse mortgages, and provide counseling assistance to older borrowers who are facing default because of falling behind on their taxes and insurance.

FY17 Impact: 67,800 older homeowners improved their economic security by using NCOA’s home equity tools and services.

IndependenceChallenge: Too many older adults and individuals with disabilities lose their independence when they need help with basic activities, such as eating, bathing, and dressing. Especially for those with low incomes, it can be extremely difficult to find and pay for care at home. As a result, millions end up in nursing homes, which are also more expensive.

Solution: NCOA is a collaborative leader and national voice for Medicaid programs that help individuals receive home and community-based services. NCOA leads the Disability & Aging Collaborative, which unites over 40 national aging and disability organizations to advance policy. We have helped pass, implement, and protect programs that expand access to services that help older adults remain in the community, including Community First Choice, Money Follows the Person, Balancing Incentive Program, and Home and Community-Based Services Spousal Impoverishment Protections.

FY17 Impact: 39,000 individuals received long-term services and supports in their own home instead of being relocated to a nursing home.


Health

Falls PreventionChallenge: Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall. Falls are costly to older adults’ quality of life and cost Medicare $31 billion each year.

Solution: NCOA leads the National Falls Prevention Resource Center, funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), and the Falls Free® Initiative—two efforts dedicated to reducing falls among older adults through awareness, education, and evidence-based falls prevention programs offered in the community. Falls Free® includes 70 national organizations and 44 state coalitions.

“In the past decade, as the U.S. has experienced a

demographic shift unlike any in history, AoA has funded NCOA to undertake

numerous innovative initiatives to safeguard the health and well-being of older Americans … NCOA has massively expanded the reach of

community-based programs that are scientifically proven to improve health and reduce disease,

disability, or injury for older adults.”

– Casey Dicocco, Program Officer, Administration on Aging, U.S. Administration for Community

Living


Chronic Disease

Challenge: About 80% of older adults have at least one chronic condition, and over two-thirds have two or more. Chronic conditions account for more than 7 in 10 deaths in America and 95% of all health care costs for older adults.

Solution: With funding from ACL, NCOA leads the National Resource Center for Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) to support local organizations as they bring evidence-based workshops to seniors and adults with disabilities in their communities. CDSME gives individuals skills and support to manage their conditions and stay healthy. Through a partnership with Canary Health, NCOA also brings these programs to thousands online.

Tom, a 71-year-old Army veteran, found himself constantly sitting in his living room, becoming more and more depressed. “I need to get up and move around!” he realized.

Tom visited his local Y and found out about the Diabetes Self-Management Program being offered by the University of North Carolina at Asheville Center for Health and Wellness, an NCOA partner. As he had just been diagnosed with diabetes six months earlier, Tom joined right in and was impressed with how the program gave a lot of love.

“The class is so dynamic,” Tom said. “It got me off the couch—I’m interacting with people, I’m learning all the time, and I’ve changed my daily life habits.”

Tom now swims every day, although he has learned to listen to his body and know his limitations. Tom especially likes the positive nature of the program, and he was inspired to do more meditation through the weekly action plans.

Tom’s Story

FY17 Impact: 834,400 individuals completed the highest tier evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention programs available in the community, including falls prevention and chronic disease self-management, and 8,300 individuals completed these programs online.


Aging Mastery®

Challenge: Older Americans today are living longer, but few have a playbook to make the most of their longevity. Many are not taking simple steps that could help them stay healthy, economically secure, and independent.

Solution: NCOA’s Aging Mastery Program® (AMP) takes participants on a comprehensive and fun 10-class journey to aging well. Along the way, participants learn to set goals in all aspects of their lives and inspire one another to remain engaged as they age. Each class encourages both learning and doing, with the goal of achieving mastery—developing sustainable behaviors over time. NCOA works with community partners in 20+ states as well as academic partners to run and evaluate the program.

FY17 Impact: 3,949 older adults* participated in AMP at 114 centers nationwide.

Statistics marked with an * in this report are not counted toward the FY17 total of 1.47 million individuals

“AMP helps us strengthen other programming

and partnerships at our center … Watching participants engage with both the facilitators and material

was inspiring.”– Amy Sams, Coordinator, Adult Programs,

Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania


MedicareChallenge: Approximately 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 every day, a pace that will continue until 2030. Bombarded with sales pitches, many mark this milestone by choosing a Medicare plan that does not meet their needs. With hundreds of policies to choose from, most people guess and end up paying too much for a plan that is not right for them.

Solution: In partnership with Aon Retiree Health Exchange, NCOA created an online educational tool My Medicare Matters® that helps older adults evaluate their individual health insurance needs, compare their options, enroll in a Medicare plan, and sustain the best coverage for their situation.

FY17 Impact: 737,500 individuals* used My Medicare Matters® to discover the best health insurance option for their needs.


“NCOA is a one-stop shop when it comes to providing us with cutting-edge information

on topics like Aging Mastery®, chronic disease management, falls prevention,

senior hunger, and so much more!”– Nicole Divine, Executive Director,

Park County Senior Center, Montana


Challenge: Recognized by the Older Americans Act as community focal points, today’s 9,700 senior centers serve more than 1 million older adults every day. But centers must continue to adapt if they want to thrive and meet the changing needs of older adults and boomers.

Solution: NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC) supports a national network of over 3,000 senior center professionals dedicated to helping older adults remain active, engaged, and independent in their communities. The only national organization for senior centers, NISC sets national standards by promoting research, promising practices, professional development, and advocacy. NISC hosts an annual conference and sponsors National Senior Center Month every September. It also offers the nation’s only National Senior Center Accreditation Program to promote excellence.

FY17 Impact: 955 NISC member organizations* connected to NCOA’s social impact goals, 119 senior centers maintained accreditation, and 495 professionals* attended conferences.


“National accreditation affirms to our participants, governing bodies, and the

community that senior services are valuable and that the senior center is

committed to excellence in senior programming.”

– Donna Campbell, Office Manager, Johnson City Senior Center,

Tennessee

Senior Centers


Challenge: An average of 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day. Yet critical government programs that serve our senior population—including the most vulnerable—continue to be threatened.

Solution: NCOA works in a bipartisan manner to protect and improve programs that seniors depend on, including Medicare, Medicaid, the Older Americans Act (OAA), and Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions concerning seniors. We are a trusted national voice for older adults and the organizations that serve them. Using direct knowledge from aging services organizations in the field, we inform policymakers about what is working—and what’s not—and how programs can be strengthened to better meet the needs of older adults. We advocate for key safety net programs that allow struggling older Americans to age with health, security, independence, and dignity.

FY17 Impact: NCOA successfully mobilized national, state, and local advocates to urge Congress to reject proposals to significantly cut or eliminate the Medicare State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), Senior Community Service Employment Program, prevention and chronic care programs, and the OAA. NCOA also played a leadership role in efforts to defeat Congressional attempts to cut and cap Medicaid and repeal critical ACA provisions affecting older adults. In addition, NCOA worked closely with key Congressional staff to introduce legislation to make benefits outreach funding permanent and improve Medicare low-income asset eligibility levels, and a second bill to improve Medigap supplemental insurance policies for beneficiaries.

Advocacy

“NCOA is a fierce advocate for older adults in

our country. They are a deeply dedicated team that proactively and instinctively advocates for positive change. I continue to be impressed by their innovation and outcomes.”

– Christina Parsons R., GreatNonprofits reviewer

Foundations• AARP Foundation• Anonymous (New York

based foundations)• Margaret A. Cargill

Philanthropies • The Archstone Foundation• The Atlantic Philanthropies• The Florence V. Burden

Foundation• The Henry and Jeanette

Weinberg Foundation• The Henry and Marilyn

Taub Foundation• The May & Stanley Smith

Charitable Trust • The New York Community

Trust• The New York State Health

Foundation• The Patterson Foundation• The Plough Foundation/

The Works• The Retirement Research

Foundation• The SCAN Foundation• Walmart Foundation • Wellness Institute• WellsFargo Housing Foundation

Government• City of San Francisco• State of Pennsylvania• U.S. Administration for

Community Living • U.S. Department of Housing &

Urban Development• U.S. Department of Labor• U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency• Veterans Administration

Other Supporting Partners• American Academy of

Ophthalmology• Baltimore City Health

Department Aging and Care Services

• Benefits Data Trust• Chicago Department of

Family and Support Services• Cuyahoga County Department

of Senior & Adult Services• GreenPath

• Jewish Family Services - Lehigh Valley Benefits Access Partnership

• Massachusetts Council on Aging

• National Association of Area Agencies on Aging

• National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities

• Senior Friendship Center• Senior Resources Agency on

Aging• Texas A&M University• University of California/

San Francisco• University of Chicago at Illinois• University of Minnesota• University of Victoria-British

Columbia• YMCA of the USA

Corporations• Abbott Labs• Aetna/Coventry• AGIS Network, Inc• Alberta Health• Amgen U.S.• Aon Retiree Health Exchange• Bank of America• CalHSA Mortgage Assistance

Corporation• Canary Health• Capital One• Carefree Insurance Services• EPIC/Magellan Health Systems• Eversafe• Eye Care America• Fannie Mae• Health Partners Plan• Humana• Human Arc Corporation • Johnson & Johnson

• Kaiser Permanente/Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.

• Lewin• Magellan Health• MAXIMUS• Merck• Novartis Pharmaceuticals• Pfizer Inc.• Public Consulting Group• Sanofi Pasteur• Sanofi US Services-Biosurgery• UnitedHealthcare• Various banking entities for

Reverse Mortgage Booklets• WellMed• WellPoint, Inc./Wellpoint

Foundation

15

Board of DirectorsChair

Carol Zernial WellMed Charitable Foundation

Immediate Past Chair Richard Browdie

Benjamin Rose Institute

Treasurer/Secretary James Knickman

New York University Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service

FY 2017 SupportersTo Our Funders, Thank You

• Robert Blancato Matz, Blancato & Associates, Inc.

• Josefina Carbonell Independent Living Systems

• Heather Dupré eggstrategy

• Julie Goonewardene The University of Texas System

• Lynn Fields Harris Center in the Park

• Sunder Joshi American Heart Association

• Mark McClellan, MD, PhD Duke University Margolis Center for Health Policy

• Maya Rockeymoore Global Policy Solutions

• David Sidwell

• June Simmons Partners in Care Foundation

• Cass Wheeler Strategic Consultant/Coach/Speaker

Members

NCOA is a Top-Rated Charity

If you are interested in partnering with NCOA, please contact us at [email protected]. If you would like to make a tax-deductible, charitable donation to support services and advocacy for struggling older adults, please visit ncoa.org/Donate. Also, please remember NCOA, a registered 501(c)(3) charity, in your estate plans.

Where Your Money GoesIn 2017, NCOA spent 95% of income on programs that

improved the lives of 1.47 million older adults.

#92971

© 2018 National Council on Aging. All rights reserved.

251 18th Street SouthSuite 500Arlington, VA 22202ncoa.org @NCOAging

95% Programs

4% Administration

1% Fundraising

2017 impact report · 4 2017 ncoa impact report sometimes it takes just one benefit to dramatically...

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