Juanita C. Grant Foundation President Selected To Join New NCOA Initiative

Capitol Heights, MD, March 28, 2022: Maryland-based non-profit and older adult advocate Juanita C. Grant Foundation (JCGF) is delighted to announce its latest partnership with the National Council on Aging (NCOA). The Equity in Aging Collaborative aims to create tangible a tangible difference in the lives of older adults by creating a network of thought leaders from diverse communities, educating advocates about the economic needs of older adults, and generating awareness by sparking a national conversation about the critical improvement needed to raise the standard of living for older adults.

To achieve these goals, the Collaborative will partner with the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and its Elder Index™ - an economic security standard used to measure the income that older adults need to meet their basic needs as they age in place with dignity. The Elder Index™ is specific to household size, location, housing tenure, and health status and factors in costs such as housing, healthcare, transportation, food, and other miscellaneous expenses.

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation report on poverty, over 15 million people aged 65 and older have incomes below 200% of the official poverty threshold in 2017, with that number increasing with age, gender, and race. In 2022-2033, the Collaborative will inspire systemic change to address issues of poverty among older adults, using a creative and educational lens. 

JCGF CEO expressed her gratitude for the invitation saying, “It is an honor to be part of the new NCOA Equity in Aging Collaborative. I am looking forward to working with outstanding leaders in the ‘field of aging’ over the next two years. This collaborative effort will critically address systemic roots of economic instability and inequities resulting in persistent generational poverty among older adults.”

About the Juanita C. Grant Foundation, Inc.

The Juanita C. Grant Foundation provides education and training, advocacy and research addressing economic insecurity, workforce development and quality of life issues that impact older adults. To learn more about our initiatives and join us on this journey, please visit our website at www.jcgfdn.org

About NCOA

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for every person’s right to age well. We believe that how we age should not be determined by gender, color, sexuality, income, or zip code. Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Follow us at @NCOAging.

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