Contact: 
Scott Parkin 202-479-6975 (Office) / 202-657-2894 (At conference)
scott.parkin@ncoa.org

CHICAGO, IL – The National Council on Aging (NCOA) launched a new awareness campaign entitled Connect the Dots: Diabetes and Your Heart – How Medicare Helps today at the joint conference of the American Society on Aging/National Council on Aging. 

The campaign is aimed at helping seniors, caregivers and the professionals who care for them understand the risk factors for diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) as well as the links between them.  The campaign also will educate seniors, primarily multicultural individuals with limited means, about Medicare benefits that make it possible for eligible seniors to screen for, prevent/delay, treat and/or manage each and/or both conditions. 

“There are startling estimates about the numbers of seniors with diabetes or pre-diabetes who are not aware of their condition,” said Scott Parkin, Vice President, NCOA Communications.  “We know that hypertension is a ‘silent epidemic’ and we know that these conditions are commonly found together.  This all points to the need to inform seniors and especially to inform them about the relevant Medicare benefits that help them live healthier lives.”   

The timing of this NCOA campaign is deliberately designed to tie in to and amplify the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) My Health. My Medicare. These simultaneous efforts will raise awareness about new and existing prevention benefits, including screening tests for diabetes and high blood pressure. 

“We will coordinate with and amplify CMS’ work, and also have assembled an impressive advisory committee to this awareness campaign,” said Parkin. “Together we will find the best messages to reach multicultural seniors with limited means.  NCOA has tremendous expertise in locating, informing, and engaging these vulnerable seniors.  That expertise coupled with the input of our advisory committee will help all of us deepen our reach.”

Several members of the advisory committee also presented information about their ongoing or new efforts. Among the advisory committee members at the campaign launch were representatives of the following:  American Diabetes Association, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, National Black Nurses Association, American Association of Diabetes Educators and the Visiting Nurse Associations of America.

Connect the Dots:  Diabetes and Your Heart – How Medicare Helps is made possible by an educational grant from Novartis.

About the National Council on Aging

The National Council on Aging's mission is to improve the lives of older Americans. NCOA programs help older people remain healthy and independent, find jobs, increase access to benefits programs, and discover meaningful ways to continue contributing to society. A charitable organization with a national network of more than 14,000 organizations and leaders, NCOA was founded in 1950 and is based in Washington, DC.

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