Press Releases

Get our news in your inbox

If you’re a member of the media and have a question, please contact press@ncoa.org or 571-527-4020.

Older man looking worried on front porch

NCOA Analysis: Nearly 3 Million Older Adults Living Alone Face Greater Financial and Health Risks during COVID-19 Pandemic

The National Council on Aging is warning that the financial hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic will be much worse for older adults living alone, and this could force nearly 3 million older Americans in single households into possible poverty and or greater health risks.

NCOA’s Aging Mastery Program® Addresses COVID-19 Social Isolation Issues

The Aging Mastery Program is an innovative, 10-part program that focuses on key aspects of aging well, including health, finances, relationships, personal growth, and community involvement. It has empowered more than 22,000 older adults to age well and is now being offered virtually at nonprofit organizations nationwide.

NCOA: Senate GOP COVID-19 Relief Proposal Fails Older Americans

NCOA is deeply disappointed by the Senate Republican’s most recent attempt to address the grave and ever-growing COVID-19 pandemic affecting our country because it fails to support and protect older Americans

NCOA Secures $4.35 Million from Walmart Foundation

NCOA announced $4.35 million in new funding from the Walmart Foundation to address senior hunger via the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

NCOA Announces Initial Grants to Bolster Local Groups Serving Older Adults in Need During Pandemic

NCOA announced its first cohort of awardees for its COVID-19 Community Response Fund.

NCOA partners with Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ organizations to address growing economic insecurity amid pandemic

NCOA has announced partnerships with several leading local and national nonprofits to connect diverse older adults to benefits programs to help them pay for food, prescription drugs, and health services.

NCOA Launches Boost Your Budget Week, July 13-17, 2020

NCOA is partnering with community-based organizations nationwide to launch Boost Your Budget™ Week, July 13-17, 2020.

NCOA Study: 3 Million Low-Income Older Adults Face Systemic Obstacles to Programs that Help Pay for Health Care

NCOA’s latest issue brief analyzes the systemic obstacles that keep nearly 3 million eligible older adults and people with disabilities from accessing programs designed to help pay for their health care and medicine.

NCOA Statement: Inequities Make Aging Well Impossible

Recent events across our nation have highlighted—yet again—that systemic racism and persistent inequities make NCOA’s vision impossible to realize.

NCOA Selects New CEO

Ramsey Alwin, an experienced public policy leader with a commitment to addressing issues related to aging, will lead NCOA effective Aug. 31.

NCOA Photo Contest Showcases the Richness of Aging Well in America

NCOA invited photographers and artists from around the country to submit work exploring the artistic expression of Aging Well for All—how older adults are making the most of their longevity.

NCOA Honors Five Trailblazers for Helping All Older Adults Age Well

NCOA honors four individuals and one organization from around the country who are working toward a just and caring society that allows all of us to age with dignity, purpose, and security.

Head of MIT AgeLab and Assistant Secretary for Aging to Keynote First Virtual Aging Conference in the COVID-19 Era

Dr. Joe Coughlin, Director of the MIT AgeLab, and Lance Robertson, Assistant Secretary for Aging, will be the keynote speakers at the 2020 Age+Action Virtual Conference, June 8-11.

Hispanic Older Adults at Greatest Risk of Poverty from COVID-19

NCOA is warning that while the financial hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic will impact the economic security of all older adults, it will disproportionately hurt Hispanics over age 60.

National Leaders Convene June 8-11 for First Virtual Aging Conference in the COVID-19 Era

NCOA has announced that its annual conference that brings together thought leaders in aging is going virtual this year.

Community-Based Organizations Struggle to Meet Shifting Needs of Older Adults During COVID-19

NCOA surveyed 1,003 community-based organizations to determine the impact of COVID-19 on their ability to serve older adults.

COVID-19 Pandemic Will Impoverish Millions of Aging Americans

NCOA is warning that the financial hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic will push between 1.4 and 2.1 million more older Americans into poverty, and older adults with the least wealth will be the hardest hit.

NCOA Teams with Airbnb to Address Social Isolation among Older Adults

NCOA is partnering with Airbnb to address COVID-19 related social isolation by providing homebound older adults with a new way to connect with others and travel virtually during the pandemic.

NCOA Launches COVID-19 Community Response Fund

NCOA today launched a COVID-19 Community Response Fund to immediately begin raising and distributing funds to hard-hit community-based organizations that are directly serving older adults during the pandemic.

Caregivers Get Free Lyft During COVID-19

NCOA is partnering with Lyft to meet the critical transportation needs of caregivers who are supporting homebound older adults during the COVID-19 outbreak.

NCOA Applauds Older Americans Act Reauthorization

NCOA applauds Congress for a strong bipartisan reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, modernizing the legislation to address the shifting needs of millions of older adults, including the recent coronavirus outbreak.

NCOA Statement: Congress Must Protect Older Adults from COVID-19

In the United States, the first reported virus-related fatalities were Americans over age 50, and the data available from China and other countries mirrors those results. NCOA believes more significant investment now will save the lives of our parents, grandparents, older adult relatives, and neighbors and help contain the spread of this deadly virus in our communities.

LULAC & NCOA Join Forces in 2020

The League of United Latin American Citizens today announced an unprecedented new partnership with NCOA to offer a wide range of life-changing benefits to the growing number of Latino seniors and adults with disabilities throughout the United States.

NCOA Announces Search Firm to Recruit Next CEO

NCOA today announced it has retained Spencer Stuart, the global executive search and leadership advisory firm, to lead a national search for its next President and CEO.

Supreme Court Decision on Public Charge Rule Will Hurt Health, Security, and Dignity of Older Communities of Color—and Harm Non-Immigrant Older Adults, Too

Read our statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling today that greenlights the Department of Homeland Security Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds rule.

NCOA and 71 Groups Urge Congress to Halt Scheduled Medicare Drug Cost Hikes

Seventy-one diverse national organizations representing millions of older adults, people with disabilities, patients, and providers are joining NCOA in urging Congress to take action this week to prevent scheduled Medicare prescription drug cost increases.

NCOA’s Innovative Aging Mastery Program Receives Grant from NextFifty Initiative

NextFifty Initiative has awarded NCOA a grant to establish a sustainable service delivery network with the capacity to provide the Aging Mastery Program to older adults across Colorado.

NCOA Survey: Opioid Crisis Harming Aging Community

A new survey by NCOA reveals an untold story about the nation’s opioid epidemic—how the crisis is eroding the quality of life of older adults and the ability of local organizations to serve them.

NCOA CEO Announces Retirement

After 25 years with the NCOA, James Firman, president and CEO, today announced his plans to retire from NCOA to pursue new endeavors that continue his focus on transforming the lives of older Americans.

NCOA Welcomes New Chair-Elect and Board Members

NCOA is pleased to announce that DeDe Priest has been named Chair-Elect of its Board of Directors, and that Phil Buchanan and Faye Wattleton have joined as Board members.

NCOA Provides Senate Aging Committee with Evidence-Based Solutions to Reduce Older Adult Falls

At a hearing of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, NCOA offered several evidence-based solutions to stem the tide of older adult falls, which today account for four older adult deaths every hour.

NCOA’s Falls Prevention Awareness Day is September 23

On Monday, September 23—the first day of fall—NCOA is partnering with thousands of educators, caregivers, health and aging professionals, community-based organizations, and older adults across the country to focus on one goal: preventing falls.

NCOA Applauds Bipartisan Congressional Support for the Dignity in Aging Act

NCOA commends the leadership of the House Committee on Education and Labor for introducing H.R. 4334, the Dignity in Aging Act.

September is National Senior Center Month

This September, NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers is celebrating National Senior Center Month with the theme: Senior Centers: The Key to Aging Well.

Beneficiary Advocates Raise Alarms Concerning Roll-Out of New Medicare Plan Finder and Revision of Medicare Marketing Rules

Justice in Aging, Medicare Rights Center, Center for Medicare Advocacy, and NCOA sent a joint letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services urging the agency to address concerns regarding changes to the Medicare Plan Finder tool and the 2020 Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidance.

Tivity Health Honors NCOA For Reducing Social Isolation of Rural Older Adults

Tivity Health® recognized NCOA at the 2019 Connectivity Summit on Rural Aging for extensive work to promote healthier aging and social connectivity for older adults.

NCOA Statement: DHS Rule Will Harm Hundreds of Thousands of Older Legal Immigrants

NCOA is extremely concerned about the effects a new DHS regulation will have on vulnerable older immigrants who are in this country legally.

Health eVillages and NCOA Partner to Increase Food Security Among Older Americans

Health eVillages has partnered with NCOA to increase the number of older Americans who are screened and enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

NCOA’s James Firman Named to The NonProfit Times 2019 Power & Influence Top 50

NCOA is proud to announce that James Firman, President and CEO, has been named to The NonProfit Times Power & Influence Top 50 list for 2019.

NCOA Statement: USDA SNAP Proposal Will Harm Over 600,000 Vulnerable Older Americans

Read our statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed rule to revise categorical eligibility in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

NCOA Reaches Goal of Improving the Lives of 10 Million Older Adults, Sets New Goal of 40 Million by 2030

NCOA announced it has reached its goal of improving the lives of 10 million individuals by 2020—one year early, and it has welcomed Nationwide as an important new partner.

Financial Insecurity is a Major Concern for Women Approaching Retirement

Almost sixty percent of Americans aged 60 and over are concerned that health care costs (56%) and 43 percent are concerned that prescription drug costs are outpacing retirement savings, according to a new NCOA/Ipsos survey.

Over a Dozen Trailblazers Working on Behalf of Millions of Aging Americans to be Honored

NCOA is honoring more than a dozen women, men, and organizations around the country who are working toward a just and caring society that allows all of us to age with dignity, purpose, and security.

Walmart and NCOA Announce Partnership to Prevent Financial Exploitation of Older Americans

Walmart and NCOA have announced a national pilot program to empower older adults to protect themselves from financial fraud.

Somava Stout Joins NCOA Board of Directors

Somava Stout joins NCOA Board of Directors, bringing extensive experience in health improvement and community transformation.

NCOA Builds Leadership Team to Ensure that Every Person Can Age Well

NCOA is building its leadership team as part of a focused strategy to ensure that every person is able to age well.

NCOA Statement on Texas v. United States Ruling on the Affordable Care Act

Read our statement on the decision by the Federal District Court in Fort Worth, TX, that the repeal of the Affordable Care Act individual mandate in last year’s Republican tax bill rendered the entire act unconstitutional.

NCOA Statement on Proposed Regulations Adding Step Therapy to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D

NCOA statement on the harm proposed regulations could do to Medicare beneficiaries if CMS allows step therapy in Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D.

NCOA Statement on the Proposed ‘Public Charge’ Rule Change

A statement from James Firman, President and CEO of NCOA in response to the ‘public charge’ rule change posted today in the Federal Register.

NCOA Awarded Grant from the Anthem Foundation to Bring Aging Mastery® to Thousands of Older Adults

8,000 older adults in new and underserved communities will have access to Aging Mastery because of a 2-year, $4 million grant from the Anthem Foundation.

For Fifth Time, NCOA CEO Named to NonProfit Times’ Power & Influence Top 50

James Firman, President and CEO of NCOA, today was named one of the The NonProfit Times’ 2018 Power & Influence Top 50.

NCOA Statement on the introduction of the Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs for Seniors Act

NCOA Statement on the introduction of the Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs for Seniors Act.

New Research Shows Diabetes Self-Management Workshop Improves Health Outcomes and Saves $3 in Health Costs for Every $1 Spent

Research published this week in the Journal of Medical Internet Research demonstrates that the digital self-management program Better Choices, Better Health–Diabetes can help health insurers save an average of $815 in health care costs per person with diabetes in the year after the program, realizing a ROI of $3 for every $1 spent on the workshop.

Take Action Now: Form Letters from Social Security Administration Alerting Medicare Beneficiaries to Savings Programs are not a Scam

Medicare beneficiaries across the country will soon find letters in their mailboxes from the SSA alerting them to programs that could help pay their out-of-pocket health care expenses.

NCOA Network of Benefits Enrollment Centers Expands to 43 States

Twenty-five new organizations have joined the NCOA’s national network of Benefits Enrollment Centers, providing personalized assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries to access programs that help pay for health care, prescriptions, food, utilities, and more.

Report Finds Major Flaws, Needed Improvements in the Federal Medicare Shopping Tool

When it comes to making health care insurance decisions, older Americans are told they can depend on the Medicare Plan Finder (MPF) to get reliable and accessible information. In fact, a new report finds that the federal government’s online tool to help Medicare beneficiaries and others obtain information and make decisions about coverage options in fee-for-service and Medicare Parts C and D is not delivering on that promise.

NCOA Statement on SNAP Work Requirement Changes in the Draft Farm Bill

NCOA statement on SNAP work requirement changes in the draft Farm Bill.

NCOA Expands Network Dedicated to Connecting Seniors to Benefits

Recently, NCOA added 20 new BECs, allowing low-income Medicare beneficiaries in 69 communities across 36 states to get personalized assistance enrolling in programs that pay for health care, prescriptions, food, utilities, and more.

In Senate Testimony, NCOA Offers Steps to Navigate Aging

Chief Strategy Officer Anna Maria Chávez shared NCOA’s insights and solutions for aging well with the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging.

NCOA Statement on Passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Statement from NCOA President and CEO, James Firman, on passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Five New Members Join NCOA Board of Directors

A new chair and powerful leaders of business, branding, and advocacy bring experience and influence to the NCOA Board.

NCOA Statement on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Statement from NCOA President and CEO, James Firman, on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

NCOA Celebrates 10 Years of Falls Prevention Awareness Day

Ten years ago, the NCOA and a coalition of organizations created Falls Prevention Awareness Day to encourage people to prevent falls. In the first decade, more than 14 million people have participated in events across the country.

NCOA CEO Honored with Katie Beckett Award

NCOA President and CEO Jim Firman becomes 6th recipient of the Katie Beckett award from NASUAD.

NCOA Statement on the 2017 Medicare Trustees Report

NCOA Statement on the Senate Health Care Bill

NCOA Statement on how the Senate health care bill will hurt America’s seniors.

NCOA Assumes Chair of the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations

This week, NCOA assumed the role of Chair of the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations, a coalition of 70 nonprofit organizations representing millions of older adults.

Not a Scam: Social Security Letters Alert Medicare Beneficiaries to Health Care Savings Programs

The Social Security Administration is sending millions of letters to Medicare beneficiaries who may be eligible for savings programs. The letters are not a scam and the programs could provide needed assistance.

NCOA Statement on the Trump Administration Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Proposal

Statement from James Firman, President and CEO of NCOA, on the Trump Administration Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Proposal.

NCOA Statement on the House Passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA)

Statement from Howard Bedlin, NCOA Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy, on the House passage of the American Health Care Act.

NCOA Hires Award-Winning Leader to Amplify the Real Story of Aging

Anna Maria Chávez joins as Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Vice President for External Affairs.

National Council on Aging Research Highlights Need for Greater Awareness of Home Equity Products Among Older Homeowners and Financial Advisors

Older homeowners have financial worries, but most do not see their home equity as a tool for greater retirement security, according to new NCOA research.

NCOA Statement on the Trump Administration Budget Blueprint

A statement from NCOA President and CEO James Firman on the Trump Administration Budget Blueprint.

NCOA Statement on the American Health Care Act

Statement from James Firman, NCOA President and CEO, on the American Health Care Act.

Seniors on Fixed Incomes Can Find Help with Rising Costs

Programs that older adults rely on like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security could undergo changes this year that would affect their expected budgets. The recently updated BenefitsCheckUp.org is the go-to resource to see if an older adult qualifies for more than 2,500 Federal, state, and private programs.