On May 2 and 3, the School of Nursing sponsored a multidisciplinary “Think Tank” devoted to improving care for older adults with chronic illness. Led by Mary Naylor and Nancy Hodgson, it drew more than 40 external thought leaders, who joined Penn experts from across the University. You’ll be hearing much more in the coming weeks about the Think Tank’s recommendations, but from a policy perspective, it could not have come at a better time.

These policies reflect the first steps in changing a system of care that all too often provides older adults with care they do not want, while not providing them with the care they do want.

As I reflect about what I heard during the meeting, I was struck by the quiet but growing policy coalescence around this issue, especially around reducing barriers to the kinds of services older adults clearly want and need. It may not yet be a movement, but it may represent a moment for aligning payment and delivery models to meet the needs of the growing population of older adults and their family caregivers. Here I highlight a few recent policy changes:

These policies reflect the first steps in changing a system of care that all too often provides older adults with care they do not want, while not providing them with the care they do want. The Think Tank is poised to make the most of this opportunity. Stay tuned.