Dealing with
death is hard.
Get a free, custom checklist for funeral planning and beyond made by people who’ve been there.
About the Consumer Voice
For up-to-date information on Consumer Voice’s most recent activities, read the weekly e-newsletter, The Voice.
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care was formed as NCCNHR (National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform) in 1975 because of public concern about substandard care in nursing homes. The Consumer Voice is the outgrowth of work first achieved by advocates working for Ralph Nader and later for the National Gray Panthers. Elma Holder, NCCNHR founder, was working with The Long-Term Care Action Project of the Gray Panthers when she organized a group meeting of advocates from across the country to attend a nursing home industry conference in Washington, DC. At that meeting, representatives of 12 citizen action groups spoke collectively to the industry about the need for serious reform in nursing home conditions.
The consumer attendees were inspired to develop a platform of common concerns and motivated to form a new organization to represent the consumer voice at the national level. Most of the original members had witnessed and endured personal experiences with substandard nursing home conditions.
Our Vision & Mission
The Consumer Voice is the leading national voice representing consumers in issues related to long-term care, helping to ensure that consumers are empowered to advocate for themselves. We are a primary source of information and tools for consumers, families, caregivers, advocates and ombudsmen to help ensure quality care for the individual.
To carry out our mission, we:
Advocate for public policies that support quality care and quality of life responsive to consumers’ needs in all long-term care settings
Empower and educate consumers and families with the knowledge and tools they need to advocate for themselves
Train and support individuals and groups that empower and advocate for consumers of long-term care
Promote the critical role of direct-care workers and best practices in quality-care delivery
The Consumer Voice envisions a world in which all consumers of long-term care, services and supports are treated with respect and dignity and have a wide range of affordable, quality options across all settings. These options will make it possible for individuals to receive care and services in the location and manner of their choice and to attain a high quality of life.
ASA offers professional education, outstanding publications and online information and training resources that are nationally recognized. The breadth and depth of information available from ASA’s conference, webinars and publications, and the diversity of perspective and experience that characterizes ASA’s membership, are unmatched by any other professional organization in the field.
Professional Education
ASA’s professional education and training opportunities provide nationally recognized continuing education across a range of disciplines. ASA’s annual conference, Aging in America, is the nation’s largest gathering of a diverse, multidisciplinary community of professionals in aging services, healthcare, social service, government, business and philanthropy with expertise in providing services and products for older adults . We also offer online learning opportunities throughout the year via web seminars and online courses that feature leaders and experts from many disciplines in the field of aging.
Publications
ASA publications offer the latest information and research to help professionals stay on the cutting edge in the field of aging. Aging Today, our bimonthly newspaper, covers news, advances and controversies in research, practice and policy. Generations is a scholarly quarterly journal, covering topics in depth, with articles on best practice, policy, research and model programs. Additionally, the stories of ASA’s multidisciplinary membership and the elders they serve, are offered in AgeBlog, a series of blog posts facilitated by ASA’s eight Constituent Groups. Our weekly e-newsletter, ASA Update, features the latest news and events from ASA. ASA’s publications offer a wealth and diversity of knowledge and information.
Awards Programs
ASA hosts a variety of award programs honoring individuals and organizations that are making a difference in the lives of older adults. See ASA Awards for more information.
EngAGED promotes and provides opportunities to improve the rates of social engagement in older adults because remaining socially engaged improves quality of life and is associated with better health.
engAGED The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults is the national effort to promote and provide opportunities to improve the rates of social engagement in older adults. The National Resource Center is administered by n4a and is funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging and is part of the U.S. Administration for Community Living.
To learn more about engAGED or if you or your organization would like to get involved please email us at info@engagingolderadults.org
N4A2.png
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
1100 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20003
202.872.0888
Our Mission
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging’s primary mission is to build the capacity of our members so they can help older adults and people with disabilities live with dignity and choices in their homes and communities for as long as possible.
Our Vision
Build a society that values and supports people as they age.
Our Work
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) is a 501(c)(3) membership association representing America’s national network of 622 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and providing a voice in the nation’s capital for the 256 Title VI Native American aging programs.
Whether it is helping Washington set priorities, building the capacity of our members, raising the visibility of AAAs and Title VI programs nationwide, offering training and educational events, or working to drive excellence in the fields of I&R/A, transportation, business acumen, healthy aging, older adult engagement, livable and dementia-friendly communities, n4a is dedicated to supporting the success of its members.
Please see our Annual Report for an overview of our recent work or n4a News for the latest developments.
Support our mission? Consider becoming a member and/or making a tax-deductible donation to the Building Our Capacity Fund.
To support older adults affected by natural and other disasters, consider a donation to the n4a Disaster Relief Fund.
AGING SERVICES
Aging & Disability Resource Centers Caregivers Care, Transitions, Elder Justice, Health Insurance Assistance, Healthy Aging, Home & Community-Based Services, Livable Communities, Older Americans Act, Transportation, Volunteerism
