Aging, itself, isn’t a challenge — but being unprepared for aging is, according to AARP, which on Wednesday released a white paper that lays out a blueprint for developing a national plan on aging.

The paper marks the launch of the organization’s Aging Well in America Initiative, for which the AARP took best practices from federal, state and local initiatives to create a blueprint for the development of a “robust” national plan to foster the well-being, quality of life and dignity of older Americans.

“While state governments play a significant role in the political structure of the United States, there remains significant room for federal action on a national plan, which can tap the insights and successes of state efforts,” the paper read. “A national plan should complement state plans; it should address a wide range of issues in flexible ways that support those plans, catalyze other states to create plans of their own, and fill in any gaps.”

The organization’s vision for a national plan on aging is an “inclusive society where all individuals can live with dignity and purpose — maintaining their health, financial resilience, and quality of life in age-friendly, livable communities with the necessary support systems in place.”

Although acknowledging the progress made at the state and local levels, as well as new federal efforts underway to start the journey toward a national plan on aging, the AARP said the United States is falling behind. Other countries, the organization said, are responding to the rapidly aging population and developing national strategic plans to meet the challenges and maximize the opportunities to increase longevity.

A national plan on aging is “essential” to ensuring that older adults are able to build financial resilience, maintain good health, and remain in their homes and communities, the AARP said. 

More than 887 communities across the country and 11 states and territories — California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and the US Virgin Islands —  have joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities to try to make places more livable and supportive of people of all ages. In addition, about half of the states have developed or initiated multi-year aging strategic plans, known as multisector plans for aging, to encourage solutions and approaches that involve collaboration across government, private entities and the public.

At the federal level, the recently released Strategic Framework for a National Plan laid the groundwork for a coordinated effort to establish a national set of recommendations on key aging issues.

The four key goals laid out in the AARP white paper to guide the development of a national plan include:

  • promoting healthy living and access to affordable healthcare,
  • supporting family caregivers and ensuring access to long-term services and supports, 
  • helping older adults remain financially solvent, and 
  • creating age-friendly communities. 

The policy paper also emphasizes the importance of cross-cutting principles that define aging as a strength and opportunity, including inclusivity, transparency, data-driven decision-making, technologic empowerment and adaptability.

“Creating a national plan is just the first step to building a country that enables all people to age well,” the AARP noted. “To effectively implement the plan, it is crucial for the federal government to establish a clear roadmap for action, ongoing evaluation and adaptability.”