AAAP celebrates 10-year anniversary of its California Eldercare Initiative

Dec 23 2009

AAAP held a holiday party with area senior citizens to highlight the importance of understanding public policy and eldercare

The Association of African American Professionals, Inc. (AAAP) hosted a holiday party with area senior citizens to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of its California Eldercare Initiative. This Initiative helps seniors learn how to be their own eldercare advocates and understand public policy.

Founded in 1995 and incorporated in 2000, the Association of African American Professionals improves the plight of the underserved communities. AAAP's community project, the California Elder Care Initiative, helps senior citizen populations by teaching skills necessary to analyze data, organize peers, and prioritize eldercare needs. Since its inception, many seniors have been trained in public policy and have won awards for their activism from institutions such as the University of California at Berkeley.

To help seniors engage policy makers and service providers - professionals volunteer their time with AAAP to help create events, moderate forums, and participate in training sessions. "AAAP's California Eldercare Initiative gives us the opportunity to learn about public policy - and get in front of issues. They take the time to help us be our own advocate," says senior citizen Mildred Bobo. Ms. Bobo is also one of AAAP's senior leaders recognized by UC Berkeley's School of Public Health.

Often left to fend for themselves, many older adults find it difficult to manage information related to Medicare changes, nursing home issues, Social Security qualifications and other important concerns. AAAP's California Elder Care Initiative levels the playing field by bringing in experts that can help seniors be informed consumers and recipients of qualified benefits.

"Confronting aging with limited resources is particularly hard for African American senior citizens who rarely have their voice heard in the public policy arena. We aim to change that," says Mia Barber, AAAP Executive Director and author of the book navigating eldercare: strategies for seniors and those who care for them.