Public invited to take Iowa Department on Aging survey on aging in Iowa

The Iowa Department on Aging, AARP Iowa and the Older Iowans Legislature are seeking input from Iowans on the biggest challenges when it comes to aging in Iowa as they begin to prepare for the next legislative session.

The three organizations are working together to ask residents of all ages for their thoughts on what Iowa can do to improve the quality of life for its older population through a brief online survey posted on the Department on Aging’s website at https://www.iowaaging.gov/content/2018-aging-iowa-survey-discovering-what-matters.

Information gathered from the eight-question survey, which focuses on issues impacting older Iowans and their caregivers, will help inform the groups and elected officials as policy is developed for the upcoming legislative session in January.

“The more information available about aging needs, the better prepared the Department and its partners will be to develop innovative, collaborative approaches to help improve the quality of life and care for older Iowans,” said Iowa Department on Aging Director Linda Miller.

“This is a great opportunity for Iowans to offer direct feedback to the Department on Aging on what policies and concerns are on their minds, and ways to address their individual and family needs as they get older,” added AARP Iowa State Director Brad Anderson.

For those interested in becoming even more involved in addressing aging issues in Iowa, the survey also includes a link to learn more about the

Older Iowans Legislature (OIL), a statewide, non-partisan organization whose members advocate for state legislators and the Governor to sign legislation that will result in an improved quality of life for older Iowans.

Each year, OIL members meet at the Iowa Capitol to discuss and determine the priority issues impacting the state's growing aging population. This year's Annual Meeting will take place on Sept. 24-25 and leaders intend to use the results of the survey to inform their legislative agenda this year.

“The Older Iowans Legislature urges its members and friends, as well as all of Iowa’s seniors, to participate in the survey. The results will play a major role in the discussion of aging issues at our Annual Meeting, which will be held in the House Chamber of the State Capitol,” explained OIL Chair Helene Magee.

The delegates to the annual meeting can use the survey information to ask questions of department heads, legislators and the candidates for governor to determine where they stand on the challenges facing the state to help meet the needs of a growing aging population, according to Magee.

The survey takes approximately five minutes to complete and is available online through Sept. 21, 2018.

About the Iowa Department on Aging
The Iowa Department on Aging (IDA) is an executive branch agency dedicated to making Iowa the premier state in which to live and retire. To meet that goal, the IDA works closely with the Iowa Commission on Aging and Iowa’s six Agencies on Aging to develop a comprehensive, coordinated and cost-effective system of long-term living and community support services that helps individuals maintain health and independence in their homes and communities. More information is available at www.iowaaging.gov.

About the Older Iowans Legislature
The Older Iowans Legislature is a statewide, nonpartisan, nonprofit volunteer organization that pursues quality of life for older Iowans by voicing their needs to the general public, all governmental bodies and service providers, and by providing opportunities for older Iowans to learn and participate in governmental processes to help solve problems facing seniors. More information is available at www.olderiowans.org.