New Partnership Aims at Changing the Face of Aging

LAKEWOOD, Colorado — Jeff Rubin, CEO and co-founder of the Alliance for Holistic Aging (AHA) agrees with computer scientist Alan Kay that “the best way to predict the future is to invent it.” AHA is a group of individuals from all walks of life who have committed themselves to changing the way our society views and addresses aging in America. Mr. Rubin along with Joni Seivert, co-founder and President of Denver-based Connections Unlimited LLC, expect to do just that as they build this nonprofit membership driven organization.

“America is aging and the issues boomers will be facing are quite different today than the ones their parents and grandparents faced,” says Ms. Seivert, an advocate for seniors and caregivers for more than 30 years.

“Boomers are known as the ‘sandwich generation’—often times caught between raising a family and dealing with an aging parent,” she continues. “In many instances those issues are dealt with long distance. As our society continues to age, the needs that boomers and their parents are faced with are increasingly less likely to be addressed by government dollars and programs alone.”

Mr. Rubin, former State Director for Benefits CheckUp and a past associate of the National Council on the Aging shares that sentiment. “The answers lie in questioning the status quo. We need to engage individuals and challenge communities to become pro-active in the core areas of capacity building, problem solving, empowerment and change,” he adds.

As the aging population continues to grow, AHA is looking to lead the national initiative to create new models for holistic aging that address both humanistic and economic concerns. Mr. Rubin continues, “At AHA we strongly believe that the most viable solutions to these challenges are discovered at the grassroots level by motivated individuals and groups working together. Our purpose is not to direct these change agents, but to assist, strengthen and connect their dynamic efforts for the benefit of all older Americans, their families and communities.”

The Alliance for Holistic Aging (AHA) is dedicated to the creation and replication of life-affirming and affordable choices for self-directed aging. Its mission is to empower individuals and groups to develop and share new approaches, resources, products, and services for successful, community-based aging. For further information on the Alliance, visit their Web site at www.holisticaging.org.