Elder health programs in state health agencies.

Due to the rapid rise in the population of those aged 65 and older, public health programs that target this group merit special attention. State health agencies can play leading roles in providing and coordinating elder health programs by identifying needs and formulating guidelines in collaboration with federal, local, and private organizations. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health initiated the Elder Health Programs Unit in 1988, with a mission to assist elders in maintaining their highest level of functional status in community settings and to provide opportunities for older adults to take greater responsibility for their own health. The extent of involvement in elder health programming of other state health agencies outside of Massachusetts is not well documented. Through the distribution of a national survey, we set out to determine how many state health agencies offer elder health services.