The Six Principles
The National Advisory Board believes that the modernized healthcare infrastructure required to meet the goals, preferences, and needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities must include the Six Principles. Please join with us in promoting and furthering them.
About the Six Principles
More than 17 million Americans rely on personal assistance and other Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) as a way to maintain or enhance their quality of life and independence.1
Long term services and supports must be prioritized and integrated in our healthcare policy planning and reform initiatives in order to create a high quality, person-centered, and fiscally prudent system that works for all people.
The fractured foundation of America’s healthcare system will only be further compromised if we as a nation do not appropriately transform the healthcare system to a modernized infrastructure.
Therefore, this Call to Action requires all of us—consumers, advocates, caregivers, medical professionals, policymakers, program directors, academics, healthcare organizations, and human services providers—to become active participants in healthcare transformation activities that yield an improved and modernized healthcare system.
The Six Principles
Improve Health and Wellbeing through Individual Empowerment and Systems Coordination
Empower people to manage their health and wellness with their chosen support network, healthcare and service providers, and communities, regardless of a person’s condition or perceived capabilities
Ensure Full Access to Services and Supports
Revise and strengthen policies and programs to provide affordable, flexible access to the services and supports needed to live independently
Achieve Community Inclusion and Full Participation
Expedite access, choice and full integration into meaningful activities of community living (social, economic, educational, and recreational) by providing and coordinating necessary services and supports
Achieve Access to Meaningful Work and Activities
Achieve full community participation in valued roles and equitable access to competitive integrated employment or other meaningful activities
Accelerate Access to Innovative Technologies
Ensure that people with disabilities and older adults are key stakeholders and fully involved in the development of new technologies, and have the necessary technologies that support independence, social participation, dignity and self-direction
Value Dignity and Choice
Valuing and ensuring dignity, personal strengths, and self-determination must at the core of successful and sustainable long-term services and supports
Improve Health and Wellbeing through Individual Empowerment and Systems Coordination
Empower people to manage their health and wellness with their chosen support network, healthcare and service providers, and communities, regardless of a person’s condition or perceived capabilities
Achieve Community Inclusion and Full Participation
Expedite access, choice and full integration into meaningful activities of community living (social, economic, educational, and recreational) by providing and coordinating necessary services and supports
Ensure Full Access to Services and Supports
Revise and strengthen policies and programs to provide affordable, flexible access to the services and supports needed to live independently
Value Dignity and Choice
Valuing and ensuring dignity, personal strengths, and self-determination must at the core of successful and sustainable long-term services and supports
Achieve Access to Meaningful Work and Activities
Achieve full community participation in valued roles and equitable access to competitive integrated employment or other meaningful activities
Accelerate Access to Innovative Technologies
Ensure that people with disabilities and older adults are key stakeholders and fully involved in the development of new technologies, and have the necessary technologies that support independence, social participation, dignity and self-direction
1 https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/PDF/IF10427/IF10427.8.pdf
2 U.S. Senate Commission on Long-Term Care, “Report to the Congress” (September 30, 2013): 3, https://www.ccltss.org/cc-content-wp/uploads/2013/12/Commission-on-Long-Term-Care-Final-Report-9-26-13.pdf.
Additional resources for people with disabilities and older adults
For the latest news, additional information, and access to government resources, read our blog or explore our library of resources.