On February 24, 2004, Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick appointed a Task Force to address key findings of the Dying Before Their Time research studies commissioned by the Detroit Area Agency on Aging and the Detroit Senior Citizens Department. The Task Force is a 46-member group of representatives from healthcare, aging, labor, long-term care and the religious and educational communities.
The Mission of the Dying Before Their Time Task Force is to improve the quality of life of older adults and create an urban agenda for health, wellness promotion and long term care for individuals approaching their retirement years in the city of Detroit. Strategic programming and policy recommendations will support systems change and focus on reducing premature death, chronic illness and disability, and poor access to affordable, viable and responsive health and long term care options.
The Task Force is responsible for developing a
Blueprint For Action with policy recommendations needed to stimulate changes in the long-term care and health services delivery systems. Emphasis is on developing innovative strategies and policy recommendations to support integration and system re-design. The Task Force was convened on July 21, 2004 and the Blueprint for Action Report will be submitted to the Mayor's office during January, 2005.