Both Parties Need to Create a Pro-Senior Party Platform

American Society on Aging CEO Peter Kaldes writes in The Hill that both Democrats and Republicans need to modernize their policies on aging, specifically "to include more policies that address the modern and diverse needs of older adults." Both parties operate under the negative association of aging with decline, deterioration, and decay, ignoring the higher numbers of senior voters and consumers compared to younger peers. Kaldes cites three key pillars that party platforms should incorporate to accurately reflect modern aging — job creation for older Americans; age-friendly tax policies; and expanded justice for older adults. "When it costs $1 million to retire by age 65, and 21 percent of Americans have no savings, older adults want and need jobs," Kaldes writes. "We must invest in bridging the digital divide for older adults in rural and urban parts of our country by deploying widespread broadband and accessible training." Kaldes also recommends eliminating federal income tax for low-income older adults and strengthening Social Security to keep benefits for future generations. The third requirement is to bolster funding for senior abuse countermeasures and enforcement.