We advocate for the unique needs of our communities.

Who We Are

Founded in 2010, the Diverse Elders Coalition (DEC) advocates for policies and programs that improve aging in our communities as racially and ethnically diverse people; American Indians and Alaska Natives; and lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT) people.

What We Do

As the Diverse Elders Coalition, we produce original policy analysis and resources, speak with policymakers and advocates to highlight the issues of our communities and share solutions, and work to ensure the needs and perspective of diverse elders are at the forefront of national and local conversations on aging.

Our Member Organizations

NAPCA
(National Asian Pacific Center on Aging)
NCBA
(National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc.)
NHCOA
(National Hispanic Council on Aging)
NICOA
(National Indian Council on Aging)
SAGE
(Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders)
SEARAC
(Southeast Asia Resource Action Center)

From The Blog

Dashel Lewis Joins DEC to Advance Equitable Aging Policies

Access to Services

By: Diverse Elders

May 20, 2025

We’re thrilled to welcome Dashel Lewis as the new Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at the Diverse Elders Coalition. Dashel brings a strong foundation in legislative and policy work that directly aligns with the DEC’s mission to uplift racially and ethnically diverse older adults, LGBTQ+ communities, and family caregivers. His experience as a Legislative Aide and…

In Jamaica Plain, Pride Feels Like Home

Advancing Equity, Community Supports, Diverse Communities, Diverse Elders Coalition Stories, History, Individual Stories, LGBTQ Communities

I moved to Jamaica Plain on May 8, not knowing exactly what to expect. Leaving New York, I knew I was moving into a neighborhood with a reputation for being progressive, creative, and LGBTQ+-friendly. But there is a difference between knowing something intellectually…

Older Americans Month 2026: Championing Your Health Requires Protecting Aging Services

Access to Services, Advancing Equity, Caregiving, Home & Community-Based Services, Language Access, Long-Term Care Setting, Older Americans Act, Policy and Advocacy Issues

Each May, Older Americans Month invites us to recognize the contributions, resilience, and leadership of older adults across the country. This year’s theme, “Champion Your Health,” encourages older adults to take an active role in prevention, wellness, self-advocacy,…

At ASA On Aging 2026, the DEC Showed Why Caregiver Equity Still Matters

Access to Services, Advancing Equity, Aging and Ageism, Aging with Dignity, Caregiving, Caregiving, Community Supports, Cultural & Linguistic Adaptation, Data Collection / Research, Discrimination, Diverse Communities, Diverse Elders Coalition Stories, Economic Security, Elder Health, Employment/Workforce Issues, Health Insurance, Housing, Immigration, Individual Stories, Justice, Language Access, Older Americans Act, Policy and Advocacy Issues, Public Policy, Racism, Security and Economic Stability, Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), Social Influencers of Health, Social Security / Retirement

At ASA On Aging 2026, the DEC Showed Why Caregiver Equity Still Matters At this year’s American Society on Aging On Aging 2026 conference in Atlanta, the Diverse Elders Coalition was proud to present “Advancing Caregiver Equity Through Story, Data, and Inclusive…

Women’s History Month 2026: 15 Quotes from Women Shaping A Sustainable Future

Access to Services, Advancing Equity, Aging with Dignity, Civic Engagement, Community Supports, Cultural & Linguistic Adaptation, Discrimination, Diverse Communities, Economic Security, Health Insurance, Health Reform, History, Justice, Language Access, Policy and Advocacy Issues, Racism, Social Influencers of Health

Women’s History Month is a chance to honor the women whose leadership has helped build stronger, more caring, and more just communities. This year’s theme, “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” invites us to think about sustainability in a broad…

DEC Attends House Energy & Commerce Hearing with Partners

Advancing Equity

On March 17, the Diverse Elders Coalition (DEC) joined with a range of partners, including the Disability and Aging Collaborative (DAC) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), to attend a House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations…

MLK Day’s unfinished business: protecting Medicaid, SNAP, and Older Americans Act services for diverse older adults and family caregivers

Advancing Equity, Aging with Dignity, Caregiving, Caregiving, Civic Engagement, Community Supports, Cultural & Linguistic Adaptation, Cultural Adaptation, Data Collection / Research, DEC, Dementia, Diverse Communities, Diverse Elders Coalition Stories, Home & Community-Based Services, Individual Stories, Language Access, Long-Term Care Setting, Mental Health, National Caucus and Center on Black Aging (NCBA), Older Americans Act, Policy and Advocacy Issues, Public Policy, Social Influencers of Health, Social Isolation, Spirituality

MLK Day is often remembered through the soaring language of dreams and freedom. Less often, we talk about how clearly Dr. King named health equity as a civil rights issue. In 1966, speaking in Chicago, Dr. King warned that injustice in health is not abstract, it is…

Resources for Diverse Aging

The Diverse Elders Coalition offers a variety of multimedia resources, including original research and policy reports, fact sheets, webinars, and more, aimed at ensuring that our diverse communities can age successfully with dignity, greater self-sufficiency and in the best possible health.

Featured Resource

Family Caregiving in Diverse Communities: ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF DIVERSE FAMILY CAREGIVERS FOR OLDER ADULTS

This report is the product of a series of activities conducted by the Diverse Elders Coalition and its members’ organizations, and in partnership with the National Alliance for Caregiving, to better understand and highlight the lived experiences of diverse family caregivers for older adults.

Click Here to Read the 1-Page Caregiver FactSheet: DEC Caregiving Factsheet Final

Click Here to Read the Full Report: DEC Caregiving Report Final

Curious about other resources DEC has to offer?

Visit our Resources for Aging page to discover more!