This letter was originally published on the NICOA website on July 19, 2016. Read the original here.

Dear Elder,

Ya’at’eeh! I am reaching out to you to share about a timely opportunity that we have for your voice be heard by the Administration for Community Living and state aging network. But we need to act quickly!

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is requesting public comment to help hold the Aging Network accountable for meeting the needs of Elders in Indian Country. I am appealing to you to take just one minute of your time to sign our Comment Card.

Click here to read and sign our comment card now!

Your comments, along with other Elders, will be submitted to the ACL, stating what is important to you and your community, and alert the ACL of the importance of explicitly including our communities in any guidance they release to the state Aging Networks. NICOA is strongly advocating for our Elders through this specific call to action to the ACL:

“Ensure that American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians receive fair and  equal aging and support services.”

If you wish to read the Administration for Community Living (ACL) planning guidance in its entirety, you can read it here.

Thank you,
Randella Bluehouse, Executive Director
National Indian Council on Aging,
Member, Navajo Nation

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Diverse Elders Coalition.