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

The Golden Years of Indian Immigrants in America

Aging with Dignity

By: Diverse Elders

Dec 21, 2022

By Lavina Melwani. This article originally appeared on Khabar Magazine.

Dek: “Over 300,000 Indian seniors long for their cultural roots in their sunset years. Will they find them in a changing America? Here is a look at the varied retirement living arrangements chosen by Indian-American seniors.”

They left their homeland in India in their 20s an…

The Intersection of Racism, Discrimination and Mental Health in Diverse Communities: What Is the Impact?

Access to Services, Advancing Equity, Community Supports, Cultural & Linguistic Adaptation, Data Collection / Research, Dementia, Discrimination, Diverse Communities, Elder Health, Home & Community-Based Services, Language Access, Long-Term Care Setting, Mental Health, Mental Health, Policy and Advocacy Issues, Racism, Social Isolation

July marks National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about mental health conditions currently prevailing among diverse groups. The aim is not just to shed light on these issues’ gravity but also to break down the stigma…

Stepping Out as Allies to Stop Anti-Trans Attacks

Access to Services, Advancing Equity, Aging with Dignity, Discrimination, Diverse Communities, Elder Abuse, Health & Wellness, Justice, Physical Health, Policy and Advocacy Issues, Services and Advocacy for LGBT Elders (SAGE), Social Influencers of Health, Social Isolation

By Michael Adams. This article originally appeared in the Advocate.com As LGBTQ+ people and our allies continue to celebrate Pride throughout the summer, we have been pummeled with an avalanche of laws passed in more than 20 states targeting LGBTQ+ youth, their…

In Fond Memory of David Kim

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

With heavy hearts, we at the Diverse Elders Coalition (DEC) remember and honor the late David L. Kim, President and CEO of one of our six Member organizations, the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging. David fought for language access and equitable, culturally…

Reflections from the pews: Navigating faith, heritage, and cultural loss

Advancing Equity, Community Supports, Cultural & Linguistic Adaptation, Cultural Adaptation, Diverse Communities, Diverse Elders Coalition Stories, History, Individual Stories, POC Communities, Policy and Advocacy Issues, Public Policy, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)

By Phun H. This article originally appeared on SEARAC’s blog. My older sister and I stand at the entrance to the sanctuary, the harmonious singing of the congregation beckoning us in. Sun scans the backs of heads for mom while I pull and tug at my skirt to ensure it…

Finding home through community

Advancing Equity, Diverse Communities, Diverse Elders Coalition Stories, Individual Stories, POC Communities, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)

By Lisa Le. This article originally appeared on SEARAC’s blog. The season of Tết, the Vietnamese New Year, is my favorite time of the year. For me, Tết encapsulates not only the weeks of preparation leading up to the days (or even weeks!) of celebration, it embraces…

Dual identity

Advancing Equity, Aging with Dignity, Community Supports, Cultural & Linguistic Adaptation, History, Individual Stories, Language Access, POC Communities, Policy and Advocacy Issues, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)

By Katrina Dizon Mariategue. This article originally appeared on SEARAC’s blog. As we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May, I reflect deeply on what it means to be both Asian and American. I identify as 1.5 generation immigrant from the Philippines….

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!