Congress must protect funding for medical research benefiting aging Pennsylvanians

By Chris Sciamanna

When older adults lose their ability to walk, it’s a drain on their lives. It’s also a drain on taxpayers.

That’s because Medicaid, the joint federal-state health care program for people with low incomes, pays the lion’s share of the bill for nearly two-thirds of nursing home residents nationwide. And lack of mobility — being unable to walk or climb stairs — is one reason many people move into nursing homes.

If we can help our rapidly aging population remain mobile, we not only will improve their lives, we will reduce the burden on taxpayers, especially in states like Pennsylvania that devote a high percentage of their budgets to Medicaid.

There is no magic pill. The key to mobility is exercise. But how much? How often? And how can we get older adults, especial