Support of older persons across our state requires a network composed of partnerships at every level. The quantity and quality of services available are an indication of priorities at the national, state, and local level, and we thank the statewide community for prioritizing resources in a way that makes these services possible. Aging services would not be as comprehensive or effective without our partnership.

In 2001, the Arizona Legislature created the Interagency Council on Long Term Care. The purpose of the Council was "to help the state achieve a coordinated long term care services delivery system." Additionally, the Council was required to "define this state's long term care obligations by coordinating applicable state and federal mandates that relate to long term care services." After ten years in operation, the Council has met its intended goals and sunsets on June 30, 2011. The final report provides a brief background and highlights the major activities of the Council.

Aging affects all dimensions of our society, but none so much as health care. Thus, St. Luke’s Health Initiatives (SLHI) decided to dedicate part of its Arizona Health Futures program to exploring Arizona’s capacity to meet the health care demands of an aging population. SLHI asked the Arizona State University School of Public Affairs and Morrison Institute for Public Policy to collaborate on The Coming of Age to inform Arizona’s policy leaders and residents about these critical issues. The Coming of Age engaged demographers, economists, public policy analysts, human service and medical professionals and citizens. Through its research, the team developed a realistic picture of Arizona’s "capacity to care" for an elder population. The results of the research are presented in The Coming of Age: Aging, Health and Arizona’s Capacity to Care.