Advocacy
Oregon Geriatrics Health & Public Policy Committee
Welcome from OGS Health &
Public Policy Committee
Hello and welcome to the Oregon Geriatrics Society Advocacy page.
Oregon Geriatrics Society is a grassroots organization that advocates for policies and systems that support healthy aging and high-quality, age-friendly care for all older Oregonians.
We bring the expertise of geriatrics clinicians to the forefront of state and local decision-making, championing a strong, well-supported workforce and equitable access to care across communities.
Through collaboration, education, and thoughtful policy engagement, we work to ensure that the voices and needs of older adults—and those who care for them—are reflected in Oregon’s health care landscape.
We will be providing regular updates during legislative sessions about policy impacting older adults in the state and provide our community with opportunities to engage and advocate.
This Advocacy section on the website will also host updates regarding health & public policy events from community partners that also work to advocate for the health and wellbeing of aging Oregonians and their care teams.
Thank you for all that you do for our aging population!
Please feel free to reach out to OGS Executive Director, Mary Olhausen, with questions, comments, or additional resources for advocating for older adults. We’ll also list your Advocacy Events: omary52@comcast.net
~Oregon Geriatrics Society – Health & Public Policy Committee
Advocacy Resources
→ Legislator Look-Up
→ Bill Tracker
→ Send a Letter to Your Legislator – Sample
→ Advocacy vs. Lobbying Resources
→ Advocacy Partner Resources
→ OGS – Health & Public Policy Reports – Coming Soon
→ Advocacy Events – Coming Soon
Legislator Lookup
Discover Your District and Who Represents You.
Enter your complete address: Go. (Example: 900 Court St NE, Salem, OR 97301).
Bill Tracker
Oregon State Legislature
- Senate. House. Bills & Laws.
- Committees. Get Involved.
- Capitol Offices. News.
- Bills & Committees. Visit Capitol.
- Watch Capitol Meetings. Bills & Votes.
- Legislative Dates.
Legislative Tracking Resource
Create an account for free, use it to search bills and track their progress. Also can sync legislative dates to your calendar.
Send a Letter to Your Legislator
Dear Chair [Last Name], Vice-Chair [Last Name], and Members of the Committee,
My name is [Your Full Name], and I am a [your role—e.g., geriatrician, nurse practitioner, social worker, family caregiver, or concerned resident] from [City], Oregon. I am writing to provide testimony in support of strengthening policies and funding that improve access to high-quality care older adults across our state.
I respectfully urge the Oregon State Legislature to support [Bill number].
[Enter your personal experience and how supporting the bill will positively impact the care of aging Oregonians].
Our older adults built our communities, raised families, and contributed to Oregon’s economic vitality. They deserve a system of care that reflects their value and meets their evolving needs. I respectfully ask you to champion policies that ensure aging in Oregon is supported, equitable, and person-centered.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I appreciate your leadership and commitment to the health and well-being of all Oregonians.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Credentials, if applicable]
[Your Organization, if applicable]
[Your Address or City, Oregon]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]
Advocacy vs. Lobbying Resources
Nonprofits – 501’s: C3 & C6
Document Link – Describes nuances between nonprofit 501c3 and 501c6.
Advocacy vs. Lobbying
What this means for you and your regional organization.
Nonprofit Association of Oregon
Advocacy Cheat Sheet For Nonprofits. Resources for Nonprofits.
Advocacy Partner Resources
AARP
www.aarp.org/advocacy/
Advocacy. Government Watch. Vote-How To. Regulatory Updates.
AGE +
www.ageplus.org
Advocacy. Build Framework For Oregon’s Multi-Sector Plan For Aging. Convene Aligned Organizations And Community Champions.
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION OREGON & SW WASHINGTON (ALZ)
www.alz.org/orswwa/advocacy
Advocacy. Public Policies. Advocate Volunteering. Contact Congress. Advocacy Day.
Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) Advocacy Affiliate.
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FAMILY PRACTICE (AAFP)
www.aafp.org
Advocacy. Legislative & Regulatory Progress. AAFP Voices. Fighting For Family Medicine Podcast.
Toolkits. Family Medicine Action Network. Primary Care Caucus. Advocacy Ambassadors.
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATES (AAPA)
www.aapa.org
Advocacy Central. Contacts. Action Center. Issues Briefs. PA Practice Modernization.
AMERICAN ASSISTED LIVING NURSES ASSOCIATION (AALNA)
www.alnursing.org
Advocacy. Legislative Updates.
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS (ACP)
www.acponline.org
Advocacy Priorities/News. Where We Stand. Policy Library. State Health Policy.
Legislative Action Center. Current Public Policy Papers. Advocate Newsletter. Leadership Day.
AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY (AGS)
www.americangeriatrics.org
AGS Advocacy Center: www.votervoice.net/AGS/home
Find your elected officials. Active advocacy campaigns. Subscribe To Action Alerts.
AGS Where We Stand: www.americangeriatrics.org/where-we-stand/questions-elected-officials-and-candidates
AGS Healthcare Reform: www.americangeriatgrics.org/where-we-stand/healthcare-reform
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION (AHCA)
www.ahcancal.org/advocacy/pages/default.aspx
Advocacy. Advocate Action Center. Key Legislation Briefings. Bill Tracker. Policy Roadmap. Toolkit.
Guide To Political Action & Grassroots Lobbying. How To Guide-Facility Tour For Elected Officials.
AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION (AHA)
www.aha.org
Advocacy. Action Alerts. Issues. We Care-We Vote. Letters To Legislators. Action Center.
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (AMA)
www.ama.assn.org/health-care-advocacy
Advocacy. Key Health Care Issues. AMA Advocacy Impact Report. National Advocacy Update.
AMERICAN SOCIETY ON AGING (ASA)
www.asaging.org
Advocacy. LeverAGE Podcast. Toolkits. Resources. Initiatives With Partners. Hill Day.
GERONTOLOGICAL ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES ASSOCIATION (GAPNA)
www.gapna.org
Advocacy. Health Affairs Committee. Health Policy Toolkit. Legislation Tracker.
Nursing Community Coalition.
GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (GSA)
www.geron.org
Advocacy. Federal Policy Updates. Advocacy Toolkit. Policy Initiatives. Public Policy Institute.
Policy Publications.
LEADING AGE OREGON
www.leadingageoregon.org/grassroots
Advocacy. Grassroots Connector. Advocating Policy Change. Legislation & Regulatory Updates.
Tools. Sample Letters.
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING (NCOA)
www.ncoa.org
Advocate. Public & Social Policy. Advocacy Basics As A Nonprofit. Policy Initiatives.
NURSE PRACTITIONERS OF OREGON (NPO)
www.nursepractitionersoforegon.org
Advocacy & Legislation News. Health Policy Committee. Cabinet On Health Policy.
OREGON ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS (OAFP)
www.oafp.org
Advocacy. Legislative Updates. Advocacy 101. Lobbying Basics. Lobby Day. Resources.
OREGON CHAPTER AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS (Oregon-ACP)
www.oregonacp.org
Legislative Updates. Advocacy Day. Advocates For Internal Medicine Network (AIM).
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
OFFICE OF AGING & PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (APD)
www.oregon.gov/odhs/rules-policy/Pages/apd-rules.aspx
Advocacy. Legislative Activity Updates Meetings. Rules Advisory Committee. Rulemaking Notices.
Permanent Rulemaking. Rule History. APD Community Engagement Webpage.
OREGON GERIATRICS SOCIETY (OGS)
www.oregongeriatriacssociety.org
Advocacy. Health/Public Policy Update At Annual Conference. Reports To Members.
Advocacy Day Participation. Health & Public Policy Lunch Table Topics At Annual Conference.
Partner With Oregon Medical Association & Other Medical Specialty Societies On Policy.
OREGON GERONTOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (OGA)
www.oregongero.com
Advocacy. Policy Committee. Legislative Updates. Resources/Articles.
OREGON HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION (OHCA)
www.ohca.org
Advocacy. Legislative Updates/Alert. Member Action Center.
OREGON HEALTH FORUM (OHF)
www.oregonhealthforum.org
Advocacy. Legislative Preview Reports. Events.
OREGON MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (OMA)
www.theoma.org
Advocacy. Legislative Updates. Government Relations Team. Legislative Committee. Advocacy Day.
OREGON NURSES ASSOCIATION (ONA)
www.oregonrn.org
Advocacy. Government Relations Team. Legislative Session Reports. Guide To Legislative Advocacy.
OREGON RURAL HEALTH (ORH)
www.ohsu.edu
Advocacy. Policy Updates Meetings.
OREGON SOCIETY OF PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATES (OSPA)
www.oregonpa.org
Advocacy. Legislative Updates.
OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS OF OREGON (OPSO)
www.opso.org
Advocacy. Legislative Updates. File Library. Advocacy Publications.
POST-ACUTE & LONG-TERM MEDICINE (PALTmed)
www.paltmed.org
Advocacy. Current Issues. Business of Medicine. Resources. Policy Finder. Position Statements.
Public Policy Priorities. Advocacy Summit. Public Policy Committee.
THE LUND REPORT
www.thelundreport.org
Independent Health News About Legislative Issues/Policies.
We Want to Hear From You
Suite 9, Box 148
Vancouver, WA 98661
503-880-7383 (office)
omary52@comcast.net
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