The Partnership for Sepsis and Aging Launches to Combat Sepsis Among Older Adults
March 6, 2025
Sepsis is a disproportionate threat to older adults, with more than 70% of cases occurring in individuals aged 60 or older. The Partnership for Sepsis and Aging (TPSA) has been established to address this critical public health issue. Sepsis, the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection, can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. It takes more lives than cancer globally, impacting 1.7 million individuals and families in the U.S. each year.
Sepsis Alliance, along with The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA), the Association on Aging, the Home Care Association of New York State, and EndSepsis, launched TPSA with a commitment to sharing resources across stakeholders, encouraging collaboration, and striving to discover and fill gaps in education and care for older adults.
“The Partnership for Sepsis and Aging welcomes any organization nationwide that reaches older adults and families,” said Greg Olsen, TPSA Chair and NYSOFA Director. “The message is simple: sepsis is a little-understood medical emergency that takes the life of a person in the U.S. every 90 seconds, but it’s also usually preventable, and that’s where progress can be made in saving lives. TPSA is ready to arm organizations with easy-to-use resources to help people take action and protect themselves or a loved one.”
Adults aged 65 and older are 13 times more likely to be hospitalized with sepsis than those younger than 65. Older sepsis survivors experience an average of 1 to 2 new limitations on activities of daily living after hospitalization and are three times as likely to suffer moderate to severe cognitive impairment. Additionally, nursing home residents are over six times more likely to present with sepsis in the emergency department.
TPSA’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of the nation’s older adults by enhancing sepsis awareness, prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. TPSA is free to join and seeks to equip local aging organizations and networks with educational materials and the necessary point-of-service tools for maximizing sepsis prevention, screening, and early identification.
“Our vision is a nation in which older adults are sepsis-aware, and their caregivers and government agencies are trained and responsive to their community’s risk of sepsis,” said Thomas Heymann, Sepsis Alliance President and CEO. “Sepsis Alliance was eager to convene a group of strong, excited organizations ready to tackle the lack of resources, and we are thrilled with the group that has formed. We are committed to saving lives and improving the health of our nation’s older adults.”
Program activities will include regular meetings of TPSA community members, disseminating public and healthcare professional education materials, developing a resource hub, and establishing Quality Improvement programs in care settings across the nation.
TPSA will address matters important to the health of older adults, ensuring that every aging services organization is prepared to combat this major public health problem. Together, we can save lives and improve the health of our nation’s older adults.
