Allison Cook

Those of us who work in the field of aging have heard the data about the aging of our society a million times and in a million different ways. The number of older adults is growing. Over 11,000 Americans turn 65 each day. And we often rely on the nearly 48 million unpaid family caregivers to provide the care they need. While some can afford to hire paid care workers, we have a shortage due to the hard work and low pay of these jobs, with 8.9 million direct care job openings expected through 2032.

We know that, although our society has had plenty of time to plan for these demographic shifts, we have chosen to kick the can down the road again and again. Many of us have also heard about (and experienced) the economic impact of this under-investment in aging services. Family caregivers have had to spend their own money and may have to stop working (hurting their own long-term finances). Direct care workers are underpaid and undervalued, leading many to have to rely on public benefits themselves. And older adults are forced into more expensive nursing homes, limiting their options for how to live out their days as well as their economic contributions to society.

PHI, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data

Despite all the doom and gloom surrounding these statistics (the opportunities and benefits of having a growing number of older adults is a topic for another day), we know many dedicated professionals developing great innovations, conducting insightful research, and undertaking investigative reporting every day. It’s a huge task to stay up-to-date on all of the new developments. I’ve subscribed to countless newsletters, attended all sorts of conferences, and Zoomed into way too many webinars. Every time I dive into a different topic related to aging, I have to subscribe, attend, and Zoom to even more.

This is why I’m so excited about the launch of Aging in America News. It will provide news and insights for those who work in this field, and it will span the entire sector rather than focusing on a specialized corner.

Other sectors have similar outlets. Grist focuses on climate, Early Learning Nation focuses on children ages zero through five, and Civil Eats focuses on food and agriculture. With Aging in America News, we will finally have one place to learn about opportunities, innovations, challenges, insights, and developments in aging-related service delivery, public policy, philanthropy, advocacy, and more.

Given all the statistics we rehashed and the large number of people dedicated to working in this field, I only have one thing left to say – it’s about time!

Allison Cook is the founder of Better Aging and Policy Consulting. Read her “Ensuring More Sustainable and Affordable Long-Term Care in the US” (MIT CoLab).