In This Newsletter
Milken Institute Signature Events
Senior Housing and Care Spotlight
Updates from the Alliance to Improve Dementia Care
Thought Leadership Highlights
From Our Advisory Board
Milken Institute Signature Events
2023 Future of Health Summit: Better Health for More People
The 2023 Milken Institute Future of Health Summit brought together hundreds of leaders from across the public, nonprofit, private, and philanthropic sectors to discuss biomedical research, public health, chronic disease, health equity, global health, and other pressing health issues. Learn about the top 12 trends, ideas, and solutions discussed at the summit in this brief, plus watch (or rewatch) any of the public sessions.
The Future of Aging team convened five panels at the event, detailed below.
Mending the Social Fabric of Our Nation: The Loneliness Epidemic among Older Adults
In an increasingly isolated world where 60–65 percent of our population describes themselves as lonely, bringing people together benefits not only social cohesion but also our health. Experts discussed the importance of addressing this epidemic, especially as it relates to older adults, the impact on health outcomes, ways to engage people and communities, and opportunities to bring forth solutions, such as intergenerational solutions and programs, on a wide scale.
Left to right: Susan Pinker, The Wall Street Journal; Jean Accius, Creating Healthier Communities; Ron Goldman, Wisdo; Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Brigham Young University; and Jeremy Nobel, Harvard Medical School
Reimagining Senior Housing and Integrated Care
As the baby boom generation ages, it has become increasingly urgent to expand affordable housing and integrated care options for our nation’s diverse older adult population. Experts highlighted the challenges and opportunities associated with the current landscape of senior housing and care, the integration of health and home, and the need for innovation in senior housing design, investment, and operational models.
Left to right: Caitlin MacLean, Milken Institute; Lynne Katzmann, Juniper Communities; Bob Kramer, NIC; Nirav Shah, Stanford University; Elizabeth White, NUUage Coliving
Advancing Whole-Person Health: Breaking Down Silos in Chronic Disease Prevention
Approaches to chronic disease prevention in the United States are often siloed, even though six in 10 Americans live with a chronic condition and four in 10 live with at least two. Experts discussed the intersections of cognitive and physical diseases, risk factors, and innovative approaches to address structural determinants of health and promote whole-person health over the life course. Read more about the conversation covered by STAT News.
Left to right: Isabella Cueto, STAT News; Kristen Clifford, Alzheimer’s Association; Joseph Dill, Delta Dental; Karen Hacker, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Anand Parekh, Bipartisan Policy Center; and Maha Radhakrishnan, Biogen
Federal Brain Boost: Advancements and Next Steps in Dementia Care
It's expected that by 2050, more than 13 million people over age 65 will be living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Experts discussed the progress made in the genetic understanding of ADRD, prevention strategies, dementia care policies, innovative models of dementia care, and the discovery of novel drug therapies.
Left to right: Diane Ty, Milken Institute; Amy Kelley, National Institutes of Health; Helen Lamont, US Department of Health and Human Services; Joanne Pike, Alzheimer’s Association; and Elizabeth Fowler, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
A Conversation with US Senator Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
Speaking to Ty, Senator Klobuchar discussed her personal experience with her father who passed away in 2021 with Alzheimer’s disease, and how it inspired her to support Alzheimer’s research and caregivers. She also discussed the bipartisan work being done in the Senate to continue funding medical research through appropriations bills and her hope that funding will continue to increase.
Left to right: Ty, Milken Institute, and Amy Klobuchar, Senator from Minnesota
Future of Aging Advisory Board and Dementia Alliance Breakfast Meeting
The Future of Aging Advisory Board brings together influential leaders in a premier forum to accelerate innovation in aging, scale promising solutions, and champion individual, institutional, and societal preparedness for longer life spans. Our Alliance to Improve Dementia Care aims to transform and improve the complex health- and long-term-care systems that people at risk for and living with dementia must navigate. Bringing together representatives from both groups, we spotlighted “A New Era in Brain Health” to explore opportunities for investment and innovation that go beyond disease and treatment-focused efforts. The meeting featured opening remarks from Milken Institute Chairman Michael Milken and a fireside conversation on the aging policy landscape with Lizzy Letter, staff director for the US Senate Special Committee on Aging. Remarks were followed by a roundtable discussion with Christian Jung, partner at Dementia Discovery Fund; Kelly O’Brien, vice president of prevention at UsAgainstAlzheimer’s; and Cynthia Hutchins, director of financial gerontology, retirement research, and insights at Bank of America on using brain health as a lever to build cognitive, economic, and social resilience.
Opening remarks were provided by Michael Milken, chairman of the Milken Institute (center).
Future of Aging Advisory Board and Alliance to Improve Dementia Care members.
Unforgettable Movie Screening
The Future of Aging team, AARP, BrightFocus Foundation, and Hilarity for Charity were pleased to host a “sneak preview” of a forthcoming documentary, Unforgettable, at the AARP office in Washington, DC, on November 7 during the Future of Health Summit.
Unforgettable, produced by PCH Films and directed by James Keach, features the story of Lauren Miller Rogen and Seth Rogen’s courtship and marriage as their families faced the complexities and heartbreak of Lauren’s mother’s advancing early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Through intimate interviews with the Miller and Rogen families and supporting footage of their entertainment industry friends and colleagues, Unforgettable sheds warmth and light on Alzheimer’s through storytelling, celebrity comedy, medical insights, and abiding love. By sharing their story, Lauren, Seth, and their families turn grief into action and let the millions caring for loved ones with the disease know that they are not alone.
Left to right: Organizers included Alliance to Improve Dementia Steering Committee members Bonnie Wattles, Hilarity for Charity; Sarah Lenz Lock, AARP; and Nancy Lynn, BrightFocus Foundation
Left to right: The Milken Institute Future of Aging team at the event included Lauren Dunning, Raj Ahuja, Diane Ty, Isabelle Shinsato, Mac McDermott, Avery Wallace, and Priyanka Shah
The Power of Ideas
Ahead of the Future of Health Summit, select speakers wrote for the Institute’s Power of Ideas series to share how they are confronting the most significant issues affecting medical research, preventive care, and public health.
Take a ‘Social in All Policy’ Approach to Bring Better Health to More People
Julianne Holt-Lunstad, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University, writes about social connection as a major contributor to individual and population health. She focuses on moving beyond crisis mode to creating sustained efforts that ensure individuals and communities thrive.
Creativity and the Arts: A Not-So-New Way to Address Loneliness
Jeremy Nobel, founder and president of the Foundation for Art and Healing, writes about the power of creative expression as a broad-based, scalable public health opportunity to address the loneliness crisis in the US. About one in three of us is lonely. Health-care leaders need to take note. In achieving the elusive “Triple Aim” of health care: improved care outcomes, lower per capita costs, and outstanding patient experiences, addressing loneliness offers a compelling opportunity.
Advancing Better Health through Oral Health
Joseph Dill, chief dental officer at Delta Dental, writes about the link between oral health and overall health. We are all familiar with the everyday activities that can advance our health, such as eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, and exercising regularly. However, activities such as brushing and flossing regularly and seeing the dentist routinely can positively impact many systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes.
2023 Middle East and Africa Summit
The Future of Aging team convened a panel at the Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit, “Longevity Cities: Creating Optimal Environments for Healthy Aging,” which explored how external factors like air pollution, green spaces, diet, and workspaces interact and influence our aging processes. Experts discussed how “longevity cities” aim to optimize the external environment, reducing cumulative negative environmental exposures to enhance overall health and improve later-life outcomes. Learn more about how these cities can improve planetary health and drive economic growth in an article for Forbes written by panelist Tina Woods.
Left to right: Sergey Young, Longevity Vision Fund; Jim Mellon, Juvenescence; Tina Woods, Collider Health and National Innovation Centre for Ageing; Rrajat Pradip Handa, Descrptive Solution Pvt Ltd; and Rajiv Ahuja, Milken Institute
After moderating a panel at the Milken Institute Asia Summit titled “Supporting a Caring Economy: Technology and Innovation across the Asia Pacific Region,” Ty wrote an essay for LinkedIn highlighting the actions Singapore has taken to support intergenerational solutions to population aging and family caregiving. The essay encompasses the innovative policies setting Singapore apart from the rest of the Asia Pacific region and how the US can benefit from implementing similar strategies.
Senior Housing and Care Spotlight
New Report
On January 9, the Milken Institute’s Future of Aging and Innovative Finance teams were proud to publish a report, Innovative Financing and Care Models to Scale Affordable Housing Solutions for Middle-Income Older Adults. While the senior housing sector has evolved in recent years, a notable gap exists for the “Forgotten Middle”—individuals with incomes above subsidy thresholds but lacking sufficient financial resources for necessary housing and care. The report explores this growing issue and proposes consensus-based solutions built through our Financial Innovations Lab process. Authors included Future of Aging’s Dunning and Wallace and Innovative Finance’s Ashley Campany, senior associate, and Ivy Hsu, senior associate.
Read more about the proposed solutions from the report and the opportunities for addressing the unmet needs and wants of older adults with quotes from report author Lauren Dunning in McKnights Senior Living. Also, learn how the report has contributed solutions to the ways in which the senior living sector can overcome middle-market paralysis by Senior Housing News.
New Aging Innovation Collaborative
During the opening plenary of the Future of Health Summit, Esther Krofah, executive vice president of health at the Milken Institute, announced the launch of the Aging Innovation Collaborative (AIC), a new program led by the Future of Aging team and supported by NIC. The collaborative will engage experts to develop bold models at the convergence of housing, health care, and community to meet the needs of a growing US population of older adults. Details of the AIC’s program offerings will be previewed in the coming months. Read more on this exciting announcement from McKnights Senior Living and Seniors Housing Business.
Esther Krofah, Milken Institute, announced the new program alongside Ray Braun, NIC; Bob Kramer, NIC; Susan Barlow, Blue Moon Capital Partners and NIC Board of Directors; and Diane Ty, Milken Institute
Updates from the Alliance to Improve Dementia Care
In a Health Affairs Forefront article, Future of Aging’s Ahuja and Ty discussed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ groundbreaking GUIDE Model, which takes a comprehensive and person-centered approach to dementia care. The model mirrors several recommendations detailed in reports by our Alliance to Improve Dementia Care. These reports address payment incentives, equity considerations, workforce development, access to care, and early detection and diagnosis.
Senior Associate Mac McDermott was featured on the Dementia Careblazers YouTube channel in October to discuss the crucial role of dementia care navigators, the new GUIDE Model, and the steps we can all take to destigmatize dementia and create a more caregiver-friendly world.
Ty was interviewed for the GeriPal podcast alongside Alliance member Malaz Boustani, chief innovation and implementation officer at the Center for Health Innovation and Implementation Science at Indiana University. They spotlighted the new GUIDE model and the importance of our collective approach to improving dementia care.
At the GSA 2023 Conference in November, Ty moderated a panel, “Kickstarting Brain Health Conversations with Diverse Older Adults: Challenges and Opportunities,” which focused on the unique needs of people living with intellectual disabilities, from the LGBTQA+ community, and from communities of color. Ty was also a discussant for a symposium at the conference, “A Public Health Approach to Brain Health: The HBI Road Map Series,” which focused on the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) and the longstanding collaboration between the Alzheimer’s Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ty and Ahuja were featured on an episode of the Dementia Researcher podcast hosted by Annalise Rahman-Filipiak. The conversation focused on our Guiding the Care Journey: Building Dementia Workforce and System Capacity through Care Navigation report and the emphasis on the pivotal role of care navigators.
Thought Leadership Highlights
Ty was featured in the Capital Caring Health 2022 Annual Report in a Q&A section highlighting innovations in dementia treatment and end-of-life care. Read her interview on page four of the report.
In October, Ty presented at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Coalition for Equity and Opportunity and TIAA Institute Health Care and Financial Wellness for All Roundtable, which convened a small group of experts to address health and finance inequities, their determinants, and practical solutions to mitigate their adverse effects. Read their top four recommendations for increasing equity in health and financial wellness.
Ty was also invited to speak at the TIAA Institute Fellows Symposium and 25th Anniversary Celebration in New York City under the theme Higher Education: Opportunities for Impact. Ty spoke alongside Bret Hester, general counsel, strategy, policy, and operations of TIAA, in a fireside chat hosted by Surya Kolluri, head of TIAA Institute, on improving longevity and retirement and how the two are deeply intertwined.
Ahuja spoke at the Wharton Neurosciences Summit on a panel titled “Investing in Older Adults to Build Brain Capital.” Moderated by Jason Karlawish, professor of medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine, and co-presented with Kelly O’Brien, vice president of prevention at UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, Ahuja talked about economic opportunities to elevate brain health.
Dunning spoke at UCLA Law’s conference “The Future of Human Rights and Justice-Centered Ethics in Epidemic Response," moderating a panel titled “Legal and Governance Mechanisms: From Local to Global.” The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted older adults, and Dunning elevated the need for better preparation and tailored solutions in future responses.
Future of Aging Senior Advisor Paul Irving was featured on the Curiosity Invited podcast with David Bryan to discuss factors that lead to healthy longevity, characteristics of blue zone cities, the importance of social connections and intergenerational relationships, social determinants of health, and more.
Irving spoke at the 2023 Century Summit with Julia Gordan from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for a panel titled “The Role of Housing in Healthy Communities: The Federal Perspective.” The conversation centered around the affordable housing crisis in the US and federal policies and incentives to provide solutions.
Ty attended the Global Healthspan Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, hosted by the Hevolution Foundation, which brought together key stakeholders in the global longevity space to facilitate action-based conversations and drive impact around research, entrepreneurship, investment, and international collaboration. Ty was a speaker on a panel, “Navigating Time—Healthspan’s Impact on Public Perception, Consumption Patterns and Aging Societies.” Panelists reviewed public attitudes on health span and aging, highlighting the importance of fostering a “longevity mindset.” Watch a clip of the panel below.
Ty also spoke to Al Arabiya English at the summit, cautioning that the burden of Alzheimer’s disease is likely to fall on women as the predominant family caregivers in the coming decades.
In January, Ahuja spoke at the Longevity Investors Lunch on “Unlocking the Secrets to Brain Longevity” as part of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The conversation centered around brain health, aging, and economic prosperity. Ahuja also participated in a private roundtable on Cities of Purpose organized by Bloomberg.
Ahuja (middle) speaking at the Longevity Investors Lunch.
Ty spoke at “Shaping a Social Isolation Strategy for Older Adults,” a summit co-hosted by The John A. Hartford Foundation and the New York Academy of Medicine in New York City. The event brought together experts to share evidence of effective interventions in health care and community settings and ways to accelerate needed change.
From Our Advisory Board
Alice Bonner, senior advisor for aging at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and chair of the Moving Forward Nursing Home Quality Coalition, co-authored an article for McKnights Senior Living highlighting the steps needed to improve nursing home quality.
The Stanford Center on Longevity, directed by Laura Carstensen, partnered with Estee Lauder to form a longevity expert collective and fund a new research program.
Angelique Chan, executive director of the Centre for Ageing Research and Education (Care) at Duke-NUS Medical School, spoke to the Strait Times to highlight a new nationwide study conducted by Care to gauge the impact of policies and programs aimed at supporting older people and their caregivers and families.
Pinchas Cohen, dean of the University of Southern California (USC) Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, highlighted a new report from USC, which advances scientists’ understanding of the risk factors for Parkinson’s disease and new directions for exploring potential treatments.
Catherine Collinson, CEO and president of Transamerica Institute, spoke to Newsweek about Americans’ deep-seated anxieties for the future of the Social Security program.
Joseph Coughlin, founder and director at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab, spoke to Yahoo! Finance regarding a new report from the AgeLab and the Transamerica Institute, which focuses on how planning for our financial well-being must include planning for increased longevity.
Ken Dychtwald, founder and CEO of AgeWave, was a guest on the Grey Matter podcast with Michael Krasny to discuss the upsides of aging and aging gracefully.
Ruth Finkelstein, executive director of the Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging at Hunter College, co-authored a New York Times letter to the editor regarding the article “Living Out the Twilight Years in Prison” (Opinion, October 22), by Joseph Rodriguez and Carmilla Floyd, about older prisoners in California.
Linda Fried, dean of the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, gave opening remarks at the 100-year celebration of the school’s legacy and impact shaping the study and practice of public health.
Scott Frisch, executive vice president and chief operating officer of AARP, spoke at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ 90th anniversary to highlight the role retail pharmacies play in the lives of the 48 million family caregivers in the US.
Terry Fulmer, president of the John A. Hartford Foundation, was honored by the New York Academy of Medicine at its 2023 Gala: Together for Health Equity. Fulmer received the 2023 Healthcare Legacy Award for her work to improve the well-being of older communities in New York City, the nation, and the world.
Teresa Ghilarducci, director of the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis at the New School, co-authored an article for The Progressive magazine highlighting the challenges faced by the nearly 40 percent of middle-class older workers who will likely be pushed into or near poverty when they reach retirement age.
Lynn Goldman, dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University, was endowed with a public health professorship in her name from Michael and Lori Milken.
Jennie Chin Hansen, independent consultant to Hirsch Philanthropic Advisors, was appointed to the HelpAge USA Board of Directors in October, bringing her extensive expertise, commitment, and knowledge of improving the lives of older adults to the organization.
Michael Hodin, CEO of the Global Coalition on Aging, co-authored an article for the Harvard Business Review outlining best practices for engaging a multigenerational workforce and creating an age-inclusive culture.
Cinny Kennard, executive director of the Annenberg Foundation, hosted the 2023 Summit for Women Leaders in Philanthropy in California to bring together 22 women leaders in philanthropy to exchange ideas and experiences and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Abby Levy, managing partner and co-founder of Primetime Partners, spoke about the longevity economy and the need for individuals to focus on healthy aging to Fortune Well.
Becca Levy, professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health, provided her expertise to the Washington Post, highlighting the positive aspects of aging and how the individual mindset on aging can directly impact longevity.
Sarita Mohanty, president and CEO of The SCAN Foundation, was a panelist at a National Press Foundation event, where she stressed the need for foundations to make bold, deliberate investments in strategies to address gaps in equity and access for caregivers and patients.
Jennifer Molinsky, project director of the Housing an Aging Society Program at the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS), was interviewed by NPR for a segment highlighting the growing crisis of senior housing and care affordability, outlined in a new report from JCHS.
Eunice Lin Nichols, co-CEO of CoGenerate, spoke to Vox about the importance of intergenerational relationships and the many benefits they can bring.
Hon Pak, head of digital health at Samsung, announced a new Galaxy wearable ring and also a feature in Samsung’s Health app that will allow users to track their medications, both prescription and over the counter.
Penny Pennington, managing partner at Edward Jones, was interviewed for TheStreet regarding her 40-year career and keys to success.
Andrew Scott, professor of economics at the London Business School, was featured on the McKinsey Global Institute’s Forward Thinking podcast to discuss the benefits increased longevity offers to economies, redefining retirement, and ways for people to live healthier lives for longer.
Nirav Shah, a new member of our Academic and Policy Council and senior scholar at Stanford University’s School of Medicine, provided his recommendation to the New York Times that Americans get vaccinated for RSV., influenza, and COVID-19 as the winter months elevate the risk for all three diseases.
Rodney Slater, partner at Squire Patton Boggs, was appointed as chairman to the Board of Trustees for Mitre, a private, nonprofit company that provides engineering and technical guidance for the US Air Force.
The Eisner Foundation, led by CEO Trent Stamp, announced more than $1.4 million in grants to six Southern California-based organizations, demonstrating how intergenerational solutions have concrete impact.
Fernando Torres-Gil, professor of social welfare and public policy and director of Center for Policy Research on Aging at the University of California, Los Angeles, provided his expertise to the Courier Journal about how ageism and ableism factor into our perceptions of elected officials.
Kai Walker, head of retirement research and inclusion transformation at Bank of America, spoke to Yahoo! Finance regarding a recent Bank of America, which reveals that most employees (63 percent) believe that current economic uncertainty will affect their current and future workplace benefits and 401(k) retirement plans.