CNBC highlighted research by Jennifer Ailshire of the USC Leonard Davis School and colleagues about the negative effects on retirement savings when parents take on student loan debt for their children. “This debt crisis is not just about students, it’s about parents as well; it paints a dismal picture and we’re only at the beginning of this trend,” Ailshire said.
In this essay, Paul Irving, chairman of the Center for the Future of Aging at the Milken Institute and distinguished scholar in residence at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology says it’s time to abandon outdated stereotypes about older adults and embrace the potential of this massive, underutilized human resource.
Irving, one of Next Ave’s 50 Influencer’s in Aging, describes a newly published report by the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging, The Power of Purposeful Aging: Culture Change and the New Demography, which he says brings to light what science has demonstrated: Aging with purpose can provide a remarkable antidote to physical and mental decline.
“By modernizing policies and practices, by changing hearts and minds, we can fight negative age bias and tap the talents of older adults to serve young people and build a better future,” he says.
An article on the economic opportunities that come with longer life spans also stressed the importance of addressing longevity-related financial challenges. Written by Andy Seig, managing director and head of global wealth & retirement solutions at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the story noted that Bank of America Merrill Lynch offers longevity training to all Merrill Lynch financial advisers and to the benefits and HR professionals of their corporate clients. Sieg was named one of Next Avenue’s 50 Influencers in Aging in 2016, which notes that this training program was developed with the USC Leonard Davis School to bring greater awareness of the changing needs of America’s aging population.
“With consumer power, longer working lives, longer retirements and more time and resources to give back to their communities, older consumers command serious influence. If we work together — individuals, companies and the government — the U.S. can act as a global leader in harnessing and demonstrating the true value of our aging population,” said Seig.
Next Avenue spoke to USC Leonard Davis School Professor Elizabeth Zelinski about the pros and cons of robotic pets for older adults, especially individuals with memory problems.
From the article:
Zelinski believes that for the older adult to have a therapeutic benefit, stimulation from the pet who provides some novelty is helpful. But just having pets may not always be enough. The ability to have the pet spur conversation and interaction with others is a component of what some studies believe is most valuable to the individual.
“Supplementing pet interactions — whether real or robotic — with human interaction is also important,” Zelinski said.
The New York Times referenced a study by Valter Longo showing negative effects from eating too much protein, including an increased risk of death from cancer.
NBC News featured research by Cleopatra Abdou of the USC Leonard Davis School finding negative stereotypes of black Americans and other minorities are directly linked to negative health outcomes among marginalized groups. “My goal is to transform the way that healthcare is delivered and the way that patients and providers interact with each other in healthcare settings. This is cultural competency redefined,” Abdou said. Louisiana Weekly also highlighted the research.
The Wall Street Journal published a column by USC Leonard Davis Distinguished Scholar in Residence Paul Irving on how driverless cars could be beneficial for older adults’ independence.
KPCC’s Off-Ramp quoted research from the Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center, a part of the USC Leonard Davis School’s Family Caregiver Support Center, and interviewed one of the center’s clients for a story on caregiving during the holidays.
The Chicago Tribune spoke with Professor Jon Pynoos about preventing falls with changes in the home and exercise to improve balance.
The Associated Press, USA Today, the New York Times, and others reported on a JAMA study highlighting a decline in American dementia rates. University Professor and AARP Professor of Gerontology Eileen Crimmins collaborated with University of Michigan colleagues on the study.