Healthy Aging Program

The dramatic aging of our society is unprecedented in human history, presenting increasing demands upon an already costly and fragmented healthcare system. According to The State of Aging and Health in America 2007, by 2030, the nation’s health care spending is projected to increase by 25% due to demographic shifts unless improving and preserving the health of older adults is more actively addressed. Economic considerations aside, all too many aging Americans are challenged with multiple chronic diseases and functional limitations that increase with age, adversely affecting the quality of life for individuals, their families and caregivers. Given the growing evidence that prevention and health promotion and chronic care management can positively affect key health outcomes even among the oldest old, the aging services and public health services networks and their partners must intensify efforts to design and deliver effective interventions and increase efforts to study areas where knowledge is inadequate to inform practice and policy.

The Healthy Aging Program includes basic and applied research, program evaluation, evidence-based policy and program development, and educational and infrastructure development projects addressing the continuum of health from health promotion and disease prevention to chronic care. Projects are conducted at the local, state and national level and are guided by numerous theoretical and conceptual frameworks including, but not limited to, the socio-ecological model, motivational and behavior change theories, community based participatory research principles, and the RE-AIM framework.

Current Projects

Statewide and National

CDC Healthy Aging Research Network

NC Healthy Aging Coalition

NC Falls Prevention Coalition

NC Healthy Aging Roadmap

NCOA Consultation

Texas A&M Consultation

Research

Arthritis Foundation Walk with Ease

REACH II Program Evaluation

 

Scientists

Mary Altpeter, Program Lead

Becky Hunter, Investigator, Healthy Aging Network

Mary H. Palmer, Program Co-Lead

Ellen Schneider, Scientist

 

Pre and Post Doctoral Fellows

Chivon Mingo, CPHAR Postdoctoral Fellow

Tiffany Washington, CPHAR Predoctoral Fellow