Blog

The Administration for Community Living’s Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age Friendly Communities is developing a National Plan on Aging (NPA), a blueprint to guide and align federal policy and programmatic efforts to advance healthy aging opportunities for all older adults. The SCAN Foundation highlights best practices from states, for NPA development, to ensure the NPA supports and reflects the needs of Americans as they age.

We’re excited to announce that The SCAN Foundation President and CEO Dr. Sarita A. Mohanty was recently featured in The Boston Globe, where the article poses the question: “Is how we age a choice?” This thought-provoking piece explores how lifestyle, mindset, and proactive decision-making can shape the aging experience while acknowledging that not everyone has equal access to these opportunities.

In a recent article from Finextra, Dr. Sarita Mohanty, President and CEO of The SCAN Foundation, discusses the findings from a study by the Aspen Institute, which revealed that nearly half of adults aged 55 and above lack the emergency savings needed to weather financial shocks, leaving them vulnerable to debt and financial instability.

Centering power with our diverse community of older adults, particularly those among marginalized identities, is central to our mission at The SCAN Foundation. Crafting and amplifying stories across media and in languages that meet our

In a new article from ASA RISE, Rigo J. Saborio, MSG, VP of Programs, Equity and Community Impact at The SCAN Foundation, talks about his experiences as a minority professional navigating the field of gerontology, the

FIERCE HEALTH – AI is riddled by bias, especially in healthcare. Just one well-known example is a study from 2019 that revealed racial bias in a clinical algorithm used by hospitals showing that Black patients had to be significantly sicker than white patients to receive the same care. The bias stemmed from training data reflecting historical healthcare spending disparities between Black and white patients. READ FULL STORY

The SCAN Foundation is partnering with Dandelion Health to expand their evaluation of racial and gender bias to be inclusive of age-bias in clinical care algorithms. FORBES – While the Biden administration grapples with how to keep up with the fast-changing technology, Dandelion Health is trying to fill the void with a de-identified dataset for developers to build and test how their algorithms perform. READ FULL STORY

Older adults who continue to seek income often also seek flexibility, which makes non-traditional and gig-based employment an attractive option to these workers. AARP MEGATRENDS – The conventional narrative that individuals will retire at 65 is becoming obsolete. Older adults are one of the fastest growing groups in the labor force, and employers who are poised to take advantage of this expanding and experienced workforce with smart, innovative approaches to workforce development/training, benefit packages, and technology that provides flexibility and accessibility can address their own staffing shortages while supporting a more financially stable aging workforce. READ FULL STORY

Early-Stage Workforce Venture Fund Announces $15M First Close – “The SCAN Foundation is proud to participate in the first close of the JFFVentures Fund II, reflecting our unwavering commitment to fostering a world where all older adults can age well with purpose,” said Dr. Sarita A. Mohanty, president and CEO of The SCAN Foundation. “Employment not only provides older adults with a sense of purpose and community, but also enhances their financial resilience. The establishment of this fund is pivotal in driving innovation aimed at creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce that will benefit older adults and enrich the labor market as a whole.” READ FULL ANNOUNCEMENT

You may have heard that the The SCAN Foundation is supporting the federal government in developing a strategic framework for a national plan on aging. Read on to learn more about these efforts and how

The SCAN Foundation has partnered with the Brookings Institution to explore behavioral health among older adults, this story reveals one of the first insights arising from this work. HEALTH AFFAIRS – In November 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an increase in the age-adjusted suicide rate since 2021. The report details that in 2021 and 2022, people ages 75 and older had the highest suicide rate among all age groups, largely driven by males. This report is a salient indicator of the challenge of identifying and addressing suicide risk among older adults amidst the well-publicized mental health crisis in the United States. Underpinning this profound challenge are the direct connections between social isolation, neglect, and suicide. READ FULL STORY

As California moves into year four of its Master Plan for Aging (MPA) implementation, several recently published reports highlight progress to date, while elevating forward-looking recommendations to keep this vital work moving. Since 2019, The SCAN Foundation (TSF) has championed the use of Multisector or Master Plans for Aging in California and states nationwide, recognizing the need for a state level commitment to ensure all of us can age well with purpose. 

New analysis of middle-income older adults reveals financial disparities across racial and ethnic groups and geography. CHICAGO, February 15, 2024 — Millions of Black and Hispanic middle-income older adults will lack the financial resources to pay

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The SCAN Foundation (TSF), an independent public foundation that catalyzes bold and equitable approaches to creating a society where every older adult can age well and with purpose, today announced it has awarded $900,000 in grant funds, including co-funding from the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) and Metta Fund. The grants, which were awarded to Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, California Black Women’s Health Project, Healthcare Foundation of Northern Sonoma County and Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation, will help reduce health disparities and enhance quality of life for older adults, especially for those in marginalized communities. READ FULL STORY

MEDCITY NEWS – Equitable AI isn’t an aspiration; it’s an absolute necessity, particularly for the millions of older Americans who remain unseen within the current frameworks and miss out on algorithmic benefits such as risk