Older adults face challenges that are even more daunting due to their advanced age, from illness and loneliness to prejudice and poverty. Here we’ll look at some people and organizations that are making a positive difference in the lives of older individuals. As a person who might be interested in becoming a senior advocate, you may be inspired to see some of the ways others are supporting older adults, whether by providing care, resources and services or by fighting negative attitudes toward aging.
Notable People
These individuals — even those no longer among us — are continuing to improve the standard of living among older adults.
Rosalynn Carter
Before her teenage years, late former First Lady Rosalynn Carter took care of her father, grandfather and younger siblings. In 1987, she harnessed the desire to help others developed in her youth by founding the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers. The organization supports family caregivers by forging cross-sector partnerships, spearheads research projects and strategic initiatives, creates and implements evidence-based programs and advocates for beneficial public policy.
Maria Shriver
Journalist and author Maria Shriver has published the Radically Reframing Aging & Longevity Guide as part of the Sunday Paper portion of her website. This free guide highlights the accomplishments of today’s older adults and shares many valuable resources for them. In addition, she has founded the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM), now a partner of Cleveland Clinic.
John A. Hartford
A member of the family that founded the A&P supermarket chain, Hartford was a wealthy philanthropist who established his own foundation in 1929. Hartford had no children, and when he died, he left his considerable fortune to the foundation to continue his mission. The John A. Hartford Foundation is dedicated to “transform[ing] how the care of older adults is delivered.” Over the past 50 years, the organization has awarded grants totaling more than $724 million “to enhance the health and well-being of older people.”
Ashton Applewhite
Writer, activist and public speaker Ashton Applewhite has made combatting ageism — “the last socially sanctioned prejudice,” as she calls it — her mission in life. She authored the critically acclaimed book “This Chair Rocks” to tackle the judgment and discrimination aging people face today. She also runs a blog and online advice column called “Yo, Is This Ageist?” in which she addresses readers’ ageism concerns.
Dedicated Organizations
Many organizations are devoted to improving both wide-ranging and targeted aspects of older people’s lives.
AARP is commonly associated with senior discounts and its signature magazine. However, AARP, alongside the affiliated AARP Foundation, seeks to “end senior poverty and reduce financial hardship by building economic opportunity.” The organization helps improve quality of life for older adults by providing support for those late in their careers or past traditional working age, as well as through legal advocacy, public policy advocacy and grants.
AARP is but one example of myriad government, nonprofit and private agencies and organizations that are proactively offering resources and assistance to older people. Other noteworthy organizations leading advocacy efforts include:
- RRF Foundation for Aging
- National Council on Aging
- Institute on Aging
- Administration for Community Living (ACL)
- HelpAge International
- Justice in Aging
- The Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys
- Grantmakers in Aging
- Health and Aging Policy Fellows
Three Credentials for a Fulfilling Career in Aging
If you’d like to advocate for the needs of older adults, consider a career in aging, medical physiology or geriatric practice. You can kick-start this professional journey by completing an online program from the University of Florida:
Explore aging from biological, clinical, ethical, legal, psychological and sociological viewpoints with the aim of becoming an advocate for older adults. No thesis required.
Interested in gerontology but wish to keep your career options open? The curriculum of this distinctive degree is drawn from both our master’s degree in gerontology and our graduate certificate in medical physiology, enabling you to pursue a career in a broader range of healthcare specialties.
Online Graduate Certificate in Aging and Geriatric Practice (15 credits)
Augment your skills and strengthen your medical school application in our online graduate certificate program. If you decide to continue with our MS in innovative aging studies after earning your certificate, you may be eligible to apply up to 15 credits from this program toward your master’s program!
Why You Should Choose UF for Online Gerontology and Aging Studies
- In 2024, UF was ranked by U.S. News & World Report among:
- Best National Universities
- Top Public Schools
- Best Value Schools
- No GRE or clinical experience required for admission.
- Affordable tuition.
- Faculty made up of leading researchers and experts.
- The flexibility and convenience of entirely online, asynchronous courses.
- Program completion in as little as one year.
Take the next step toward a fulfilling career in the service of aging adults. Apply now.