Today, people are living longer than ever before, and
as the baby boomers age, the number of older adults is
expected to increase exponentially over the coming
decades. Combined, these 2 demographic shifts will
lead to enormous challenges for society. They will
require us to identify strategies to allow older adults to
live independently for as a long as possible; provide
health care and education for older adults who are selfmanaging
multiple chronic illnesses; ensure that older
adults in long-term care settings receive high-quality
care; and support family members and friends who
are caring for an older loved one with dementia and/or
a disability.