EP182: How Nursing Homes Put Profit Before Patients

What does it really take to live longer and better? And why isn't the answer a billionaire's biohacking routine? On this episode of This Is Getting Old: Moving Towards an Age-Friendly World, Dr. Melissa Batchelor and co-host Gail Kohn talk with journalist and podcaster Kara Swisher about her CNN docuseries, Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever. Kara talked with Nobel Prize-winning scientists, longevity researchers and ordinary people who are aging well, including Gail. Her biggest takeaway was that social connection matters more than anything else. We recorded this conversation as a complement to the 2026 Age-Friendly Ecosystem Summit, hosted by the Center for Aging, Health and Humanities at the George Washington University School of Nursing. The episode follows the summit's four themes: Longevity readiness, and why living longer depends on systems and policy, not just personal habits The invisible caregiving workforce, including family caregivers, wages, adult day care and immigration Brain health, and why "friction" in real human relationships keeps our minds sharp in a way AI chatbots can't Housing and social connection, from aging-in-place home design to front-porch neighborhoods and new ways to make friends later in life Kara also talks openly about caring for her 92-year-old mother. She explains why exercise works like a savings account you pay into for decades, and why having a "world of the mind" may be the key to aging well. Learn more about the Age-Friendly Ecosystem Summit: https://www.nursing.gwu.edu/age-friendly-ecosystem-summit Subscribe for more conversations about aging, caregiving and creating a world that works for every age. #AgeFriendly #HealthyAging #Longevity #Caregiving #BrainHealth #KaraSwisher #ThisIsGettingOld #Ageism #SocialConnection #AgingInPlace

Language and imagery shape how aging is perceived, influencing public opinion, policies, and community support. In this episode of This Is Getting Old: Moving Toward an Age-Friendly World, Dr. Melissa Batchelor and Hannah Albers from the National Center to Reframe Aging discuss research-backed strategies to communicate about aging in ways that reduce ageism and highlight older adults' contributions. The discussion covers the gap between expert and public perceptions of aging, communication traps to avoid, and practical strategies that have been applied successfully in real-world settings. Topics include emphasizing aging as a process of growth, framing supports for meaningful lives, addressing frailty without paternalism, presenting ageism as a solvable problem, and using imagery that reflects older adults as active and engaged members of the community.

By 2030, adults over 65 will outnumber children in the U.S., yet only one percent of homes meet basic accessibility standards. What does that mean for the future of aging in our communities? In this episode, AARP's Shannon Guzman explains why most neighborhoods weren't built with aging in mind and how we can change that. We explore the AARP Livability Index, a tool that measures how communities support aging well through housing, transportation, health, and more. From policy shifts to everyday improvements, this conversation offers a roadmap for building communities where people of all ages can thrive.

By the end of this decade, one in five Americans will be over 65—and for the first time in U.S. history, older adults will outnumber children. In this episode of This Is Getting Old, futurist and author Bradley Schurman explains why ageism is bad for business and how ignoring demographic change could quietly undermine success. We explore how businesses and communities can benefit by embracing older adults as workers, leaders, and consumers. Age-diverse teams perform better, inclusive businesses grow stronger, and recognizing the economic power of aging populations is key to building a sustainable future.

What if one of the best solutions to America's biggest challenges—like health, loneliness, and the economy—was as simple as letting people work longer if they want to? In this episode of This is Getting Old, Tim Driver shares why extending opportunities for older adults to remain in the workforce benefits individuals, employers, and society as a whole. Drawing on data, surveys, and real-world examples, Tim shows how working longer can boost health, strengthen businesses, and even lift the economy. But it's not just about employers creating age-friendly environments—older adults also need to stay adaptable and engaged. Together, both sides can reshape what work looks like in an age-friendly world.