Global Coalition on Aging

Caregiving, a powerful new PBS and WETA documentary executive produced by Bradley Cooper and narrated by Uzo Aduba, shines a national spotlight on the realities of caregiving in America. From family stories to systemic challenges, it's a call to recognize, support, and uplift caregivers everywhere. With global populations aging and the caregiver ratio declining worldwide, this film could not be more timely—and its message resonates far beyond the U.S. GCOA is proud to be a national partner on this vital project. ?? Premieres June 24 on PBS | Streaming begins May 27 ?? Press Release:?https://lnkd.in/eaBqbGdi #ShareYourCaregivingStory #CaregivingPBS #GCOA

Travel isn’t just leisure—it’s a powerful driver of healthy longevity, reducing mortality risk, boosting cognitive resilience, and strengthening social bonds. But despite these benefits, travel is rarely recognized as a public health and economic priority.? ? Our latest report with Transamerica Institute? explores why that must change and what businesses, policymakers, and communities can do to leverage travel as a force for longevity.? ? Join the conversation and explore the insights here: https://lnkd.in/e85tAxTH

On Thursday, March 20, GCOA Executive Director Melissa Gong Mitchell joins distinguished speakers from IDLO - International Development Law Organization, Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations, International Gender Champions, CONICET, University Bari Aldo Moro, Fondation Gnidehoue, and International Telecommunication Union at the United Nations to discuss gender equity in the digital era. Bridging the digital gender divide and ensuring that women are included in the datasets used to train AI is crucial to enabling the full potential of the $17 trillion Silver Economy, as women live longer than men and control the majority of household spending, despite lower lifetime incomes and higher healthcare burden. Leveraging digital tools for healthier aging has enormous potential, but women must be included for the benefit of women themselves, society, and the economy.

Up to 80% of CVD cases are preventable, but only if we take a lifelong approach to heart health.? ? The Aging with Heart Alliance is committed to building a prevention-based strategy across the entire life course:? ? ? Early Prevention: Addressing risk factors like high cholesterol and hypertension before they lead to disease.? ? ? Proactive Management: Ensuring access to early detection, screening, and intervention.? ? ? Stronger Policies & Systems: Advocating for age-inclusive, gender-equitable cardiovascular care worldwide.? ? As we prepare for a world with 2 billion people over 60, heart health must be a global priority.? ? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eJ-g3VRq?? ? #AgingWithHeart #CVDPrevention #HeartHealth #LifelongPrevention?

As we live longer, healthier lives, retirement will take new shapes. In a response to Thasunda Brown Duckett's excellent piece in The New York Times, GCOA CEO Michael Hodin writes about how to rethink work, health, and education to support longevity. From healthier aging to lifelong learning and flexible work, the future of retirement is about opportunity, not limitation. Read the blog now:?https://lnkd.in/eQSDa9zd?#AgingReimagined #LongevityEconomy #FutureOfWork #Retirement

?? CVD is the leading cause of death for women—yet too many remain unaware of their risk.? ? Women are twice as likely to die after a heart attack, but they’re less likely to receive life-saving treatments.? ? Despite the dangers, women receive less preventive care and are often misdiagnosed or undertreated.? ? The Aging with Heart Alliance, led by GCOA, is committed to addressing gender disparities in heart health. It’s time for action.? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eJ-g3VRq?? ? #AgingWithHeart #CVDPrevention #HeartHealth #WomenAndHeartDisease?

?? The connection between aging and CVD is undeniable. Nearly 86% of adults over 80 live with some form of cardiovascular disease.? By 2050, the global population aged 60+ will reach 2 billion—meaning more people at risk.?Healthcare systems are not yet prepared for the mounting costs and care demands. Health systems and governments need a proactive approach that recognizes aging as a critical factor in CVD risk. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eJ-g3VRq? #AgingWithHeart #CVDPrevention #HealthyAging #HeartHealth?

This Shingles Awareness Week, Global Coalition on Aging's Head of Health Programs Susan Wile Schwarz, MPH highlights the importance of prevention to enable healthy aging and allow us to keep doing the things that matter most to us. #ShinglesAwarenessWeek

The clock is ticking. ? This Heart Month, let’s take action.?? ? CVD is the #1 cause of death globally, and by 2050, CVD-related deaths could reach 35.6 million annually, posing an unprecedented challenge to individuals, healthcare systems, and economies.? ? That’s why GCOA is proud to launch the Aging with Heart Alliance, a global initiative to reverse this trajectory, elevate prevention, and drive systemic change. ? Together, we can ensure that heart health remains a priority at every stage of life. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eJ-g3VRq?? ? #AgingWithHeart #CVDPrevention #HeartHealth?

The Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA) is deeply saddened to learn of His Holiness Pope Francis’ current battle with pneumonia and complex infection. Our thoughts are with him and the Vatican’s leadership as they navigate this difficult time. His resilience, faith, and commitment to the well-being of others serve as a beacon of hope for billions worldwide, and we join the global community in wishing him strength and a speedy return to full health. Yet Pope Francis’ recovery relies not on only our prayers and well wishes, but also on the effectiveness of available medicines to treat infection, including antibiotics, one of the greatest medical innovations of modern time. His Holiness’ illness has painfully highlighted the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – the natural process by which the microbes that cause infection grow resistant to treatment over time. AMR threatens the ability of modern medicine to cure disease. AMR affects all people, but it poses a particular danger for older adults, like Pope Francis, who often have weaker immune systems. The threat of AMR respects no borders and threatens to undermine the very foundation of healthcare systems from Rome to Accra. The Vatican has long been at the forefront of addressing global health challenges, and its leadership in the fight against rising antimicrobial resistance was on full display at a symposium held by GCOA at the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences in November 2024. At “Solving for Antimicrobial Resistance: A Rising Global Health and Humanitarian Challenge,” global experts, policymakers, and Vatican leaders discussed solutions to this escalating crisis, and in particular, the urgent need for governments to introduce pull incentives, targeted investments in innovation.?Experts agree that pull incentives are needed to spur the development of new drugs that can successfully treat the kinds of infections that Pope Francis now battles, and that the top global economies have a particularly important role to play. Now, more than ever, leadership like the Vatican has shown on AMR is essential in bringing greater awareness of this growing global threat and the need to act now to ensure that our children and grandchildren will have access to antibiotics that work. As the global community keeps Pope Francis in its prayers, may his courage and moral clarity inspire decisive and aggressive action on AMR. By supporting research and innovation in new antibiotics, ensuring responsible use of the ones we have, and safeguarding access for all, we can help protect the health of current and future generations, wherever they may live. A statement developed out of the Vatican meeting on AMR is linked below. https://lnkd.in/e6SWKtNA