Updated February 14, 2023 | 5:15PM MST
ADDRESSING THE AGING CRISIS: THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND ADVOCACY WITH DR. LUCCHINO
Since 1985, Increasing Understanding of Aging with Dr. Lucchino's company, AGE INC., has been working towards its mission of educating health professionals and the community about aging issues to improve the quality of life of the aging population. The organization was established in Utica, New York, and has since grown to serve the larger community, with its focus on promoting the education and training of healthcare professionals, care providers, and the public. The world has faced numerous challenges including marketing, and lack of understanding of aging policies and their impact on society. Despite these challenges, AGE INC. has been successful in promoting its competence in the education and training of healthcare professionals in aging issues.
The idea behind AGE INC. was developed in response to the lack of information and education available to healthcare professionals on aging. Dr. Lucchino identified the need for education on the aging process, and how it affects individuals and society as a whole. Their goal was to provide a platform to address the lack of understanding of aging issues by providing training to healthcare professionals, which would enable them to deliver better care to their aging patients. Since its establishment, the organization has grown to provide services such as training, education, and advocacy to the larger community and legislation.
Another challenge that the aging industry currently faces is the lack of understanding of aging policies and their impact on society. There is a misconception that aging is equivalent to disease, which leads to a misinterpretation of policies that are meant to improve the quality of life of the aging population. This lack of understanding makes it difficult to develop policies that address the unique needs of the aging population. One way AGE INC. has addressed this challenge is by working with community agencies to develop white papers that provide information on aging policies and their impact on society. These white papers have been used to influence changes and recognition of aging issues and how communities respond to aging.
Pictured Above: Dr. Lucchino receiving an award in Visakhapatnam, India from Andhra University for his efforts in educating the public of Alzheimer's Disease.
Similarly, AGE INC. has worked with local government in various states to promote aging policies that recognize the importance of education and training in improving the quality of life of the aging population. The organization has provided recommendations on policies that promote the education and training of healthcare professionals in aging issues, which have been incorporated into the government's aging policies.
As a business owner, AGE INC. offers the following tips to those aspiring to start their own business or looking to get into the industry: it is essential to have a clear and realistic focus and purpose for your business, with short-term and long-term goals that are achievable. It is also important to identify key partners and stakeholders in the industry and develop targeted marketing strategies that promote your services. Lastly, it is important to stay up to date with industry trends and changes in policies and adapt to these changes to stay relevant and competitive.
The aging industry is facing a national emerging crisis in healthcare, which is the lack of healthcare paraprofessionals. There has been a significant change in immigration policy in the US from 2000 to 2022, resulting in a decrease in the replacement rate of 1.8, which is not enough to provide a large pool of potential employees. This has led to shortages in all job sectors, with the greatest impact on the healthcare industry, where there is a shortage of healthcare workers. To mitigate this crisis, there is a serious need to increase immigration to offset the decreasing number of working-age adults.