Champion and Advocate

 
 

We are Advocates.

“We advocate for and with older adults and family caregivers to enhance our community and support positive aging.”

- Grace Sutherland Smith, Executive Director

 

We are all aging and by 2060, nearly one in four Americans will be 65 and older.

A demographic shift is underway, and we’re excited about the opportunities that this change brings, and the chance to shape what aging well looks like in our communities.

  • More of us are living longer and older adults are the fastest-growing age group in Tennessee

  • Between 2024 and 2027, more than 11,200 baby boomers across the country will turn 65 each day

  • In 2034, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that there will be 77 million adults 65 and older

  • By 2035, there will be more older adults than children under 18 for the first time in U.S. history

This demographic shift brings challenges and opportunities, and we know that by working together, we can continue to plan with and for older adults, advocate for needed changes and develop creative solutions for unmet needs.

 
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TN Coalition for Better Aging

AgeWell is pleased to lead the Tennessee Coalition for Better Aging (TCBA), partnering with member organizations across the state to foster collective advocacy. AgeWell Executive Director, Grace Smith, and former board member, Dr. Jim Powers, serve as TCBA co-chairs, working closely with colleagues from AARP-TN, TN Caregiver Coalition, TN Disability Coalition, TN Justice Center, the West End Home Foundation and the Area Agencies on Aging & Disability, to name a few.

TCBA members work together to identify priority issues and opportunities, then meet with state officials to share ideas and discuss solutions. You can learn more about the coalition's current priorities by visiting the TN Coalition for Better Aging's website: https://www.coalitionforbetteraging.com/ 

Together, we are making a difference!

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AgeWell Legislative / Advocacy Committee

Our Legislative/Advocacy Committee meets throughout the year to discuss current policy issues, communicate with state and local leaders and share calls to action. Members include AgeWell board members, community volunteers and colleagues from public and private organizations.