Just Aging

When we think about justice, older adults aren’t always top of mind. Yet in the United States, seniors often face stigma, exploitation, and insufficient social support, all while navigating cognitive and physical decline. As lifespans continue to grow globally, aging is a future we all hope to reach. So how do we ensure that future is just? And what does justice for older adults truly look like? 

Welcome to Season 4 of The Age of Aging! We’re kicking off with a vital and multifaceted topic: elder justice. Joining us are three leading voices who help unpack the legal, cultural, and systemic challenges facing older adults — and what can be done to address them. 

• MT Connolly, author and elder justice advocate, explores the deep-rooted cultural and structural issues that shape aging in America, and offers ideas for meaningful reform. 

• Charlie Sabatino, former director of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Law and Aging, explains how working with an elder law attorney can help preserve autonomy and dignity throughout the aging process. 

• Judge Lois Murphy shares insights from the courtroom, including a real-life guardianship case that illustrates the complexities and consequences of our legal system’s approach to elder care. 

If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a review and share it with a friend. Got a story idea for Season 4 or beyond? Reach out to us at [email protected]. 

Resources 

• Listen to Season 1 Episode 2, “Living Well with Purpose,” about supported decision-making. 

• Read The Measure of Our Age: Navigating Care, Safety, Money, and Meaning Later in Life by MT Connolly. 

• Learn more about MT Connolly. 

• More information on the RISE model 

• CDC Mortality Trend Graph 

• 2023 CDC Life Expectancy 

• Learn more about Charlie Sabatino 

• More information on guardianship in Pennsylvania  

• Learn more about Judge Murphy  

Special thanks to Charlie Sabatino JD, MT Connolly JD, and Judge Lois Murphy. 

The Age of Aging is a Penn Memory Center production hosted by Editorial Director Terrence Casey and Producer Jake Johnson, in partnership with the Penn FTD Center, the Penn Institute on Aging, and UPenn’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Contributors include Nicolette Calcavecchia, Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Meaghan Sharpe. 

The Age of Aging is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund and our sponsor, the TIAA Institute. The TIAA Institute is a think tank committed to building knowledge that advances lifelong financial security and well-being while considering the intersections of health and wealth. Their cutting-edge research provides actionable financial and longevity insights that help individuals and employers navigate the complex journey of aging.