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About Our 2015 Influencers in Aging

Roughly 10,000 boomers are turning 65 each day, but the "baby boom" is only the beginning, as people around the world live longer lives in greater numbers. Questions concerning the effect of aging on our future health, work, finances, lifestyle and communities are more pressing than ever and affect us all. The remarkable people named to Next Avenue's first annual Influencers in Aging list are tackling these questions and finding new ways of living longer, healthier and happier lives.

The list includes 10 honorees in each of the five areas Next Avenue covers: Health & Well-Being, Caregiving, Money & Security, Work & Purpose and Living & Learning. One honoree, whose impact was especially profound this year, was named Influencer of the Year. This year that distinction goes to Dr. Atul Gawande, author of Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End

In recognizing those making a difference in how we live as we grow older, we hope to highlight new ideas, spark conversation and inspire others to engage in this important work. Join us on Twitter and Facebook to discuss the Next Avenue 2015 Influencers in Aging list.

Choosing the Influencers

Selecting just 50 people for the list was a challenge. We started by asking Next Avenue editors and contributors to develop a broad list of people working to improve the lives of older adults in the areas of health, money, work, living and caregiving. We assembled an advisory panel with experts in health, housing, work, media, philanthropy and gerontology.  We considered hundreds of candidates and ask our advisers (all of whom could have been named to the list) to suggest additional names and weigh in on which of the nominees have had the greatest impact in their fields. Through this process we narrowed the list of nominees to 50, selecting 10 individuals in each of the five topic areas.

There are many people doing great work whose names are not on this year's list. We will continue to gather those names and next year, we will invite our readers to nominate candidates for the list. Thank you to this year's panel who helped Next Avenue recognize those working to improve the lives of older adults and prospects for all of us as we grow older.

The 2015 Advisory Panel

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