The diversity of articles, disciplines, topics, and countries represented in the Journal’s collections makes salient the connection we find through our humanity and experience of aging. Regardless of where we fall on the developmental spectrum, aging is an equalizing experience that allows us to find common ground. The crucial role aging plays in bringing a diversity of voices to the discourse is seen in the media and in our legislative efforts. For example, voices such as Marcia Gay Harden, an award-winning actress who wrote a memoir about her mother’s life with Alzheimer’s, reminds us of how the disease can impact others. Her story of her mother’s life was one of many shared during hearings held by the Senate Aging Committee in June 2018. Many voices of advocates came together to raise awareness and create legislation that will impact the aging of the population.
In the United States, the Committee on Aging has had a series of hearings that have led to legislative change. For example, this summer, a hearing about the impact of Alzheimer’s—“Changing the Trajectory of Alzheimer’s: Reducing Risk, Detecting Early Symptoms, and Improving Data”—brought together over 1,000 advocates. These voices led to the 35 bipartisan senators’ introduction of an act to create public health infrastructure to address Alzheimer’s disease. Hearings led to the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act in support of many grandparent caregivers who have assumed primary care responsibilities for their grandchildren. The passing of the bill affords grandparent caregivers access to information and resources needed to support their caregiving role. This bill will affect the lives of over 2 million children and their grandparents. Similarly, the Senate passed a bill called the Nourishing Our Golden Years Act to address food insecurity among older adults. It was the coming together of voices across the political aisle, a vote of 86 to 11, that extended the recertification process from six months to one year allowing eligible seniors to continue to receive their monthly box of nonperishable food items without interruption. Whether it is through hearings regarding Alzheimer’s, support of grandparent caregivers, or support of senior nutrition programs, bipartisan efforts of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging is one place where a diversity of voices can be heard and have an impact on issues relevant to aging.
Featured articles in this issue bring diverse voices on a variety of topics relevant to aging women. We find common ground through the voices of our colleagues from Korea, Spain, and the United States. In this issue, physical and mental health researchers provide us with knowledge contributing to the care and well-being of older adult women—healthy aging, caregiving, social isolation, body esteem, menopause, HIV prevention, depression, and social support—reflecting the breadth of issues relevant to aging women.