Extract

As the health research community celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the founding of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the health research community is at a crossroads in meeting the needs of a diverse aging population. Some of these concerns include access to health care, affordable housing, social isolation, and the management of chronic illnesses. With the COVID-19 pandemic as a recent exemplar of disproportionate effects in terms of morbidity and mortality for minoritized communities, gerontological scholars must continue to acknowledge and support the variable pathways of aging in communities throughout the United States. As research progresses, interventions should be tailored to be appropriate and relevant to a heterogeneous aging population. Continuation of actionable initiatives to promote access, trust-building, and inclusion has the promise of extending the reach of the gift of longevity to more older Americans in decades to come.

Researchers are increasingly recognizing the benefits of addressing health disparities that persist within minoritized aging communities through community engaged research (CEnR) (Epps et al. 2024; Key et al. 2019). CEnR is by no means a new concept, but it has evolved over time along with several terms existing under the extensive umbrella of participatory research (Cargo & Mercer 2008; Vaughn & Jacquez 2020). Much of the work on CEnR has been to include community perspectives from codesign to dissemination. The foundational methodologies and concepts that encompass CEnR are immersed in shared ownership and collaboration between researchers and community members, which is crucial when working with minoritized older adults.

Tam E Perry, Amanda J Horn, Vanessa Rorai, JoAnn Smith, James Bridgforth, Jamie Mitchell, Kent Key, Cynthia Howell, Robert Taylor, Peter Lichtenberg, Amanda T Woodward. Community Engaged Research for Older, Minoritized Americans: Programmatic Perspectives and Recommendations to Move the Science of Inclusion Forward, Public Policy & Aging Report, 2024;, prae026, https://doi.org/10.1093/ppar/prae026.