With one in four Iowans now age 60 or older, the need to support residents across their lifespan continues to grow.
Johnson County is a livable community for successful aging, University of Iowa Health Care is recognized as an Age-Friendly Health System, and now the University of Iowa is designated an Age-Friendly University (AFU) by the Age-Friendly University Global Network (AFUGN). With this designation, Iowa becomes the first university in the state to join AFUGN, a network of institutions committed to promoting positive and healthy aging and enhancing the lives of older members of the global community.
The successful application for AFU designation was driven by the Barbara and Richard Csomay Center for Gerontological Excellence, an interdisciplinary center within the College of Nursing. The Csomay Center’s diverse leadership team includes expertise in gerontological research, clinical care, public health, engineering, social work, business management and entrepreneurship, geriatric medicine and dentistry, and elder law, making it uniquely positioned to advance the AFU initiative on campus.
“As a public research university with statewide reach, we’re here to serve Iowans at every stage of life,” says UI President Barb Wilson. “This designation recognizes our growing work to support older Iowans through health care, research, lifelong learning programs, and community partnerships. I'm proud that Iowa is the first university in the state to earn this distinction, and I'm grateful to the Csomay Center for leading that effort.”
“As life expectancy increases, older adults seek opportunities for learning and continued contribution beyond traditional career pathways,” says Harleah Buck, PhD, RN, FPCN, FAHA, FGSA, FAAN, Sally Mathis Hartwig Professor in Gerontological Nursing and director of the Csomay Center. “This initiative reflects the University of Iowa’s commitment to advancing age-focused practices, supporting lifelong learning, and strengthening engagement across the lifespan.”
This commitment across teaching, research, service, and community engagement activities builds upon Iowa’s institutional strengths, including the College of Nursing’s longstanding leadership in gerontological research, the Csomay Center’s Optimal Aging Initiative, the Aging and Longevity Studies Program housed in the School of Social Work, Senior College, and Grandparents University. Initial foci will include ensuring the university’s research agenda is informed by the needs of an aging society, expanding access to online educational opportunities for older adults, strengthening dialogue with aging-focused organizations, and engaging the university’s retired community.