Former New York State Senator Kemp Hannon, who recently joined Hofstra University’s School of Health Professions and Human Services as a health policy fellow, led a panel discussion on the impact of the aging population in America on Friday, Feb. 7. The “State of H.O.P.E.” panel, which stands for Healthcare Opportunities and Policy Exchange, included four other healthcare professionals. 

Dr. Corinne Kyriacou, an associate professor and current chair of the department of health professions at Hofstra University, spoke on the benefits of integrated care for the elderly. A combination of social services and healthcare services “would allow older adults to connect with their community [because they] still want to be involved,” Kyriacou said. 

Kyriacou also spoke about her own efforts to better the community. She is focusing on establishing a Nassau County time bank – a program that connects volunteers with people who require their services. However, it is not like most volunteer programs. 

“Every member must be a provider and a recipient,” Kyriacou said. “Every person has a value and something to give – social isolation has impact on physical and mental wellbeing.” 

She plans to open the time bank in Glen Cove. 

Hannon stated that aging Americans’ need for healthcare services would not end with the “silver tsunami” of the baby boomer generation. 

“Our profession is stagnant, if not dying,” agreed Dr. Tara Liberman, an associate chief of the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine and an associate professor of medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. “We can’t be the only ones to care for this aging population. We have to be influencers.”

There were a few students in the crowd that morning who were influenced by the panel. Julie Grzybowski and Ashley McDonough, both junior speech-language-hearing sciences majors, have many concerns about the healthcare of the aging population. 

“In my major I see a lot of struggling in the older generation,” Grzybowski said. 

McDonough agreed.  “With my major, you can work with adults or children. I go more towards people with brain damage and that is usually the elderly. Coming here gives me more information on issues they often face, like high insurance rates.”

According to a 2019 Department of Health and Mental Hygiene report on the health of older adults in New York City, 12% of New York City residents ages 65 and older reported not having filled a prescription due to the cost. 

Marianne Grady, the director of the government business division at Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, addressed this issue. She said most people do not understand who pays for healthcare and all the extra expenses that come with it, including caregivers. She also echoed the concern of the future of the healthcare profession.

“Over 52% of aids need to grow to meet the aging population,” she said.

 “I’m surprised that more students who are interested in this career don’t attend these events,” said Emma Sample, a senior video/television and film major, who was confused about the lack of turnout. 

Yet, Hannon remains optimistic about the future. 

“Here we have a chance, in academia, of being able to do a little bit of shaping what’s happening, raising topics that are not necessarily of the moment,” he said.