Embracing Diversity and Culture in an Aging Society
By Amber K. Brooks, MD; Tamara Baker, PhD; Chivon A. Mingo, PhD
“Aging is not ‘lost youth’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”
“The definition of “diversity” emphasizes that of being different, having variety, and the recognition and inclusion of differences (e.g., people, races, culture). This is echoed through the multiplicity of our growing older adult population, whereby we are afforded the opportunity to not only learn of, but also acknowledge the breadth of experiences of each individual. For we know that aging is inevitable and should be revered. This mantra sets the tone in how society embraces the institutional framework of diversity. Therefore, we are reminded that we must remain vigilant in recognizing that with the inclusivity of differences, there are also existent systemic inequities and disparities. For these reasons, the question becomes: how can scholars of aging research assure that society is armed with rigorous evidence-based research to help close gaps in our current understanding of the aging process across diverse and marginalized groups of individuals.
During the past quarter of a century, there has been a growing emphasis to examine issues related to diversity within and between identified groups. While this has resulted in evident scholarship, the presumably inclusive term does not fully capture the complexities and salient differences seen among the aging communities nationally and globally. What must be recognized is that these diverse characteristic identities, of what it means to age, contribute to individualities that may influence anything from access to resources to disease management.
We must distill important advances in the science of aging, while incorporating the evidence of scholars in behavioral and social sciences, public health, medicine, and other related disciplines. It is time that our attention focus on areas such as frailty, medication adherence, social networks, built environments, discrimination, health disparities, and quality of life. This approach creates a multiple disciplinary platform (including multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary approaches) that is pertinent to the needs of ALL older adults. Recognizing the extent of this journey, leaders across the scale of disciplines, should focus more on contributing to our knowledge on matters most pertinent to understanding the changing demographic tapestry of the adult population. This will ultimately pave the way for future generations of scholars aiming to embrace the diversity of our aging community.”
SPECIAL COLLECTION DETAILS:
Special Collection on Aging and Diverse Race and Ethnic Populations
View the Published Special Collection
Guest Editors: Dr. Tamara Baker, Dr. Amber Brooks, Dr. Chivon Mingo
Amber K. Brooks, MD, is a Board Certified Anesthesiologist, Pain Medicine Physician, and Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at Wake Forest School of Medicine with 10 years of experience practicing general anesthesia and managing a variety of acute and chronic pain conditions. She has recently focused her transition from a fully clinical practice towards a clinical research career. She is the principal investigator of two NIH- funded grants that will leverage technology and the electronic health record to deliver non-pharmaceutical treatments to a vulnerable population: older adults with chronic pain. Dr. Brooks attended the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine from 2001-2005. She finished her intern year at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 2006. She completed her Anesthesia residency training at the University of Birmingham at Alabama in 2009 and Pain Management Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.