New NCOA Feature

The National Council on Aging has once again invited Dr. Jeremy Holloway to contribute as an honorary writer, this time focusing on a critical question in the field of healthy aging: What happens when Age-Friendly education begins much earlier in life?

This new feature highlights the importance of introducing the core principles of Age-Friendly care to younger populations—a topic central to Dr. Holloway’s research and Tellegacy’s mission. His contribution reflects growing national attention on how early learning shapes health literacy, empathy, and age-responsive communication across the lifespan.

See new article here: https://www.ncoa.org/article/early-exposure-to-age-friendly-principles-promotes-healthy-aging/

Why Early Age-Friendly Education Matters

Age-Friendly education is no longer viewed as content meant solely for older adulthood or professional training programs. The NCOA article outlines how early exposure helps younger individuals understand aging as a universal and relational process rather than a distant, late-life concern.

This shift offers long-term benefits for families, communities, and the future health workforce. It supports stronger communication across generations and increases awareness of how whole-person care influences well-being at every stage of life.

Key Themes Readers Will Find in the NCOA Article

To offer a preview without giving away the full piece, here are several themes explored in the NCOA feature:

  • How foundational Age-Friendly concepts strengthen health literacy
  • Why early exposure reduces ageism and enhances intergenerational connection
  • The value of integrating aging content into earlier stages of education
  • Insights relevant to universities, public health agencies, and community programs
  • The broader implications for future generations entering aging services, healthcare, and public service

These themes are presented through a lens of both research and lived experience, aligning with current evidence on healthy aging.

Alignment With Tellegacy’s Mission

The perspective shared in the NCOA feature echoes what Tellegacy has demonstrated through years of intergenerational programming. When younger people participate in thoughtful, structured conversations with older adults, they develop confidence, clarity, and the interpersonal awareness needed to support healthier aging in their own families and communities.

Age-Friendly education introduced early does more than inform—it prepares the next generation to understand aging with competence and compassion.

Read the Full Feature

Those interested in the full discussion can find Dr. Holloway’s article on the National Council on Aging website:

https://www.ncoa.org/article/early-exposure-to-age-friendly-principles-promotes-healthy-aging/