Strategic Plan

Mission

The Healthy Aging Research Center (HARC) positively impacts the health and wellbeing of vulnerable older adults through interdisciplinary applied research to improve the health, well-being, and independence of adults and their caregivers as they age.

Vision

By 2027, the Healthy Aging Research Center will be recognized as a research center of excellence in healthy aging through its contributions in the areas of:

  • Understanding the social, economic, and demographic consequences of the aging population and their caregivers
  • Optimizing the physical and social environment of older adults to enhance their health and functioning as they age in place
  • Increasing the understanding of health disparities related to aging
  • Communicating healthy aging research advances to current and future health and public health professionals
  • Expanding supports for people with dementia and their families
  • Enhancing public awareness and engagement surrounding dementia

Goals and Objectives

HARC values excellence in its impact and ability to advance and disseminate knowledge and increase its capacity to address the challenges of healthy aging in our state, our nation, and globally.

Objectives:

  • Submit at least two sponsored research project proposals annually related to healthy aging, dementia, and workforce expansion.
  • Support undergraduate and graduate student research in the field of healthy aging, dementia, and/or dementia caregiving through LSU Discover, thesis, and dissertation proposals.
  • Increase number of students enrolled in graduate gerontology certificate program.
  • Engage the larger community in conversations about healthy aging, cognitive aging, and early detection and diagnosis of dementia and supports for people with dementia and their caregivers.

Objectives:

  • Authorship on publications in at least two peer-reviewed journals each year beginning in Year 3.
  • Educate policymakers on cognitive health and impairment, dementia, and caregiver support.
  • Engage in planning efforts to establish services and policies that support people with dementia and their caregivers.

Objectives:

  • Partner with influential entities that educate, research, or evaluate programs related to healthy aging, dementias, and dementia caregivers (professional associations, medical facilities, non-profit organizations) to share resources.
  • Educate health professionals in healthy aging, early diagnosis of dementia, care planning, referrals, and caregiver engagement through the coordination of partner organizations.