March 30, 2026
Older adults make up roughly 14% of the U.S. population but account for about 50% of health care spending. And as the country has fewer births with each generation, the health care system is challenged to support a “rectangular population” versus the “pyramid population” for which it was designed.
In this episode, Dr. John Rowe, geriatrician and Professor of Health Policy and Aging at Columbia University, explores how this population shift is transforming work, retirement and health care. He explains why core institutions must be re-engineered to better support older individuals and why longevity science has yet to deliver longer, healthier lives. Employers will gain insights for redesigning benefits across the employee life course, from paid parental leave and social connection to flexible retirement pathways, to build a more resilient, productive, age-inclusive workforce.
SPEAKERS
John Rowe | Geriatrician and Julis B. Richmond Professor of Health Policy and Aging at Columbia University
LuAnn Heinen | Business Group on Health
Duration 30 min
