Life Course Center for the Demography and Economics of Aging

University Of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The Life Course Center (LCC) at the University of Minnesota (UMN) develops, supports, and coordinates innovative, high-quality, and transformative interdisciplinary research on the demography and economics of aging. LCC research addresses four research themes. (1) Later life population trends in context: the impact of both persistent and shifting macrosocial contexts for explaining changes across historical time and place in aging processes and outcomes, including physical and cognitive functioning, disability, morbidity, mortality, general health, and well-being. (2) Life course dynamics as disparity mechanisms: the processes by which social change and contexts—especially the impacts of early and cumulative life experiences—play out in the lives of population groups to reduce or exacerbate disparities in health outcomes. (3) Interrelationships among work, family, community participation, and health: the consequences of changing economic, familial, social, and institutional environments on life course engagement in paid work, family responsibilities (e.g., caregiving, living arrangements, engagement), and volunteering, as well as the implications for life chances, health, and life quality in the mid- and later-life course. (4) Health care services and supports for an aging population: the health and financial implications of the care infrastructure for older adults, which includes healthcare organizations, the healthcare workforce, payment models for care, and other policies for the care and support of aging populations. LCC research addressing these research themes focuses on four health disparity priority populations: (1) socioeconomically disadvantaged populations; (2) racial minority populations; (3) rural populations; and (4) sexual minority populations. The central goal of LCC is to provide an unparalleled environment for researchers to conduct impactful research to improve the health and well-being of older adults. This will be accomplished through four infrastructure Cores. Core A: Administrative and Research Support Core. This Core will provide leadership and vision, as well as logistical support and oversight for the activities of the other three Cores. This Core will also be responsible for meeting all reporting requirements to the Coordinating Center. Core B: Program Development (Pilot) Core. The Pilot Core will administer two pilot grant programs: the Emerging Scholar Pilot Projects and Mentoring Program and the Highly Innovative/Time Sensitive Pilot Program. Both will support small-scale, innovative interdisciplinary research projects. Core C: Communication and Dissemination Core. This Core will work with the other three Cores to promote the activities and achievements of LCC and its members. Core D: External Network Core. The Network for Data-Intensive Research on Aging (NDIRA) will foster an interdisciplinary community of scholars across disciplines, career stages, and institutions and introduce them to novel sources of data that are fundamental to understanding health and aging. NDIRA will address challenges associated with big population data and stimulate use of the novel data sources LCC members build for life course research.