Leaders with the University at Buffalo, one of more than 60 institutions part of the State University of New York system, recently dedicated $4 million for age-related research to help address the growing needs of people 65 and over.

"So that we can keep our older population of patients at home with their families, aware they're going to be surrounded by their loved ones," said Dr. Allison Brashear, Dean, UB Jacobs School of Medicine, VP Health Sciences.

What You Need To Know

  • The NYS Office for the Aging and Health Department continue to work on Gov. Kathy Hochul directed Master Plan on Aging

  • The University at Buffalo investing $4 million in age related research and programs

  • The investment is not part of the Master Plan but comes at a good time

Plans also include developing educational and clinical programs tailored toward older adults, launching pilot projects, as well as hiring additional researchers and clinicians. 

It's an effort to provide seniors a greater level of care.

"And get them connected to all the resources available through the state, county and otherwise. Geriatrics is a really big field of internal medicine now. And it is all training and how you take care of older adults in a different way," said Brashear.

The investment comes at a time when the state is drafting its Master Plan for Aging, a living document leaders have been working on for months.

They say they've engaged hundreds of agencies, groups and members of the public, as a rough draft is due this year before the final document is released in early 2025.

"I think that people often think that we're only focused on older adults, but aging starts when you're born, so what we're really trying to do is create communities, policies and programs that help people of all ages grow up and grow old successfully in New York State, that's the goal," said Greg Olsen, director of NYSOFA.

The state is grateful for the investment.

"Any research by anybody that has shown effective and that can improve the lives of older adults and their families need to be brought into the mix," said Olsen.

He recently spoke at UB about the effort, and while the investment is not part of the Master Plan, the state and the University are working in tandem. 

"All of those resources really help our patients successfully age in place, at home and with their families," said Brashear.

Also worth noting, there are a couple of UB professors who also serve on a statewide Master Plan committee.

The final document is due on the governor's desk in spring of next year.