In this episode of the Glowing Older podcast, host Nancy Griffin interviews Cate O'Brien, MPH, PhD, Senior Vice President of Mather Institute and Community Initiatives, discussing the organization's mission to improve the lives of older adults through innovative research and community initiatives. They explore various topics including the challenges faced by Generation X, the importance of planning for solo agers, the role of mindfulness in aging well,

 About Cate

 Cate O’Brien, MPH, PhD, joined Mather as a Senior Research Associate in 2005. She leads the Institute’s research team to identify, develop, and conduct research programs in wellness and engagement across the aging services field. She also conducts and disseminates various research projects and establishes partnerships with universities to expand Mather’s reach and enhance the Institute’s reputation as a thought leader. Cate collaborates with all areas of Mather to evaluate the impact of internal initiatives.

Cate also leads the Community Initiatives team in developing and implementing strategies to grow the number of older adults served through virtual and in-person programs, such as the popular D.I.T. (Do It Together) Creative Art Kits. 

Cate earned a Master of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology from University of California, San Diego; a Master’s in Public Health (epidemiology) from San Diego State University; and a PhD in public health and community health sciences from the University of Illinois, Chicago.

Key Takeaways

Mather Institute focuses on creating ways to age well. Mather’s three areas of aging services include: four senior living communities, community initiatives and the Mather Institute.

Solo agers often lack support and planning for aging. Nearly one third (27%) of people 60 and older qualify as solo agers.

Mather Institute’s research on Generation X spans three years. Year one focused on Gen X’s top three priorities: family, career, and health. Year two took a deep dive into health and wellness, and year three will focus on the workforce.

Mather’s research shows Gen Xers experiencing more stress in their lives than Boomers, which could be a result of the sandwich generation caring for kids and parents and also related to finances.

Non-clinical interventions like social prescriptions and nature prescriptions are proven to improve health and wellness.