Investigative Reporting Program

Aging In America
The societal and institutional barriers that prevent older adults from living with greater dignity and independence.
These stories are made possible by a grant from The SCAN Foundation.

Dancing away the loneliness: In the UK, social prescriptions help fight isolation during the pandemic
Sofie Kodner ('22) and Zachary Fletcher ('22) report on social prescriptions for loneliness in older adults for the IRP's Aging in America reporting project.

No way out: How the poor get stranded in California nursing homes
Jesse Bedayn ('21) reports for CalMatters on how nursing home residents end up stuck in facilities and unable to return to the community.


How new monitoring systems keep a close watch on older people
Sofie Kodner ('22) reports on how surveillance technology is changing caregiving for older Americans.

Conversation and Cookies Lead to An Intergenerational Friendship
Zachary Fletcher ('22) reports on the friendship of octogenarian Sukari Addison and millennial Kathleen Toohill.

How Amtrak Trains Became One Retired Traveler’s Sanctuary During the Pandemic
Will McCarthy ('21) reports on one woman's trip across the country during the pandemic.

‘It makes a humongous difference’: Lack of Wi-Fi in city SROs deepens residents’ isolation
Sofie Kodner ('22) reports on lack of access to the internet in San Francisco's SRO buildings.


Extreme weather hurts older Californians. That’s started a wave of climate activism
Zachary Fletcher ('22) reports on a new wave of climate activism among older adults.


Hope and disappointment for the homeless in Oakland
Brett Simpson ('21) reports for The New York Times on a homeless couple's yearlong odyssey to find permanent housing in Oakland.


Essential caregivers were locked out of nursing homes during COVID-19. Advocates don’t want it to happen again.
Anne Marshall-Chalmers ('22) reports for USA Today on the movement to allow essential caregivers to enter nursing homes, even during a pandemic.


‘I feel freer.’ How California program helps seniors ‘age at home’ during pandemic
Jesse Bedayn ('21) reports on a California program that helps older adults age at home instead of long-term care facilities


Elderly at small residential care homes face challenges getting COVID-19 vaccine
Anne Marshall-Chalmers ('22) reports on how elderly at small residential care homes are facing challenges getting COVID-19 vaccine


‘How am I going to keep this up?’ COVID intensifies plight of family caregivers
Anne Marshall-Chalmers ('22) reports on howCOVID is intensifying the plight of family caregivers


Rapid vaccine rollout at California nursing homes raises concern
Anne Marshall-Chalmers ('22) reports on how the rapid vaccine rollout at California nursing homes is raising concerns


With COVID-19 concerns, anxious families eye in-home senior care
As part of our in-depth coverage of aging in America, Brett Simpson ('21) reports for The California Report Magazine on how some families are turning to in-home care as care homes become Covid hot spots.
