Colleagues,

There is perhaps no greater and far-reaching demographic shift currently occurring in America than the growth of the aging population. According to a recent report by the Administration on Aging (2021), the estimated number of Americans age 65 years and older has increased by 14.4 million (36%) since 2009 in comparison to the under-65 population that increased only 3%. From 2005 to 2015, aging racial and ethnic minority populations have increased from 6.7 million to 10.6 million (from 18% to 22% of older adults; Administration on Aging, 2016) with 9% of the 65+ population being comprised of people of Hispanic origin (of any race) in 2019 (Administration on Aging, 2021). These growth trends are projected to continue for decades. For example, the 65+ population in 2019 was estimated at 54.1 million but is projected to reach 80.8 million in 2040, more than twice as many as in 2000 (Administration on Aging, 2021). This demographic shift has implications for federal, state, and local policy, family relationships, and individual well-being now and decades into the future. It also has implications for the work that practitioners, family life educators, Extension professionals, and other human services professionals do in their communities.

The Journal of Human Sciences and Extension is soliciting articles for a summer 2025 special issue: Aging in America. The aim of this special issue is to provide human scientists and Extension professionals with research, new or emerging initiatives, creative critical thinking, and innovative practices that will propel aging-related work within a next-generation Cooperative Extension System.

We welcome submissions to this special issue across all types of articles published in the Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, in addition to format-free manuscripts, such as critical, philosophical, and theoretical perspectives, application of innovative concepts to aging, or equity-focused initiatives. This special issue reinforces the journal’s aims and scope to “bridge research and practice” and thus, we request that manuscripts “give attention to the practical implications of the work.”

To avoid duplicative topics and ensure a comprehensive issue, authors are invited to submit a 250-word abstract [or link to: https://go.osu.edu/jhse-aging] describing their paper’s intent on or before Friday, April 5, 2024. This should include contact information for the corresponding author, potential co-authors, draft title, and the abstract. Works-in-progress will be considered. The special issue editors will review all abstract submissions and distribute invitations for full manuscripts on or before Friday, May 3, 2024. Completed manuscripts for peer review are due by Friday, October 4, 2024. Note that submission of a full manuscript for peer review does not guarantee publication.

Below is a list of various topics that intersect with aging.  It is not exhaustive but is presented to prompt thinking about acceptable aging-related themes and issues. 

• Aging and ageism, elder abuse, discrimination
• Aging and agriculture, farm succession, farm safety, AgrAbility, agricultural mental health
• Aging and art, illustration, design, media, literature
• Aging and community vitality, neighborhoods, accessibility, coalitions, community agencies, public health
• Aging and diversity, equity, inclusion, health justice, health equity, oppression, public health liberation
• Aging and employment, retirement, financial abuse, wealth management, future care and end of life planning, poverty, volunteerism
• Aging and family, grandparenting, grandfamilies, kin and kinship

• Aging and food, nutrition, food (in)security
• Aging and geography, environments, disasters
• Aging and health, well-being, chronic disease, memory and cognition, health promotion, health care, palliative care, mental health
• Aging and housing, Universal Design
• Aging and intergenerational, caregiving, youth, mentoring
• Aging and race, ethnicity, cross cultural, Tribal Extension, language
• Aging pedagogy, in education
• Aging policy, theory, methods

Please contact the editors of this special issue with questions, ideas, author suggestions, or peer review interest/recommendations.

Dr. James S. Bates, bates.402@osu.edu, 614-688-1468

Dr. Erin (Yelland) Martinez, erinmartinez@ksu.edu, 330-309-7452