Women have always been at the heart of caregiving, community-building, and advocacy. However, their leadership in the field of aging has often gone unrecognized. This Women’s History Month, we honor the leaders, researchers, policymakers, and activists who are changing how our society understands and supports older adults. From pushing for national policy changes to improving research on aging, women continue to make a big difference around the world.
Women are the leaders in some of the most influential aging services organizations. At the National Council on Aging (NCOA), President and CEO Ramsey Alwin helped pass the Measuring American Poverty Act of 2008 and strengthen the Supplemental Poverty Measure. Her work has helped millions of older Americans find clearer paths to financial security. Sandy Markwood, CEO of USAging, has spent more than two decades promoting policies and community-based programs that help older adults age with dignity and independence. Her advocacy has driven national efforts to reduce social isolation, strengthen caregiver support, and expand access to transportation, housing, and livable communities. Other leaders, like Karyne Jones of the National Caucus on Black Aging and Quyên Đinh of the Southeast Asian Resource Action Center, work to reduce racial inequalities in healthcare, housing, and insurance, issues that often impact older women of color the most.
Women have also been the pioneers of modern research and policy. Ethel Percy Andrus founded the AARP in 1958 and was a dedicated advocate for older Americans. She worked hard to promote healthcare access, combat age discrimination, and improve Social Security benefits.
Another important leader, Maggie Kuhn, founded the Gray Panthers in 1970. This group still works today to fight ageism and protect the rights of older adults. They also support issues that affect people of all ages, including women’s rights and economic fairness.
In science, women are also leading the field of Gerontology and healthy aging. Dr. Paula Rochon is a geriatrician and researcher who has spent her career understanding the impact of medication on older adults. She helped develop the idea of the “prescribing cascade,” which happens when the side effects of one medication are mistaken for a new health problem, causing even more medications to be prescribed. She also created the world’s first women’s aging lab, which focuses on gender-based ageism and improving women’s health as they grow older.
Another global leader in aging science is Dr. Linda Fried. Her work focuses on understanding healthy aging and the prevention of age-related diseases. Her work on frailty involved creating a biologically-based theory on the presentation of frailty syndrome. Frailty syndrome is a decline in physical and physiological reserves, making older adults more vulnerable to adverse health outcomes. This has led to a concrete definition and assessment tool for the syndrome. Dr. Fried’s work is now an essential part of geriatric health education.
Dr. Tracey Gendron, Chair of the Department of Gerontology at Virginia Commonwealth University and author of Ageism Unmasked, has dedicated her career to talking about how ageism affects people of all ages. Her research and public advocacy challenge outdated assumptions and empower communities to create age-inclusive environments where older adults can thrive.
Most importantly, the science of geriatrics may have never existed without the help of Dr. Marjory Warren. In 1947, she was one of the eight doctors who founded the Medical Society for the Care of the Elderly. She pioneered geriatrics, and her research highlighted that older adults need specialized treatment, including medical equipment and nutrition that wasn’t previously provided in healthcare. Her work still influences modern gerontology.
Here at the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA), women play a major role in running programs, delivering services, and shaping the organization’s direction. Women make up 74% of JABA’s workforce. They also hold 73% of leadership positions, including CEO Christina Evans and Chief of External Affairs Tish Blackwell. This means women’s voices and experiences are at the center of JABA’s decision-making.
Women not only lead aging policy and science. They also perform the bulk of unpaid caregiving nationwide. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women provide an average of 300 hours of unpaid care annually to loved ones. 61% of all unpaid care providers for older adults are women. If compensated at market rates, this is valued at over $1.1 trillion per year.
One caregiver, Anne, is an example of one of the thousands of women providing care to her loved ones every day. Anne met JABA at a community event and wanted to ask for resources to help her daughter with disabilities. Anne received information about JABA’s caregiver support and called later to ask about the JREC and transportation services for her daughter. Anne shared that JABA gave her the confidence to explore next steps to support her daughter’s independence and enhance her quality of life.
As part of our commitment to sharing caregiver stories, JABA is hosting Embrace Every Season, a luncheon event on April 24th, 2026. The event features Dr. Melissa Alemán, Professor of Communication Studies at James Madison University, who will explore the power of caregiver stories. This gathering provides caregivers with an opportunity to connect and draw inspiration from one another while supporting essential aging service programs across Central Virginia.
This Women’s History Month, we honor the remarkable women who have built the aging services field from the ground up. Their contributions continue to shape policy, expand research, and uplift communities. At JABA and across the nation, women are not only at the table, they are leading the conversation.
Ty Mynes is a writer and Communications Specialist at JABA.
