In today’s interconnected world, working in silos no longer serves our communities, particularly in health care. When I began my career as an internal medicine physician, my focus was treating clinical conditions like diabetes and coronary artery disease. At that time, I didn’t fully appreciate that social factors like housing, education, and food security determine 80 percent of health outcomes. This realization reshaped my understanding of health—and the importance of partnerships, especially for older adults and historically marginalized populations.

The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed the need for collaboration among health systems, community-based organizations, and social services to improve outcomes. As we look to the future, where older adults will outnumber children by 2035, we must rethink our approach to aging. Aging is not a niche issue; it touches everyone. The narrative is changing, and more sectors recognize how aging affects the health and prosperity of entire communities. To achieve equitable aging with dignity, we must collaborate in unexpected and impactful ways, working directly with communities.

One example of collaboration is the Equity Community Organizing Groups Initiative. This effort addresses health inequities in California through community-driven action. It shifts power to community members, enabling them to identify inequities they experience and codesign solutions. This initiative fosters collaboration beyond traditional sector boundaries, uniting organizations focused on aging, disability, race, and social justice to address unique community needs.

A powerful example is the Sankofa Elders, a group of Black men and women near Los Angeles focused on the well-being and dignity of Black elders. They are creating a community manifesto for change and exploring the creation of a village to foster belonging. This effort shows how local partnerships can empower marginalized groups and drive lasting change.

"Unexpected partnerships across sectors can spur transformative results."

In Imperial Valley, California, four communities have partnered to address food insecurity and limited medical care impacting older adults’ health. By pooling resources and aligning efforts, they are making strides in addressing these disparities. This collaboration exemplifies how collective action can generate sustainable, systemic impact, proving that working together can lead to practical solutions.

Public-private partnerships also play a crucial role in this vision. By combining strengths and resources, these collaborations create innovative solutions to long-standing health inequities. For example, private companies can develop AI tools to improve patient access, while government agencies ensure these tools reach rural and marginalized communities. Together, they build sustainable infrastructure for the most vulnerable.

A prominent example is California’s Multisector Plan on Aging (MPA), now in its fourth year. This historic collaboration unites stakeholders from health care, transportation, housing, and equity groups to create a 10-year blueprint for aging. The MPA has expanded health-care access to 330,000 undocumented older adults, increased economic security for 560,000 low-income seniors, and invested $50 million in behavioral health services.

These stories underscore a critical lesson: Partnerships are essential, even if they are not always easy. They foster innovation by codesigning solutions that directly impact health—outcomes no single entity could achieve alone. Unexpected partnerships—across sectors that might not initially see themselves connected to aging—can spur transformative results.

Building trust, sharing power, and fostering collaboration across sectors and gene rations take time, but the rewards are significant. By pooling resources, aligning goals, and centering the voices of those most affected, we can ensure our communities thrive.

Ultimately, health extends far beyond the walls of a clinic—it lives in our homes, workplaces, and communities. By coming together and breaking down barriers, we unlock the power to shape a future where everyone, no matter their background, can age with dignity, security, and purpose. This vision is within reach, and together, we can make it a reality.