Next Avenue Names Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Professor Sarah Szanton a Top Influencer of Aging

Sarah L. Szanton, an Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JHSON), was named one of the top 50 “Influencers in Aging” by Next Avenue, a digital publication covering perspectives on issues for older Americans.

Next Avenue’s list of influencers for 2016 included advocates, researchers, thought leaders, writers, and experts whose work is at the forefront of improving aging. Szanton was pleased to be highlighted among so many wonderful leaders who share a passion for aging. Older adults offer so much to a community and their vital wisdom, knowledge, and experience can become even more beneficial when we help them improve their ability to age through independence and other options. [et_bloom_inline optin_id=optin_22]

Dr. Szanton’s work on aging includes her innovative program titled Community Aging in Place – Advancing Better Liver for Elders (CAPABLE). The program incorporates home visits from a nurse, occupational therapist, and handyman to provide small home improvements like handrail installation or lowered cabinets to help older adults work on their mobility and self-care. Szanton’s program has made strides as a viable solution to improving health outcomes for older adults in the US and recent findings published in the health policy journal Health Affairs shows decreased disability, depression, and improved self-care amongst participants.

Beyond her CAPABLE study, Szanton has also researched and piloted strategies for preventing falls and examining the impact of food and energy access on the health outcomes of older adults. Szanton’s background is in policy analysis which she uses to inform policymakers about alternative, cost-effective solutions to save healthcare and taxpayer dollars while also improving the health and well-being of older adults, based off her research results. Dr. Szanton has been honored for her contributions as an American Academy of Nursing Emerging Edgerunner, a winner of the Protégé Award from the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research, and named a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholar.