EPISODE DESCRIPTION:
In today’s episode, we talk with Dr. James “Jim” Firman, the co‑founder and Chief Innovation Officer of BetterAge, a social enterprise that recently won a $2.5 million grant from the National Institute on Aging to develop a platform that assesses 12 domains of well‑being and generates personalized action plans for older adults. The conversation begins with the near‑death experience that sparked Jim’s passion for “the science, art and craft of aging well.” That experience translated into small daily actions and a bold mission to create tools that empower individuals and organizations. The episode traces his journey from founding the United Seniors Health Cooperative, through 25 years at the helm of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), to the several groundbreaking BetterAge pilot programs. Jim shares stories of successes and setbacks, policy battles and personal lessons, offering a compelling narrative about reimagining longevity for the modern era.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Dr. James Firman, the Co-Founder & Chief Innovation Officer of Better Age, has spent four decades reinventing how America serves its elders. After earning his BA, MBA and Ed.D. at Columbia University, he joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as a program officer focusing on aging and chronic care. In 1984 he co‑founded the United Seniors Health Cooperative, where he built early versions of BenefitsCheckUp and one of the nation’s first insurance‑counseling programs, later formalized as the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP). Jim then led the National Council on Aging for 25 years, co‑creating the BenefitsCheckUp and Aging Mastery Program and helping improve the health and independence of more than ten million older adults. He advocated for reforms in Medigap and long‑term‑care insurance and championed the CLASS Act as a step toward person‑centered care. Recognized as a NextAvenue Influencer in Aging, Jim stepped down from NCOA in 2020 and co‑founded BetterAge, where he now leads efforts to leverage technology, community partnerships and research to help people age well.
Contact: james.firman@betterage.net
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-firman-b948a517/
Website: https://www.betterage.net/
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