Debra Whitman

I’ve spent my career fighting to make aging easier in America. I wrote 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘺: 𝘈𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 7 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥, to explore the most important questions we face as we age and offer practical advice for living a longer, healthier, more meaningful second half of life. I’m an economist and have worked in the U.S. government, including as staff director for the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, where I worked across the aisle to increase retirement security, lower health care costs, protect vulnerable seniors, make the pharmaceutical industry more transparent, and improve our long-term care system. For the past decade, I’ve been Chief Public Policy Officer at AARP, leading global policy and research to help communities, lawmakers, and the private sector improve our lives as we age. I’m a writer and public speaker, mom, and an advocate for those whose voices need to be heard.