About Us
The Virginia Center on Aging (VCoA) is a statewide agency created by the Virginia General Assembly, with our home at Virginia Commonwealth University in the College of Health Professions. VCoA was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1978 (Code of Virginia 23.1-2311). Since 1978, VCoA has worked to protect and improve the quality of life of older Virginians, so that they might remain interdependent and contributing members to life in Virginia. Partnerships with others have made our initiatives possible. Please contact us if you wish to join us in accomplishing this work.
Mission
Through exceptional education, partnerships, advocacy, and research, we work to create a Virginia where older adults, communities, and professionals can thrive.
Vision
A national leader working collaboratively to advance age-inclusive practices, longevity equity, and justice to benefit all of us as we grow old.
Definition of longevity equity: Longevity equity refers to the fair and just distribution of opportunities, resources, and conditions that enable individuals to achieve a long and healthy life. It emphasizes reducing disparities in life expectancy and quality of life by addressing systemic inequities and social determinants of health, including access to healthcare, education, housing, nutrition, and community support. In practice, achieving longevity equity involves collaboration across healthcare systems, governments, nonprofits, and communities to address structural inequities and create environments where everyone has the opportunity to live a long, fulfilling life.
VCoA is guided by four foundational objectives:
- Research: To conduct and disseminate gerontological and geriatric research to create and share evidence-based, best-practice approaches to improve health, well-being and equity.
- Education: To provide high-quality educational opportunities in gerontology and geriatrics to students, staff, faculty, the community and health and human service providers throughout the Commonwealth and beyond.
- Service: To identify and respond to evolving community needs in order to advance the quality of life through real-world impact.
- Resource: Leveraging our wide reach and the high level of expertise of VCoA’s faculty and staff, we serve as a Statewide Resource Center to disseminate and translate knowledge for key decision-makers, professionals, elders, advocates and aging services providers.