Older Americans Independence Centers are also referred to as Pepper Centers to honor the late Senator Claude D. Pepper (1900-1989) who was a champion for elder rights by creating the legislation to fight against agism. Senator Pepper was a public servant from Florida who served in the U.S. Congress across five decades. He earned the title “Spokesman for the Elderly” for advocacy related to Social Security, age discrimination, and health care.
Senator Pepper was co-author on the legislation that established the National Cancer Institute, the first of many National Institutes of Health. Our Pepper Center builds upon the legacy of Senator Pepper by applying the power of academic research to issues of mobility for older citizens.
The National Institute of Aging supports centers like ours to develop and enhance research and education at institutions with strong programs in aging research. This support is critical to address key research problems, technological limitations, and faculty development needs for future generations of appropriately-trained researchers.