story by KATHERINE KOPP | photos courtesy of BRIAN STRICKLAND
As Americans live longer than prior generations, it has become harder to define what is “old.” What was once considered elderly—age 65 and older—is now viewed by many as the new middle age, as people lead longer, healthier, and more productive lives well into their 70s, 80s, and beyond. But no matter how one defines old age, the number of older Americans has grown significantly.
In 1950, about 8% of Americans were age 65 or older. In 2024, roughly 18% were 65 or older—more than double the share in 1950. From 2020 to 2024, the number of Americans age 65 and older increased by about 10 to 15%, reflecting continued population aging, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
The growing number of older Americans provides new opportunities to offer specialized medical care and psychological and other services tailored to the unique needs of this age group. One such provider in the Triangle is Avance Integrated Aging Care, providing primary care, psychiatry, behavioral health therapy, memory testing, and nutrition counseling for older adults at Avance Centers of Excellence in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Brier Creek in Raleigh.
Dr. Mustafa Husain, a geriatric psychiatrist and national and international leader in senior care, aging, and brain health who leads the program, says, “We are trying to model how we should take care of the aging not in diverse modes, but in a centralized location where the patient can receive all the care he or she needs in one place.”
Rethinking Aging
Husain believes that, as a society, we have created arbitrary numbers around the continuum of aging and what constitutes “old age.”
He and his colleagues recognize that there is a spectrum of aging in our society. “We talk about usual aging, normal aging, and successful aging,” he says. “It’s different for each person. One of our primary goals is to meet patients where they are.”
Avance Integrated Aging Care focuses on helping this growing segment of the population age in positive ways. “Individuals go through different phases of life and they must have successful transitions between them,” Husain says.
“We are trying to integrate the process of aging into a normal, healthy lifestyle. Behaviors and attitudes are very important, and societal support is essential for normal, healthy aging.”
Dr. Mustafa Husain, a geriatric psychiatrist and renowned expert in senior care, leads the aging care program at Avance Centers of Excellence in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Brier Creek in Raleigh.
Medical Leadership and Care Delivery
Husain has decades of experience in medicine and caring for older adults. He earned his medical degree from Dow Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan, and completed his training at Stanford University. After a psychiatry residency at the University of Southern California, he pursued research and completed geriatric psychiatry fellowships at Duke University Medical Center, training under Dr. Daniel Blazer, a pioneer in the field.
He brings extensive experience in both academic medicine and clinical care, and currently serves as an adjunct professor of psychiatry at Duke. He has also held leadership roles at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and at Duke Medical Center, where he formerly served as vice chair for faculty development.
The medical team at Avance Integrated Aging Care is committed to providing high quality, personalized care, with early availability for patients as a primary goal.
A patient’s first visit is always in person. “We try to schedule a new patient within a week or two of when they call,” says Sara Parsatoon, specialty growth manager for the team. The team’s approach to patient care is three-part: an initial evaluation, a personalized treatment plan, and ongoing support and monitoring.
Structured to deliver coordinated, supportive care, Avance’s model seamlessly connects the range of services patients need. Some care is best provided in person, while other types are well suited to telehealth follow-up. Care is guided by the patient’s primary complaint.
“For some patients, there are physical issues,” Husain says. “For others, there may be psychological issues such as depression or anxiety, which often go hand in hand in older adults.” The mission is to “encourage our patients to maintain ADL—or activities of daily living—as long as possible,” he adds. “It’s very important for people to maintain their independence as much as possible as they age.”
The team focuses on helping their patients develop or maintain good habits. “In addition to assessing our patients’ physical and mental health, we talk about the importance of adequate sleep, exercise, and healthy eating, as well as staying engaged.”
“We encourage our patients to structure life in such a way that you have a healthy day and a good night,” Husain says. “Older adults need plenty of sleep, which is critically important. But as we age, we have less REM sleep, which is the most restful sleep. One challenge for many of our patients is to improve the quality of their sleep.”
The team also works collaboratively with patients and their families or caregivers to guide decisions such as how long a person can safely continue driving or remain independently ambulatory.
Small Pastimes, Big Benefits
Husain strongly encourages older adults to continue their hobbies and interests, such as art and music, writing, gardening, social activities, and volunteering, as well as to try new pursuits.
“Creative pursuits and social activities are very beneficial as you age,” he says. He advises his patients to take advantage of the many free cultural opportunities in the area, such as visiting museums or attending concerts.
Husain often encourages his patients to have a pet, if possible. “Pets can be a companion, but they are also a responsibility. Many older adults benefit from both the companionship and the need to care for their pet.”
Holistic Cognitive and Behavioral Care
A discussion of healthy aging is not complete without acknowledging the incidence of memory issues in older adults, including mild cognitive impairment and forms of dementia. Data from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons estimate that 7.6 million Americans will be living with Alzheimer’s disease in 2026.
Avance Care Centers of Excellence at Brier Creek is equipped to perform cognitive assessments through its Behavioral Health practice. Integrated Aging Care also provides cognitive assessments and neurologic testing through its neuropsychology practice at the same location.
The medical staff is also connected to both Duke Medical Center and UNC Health. “We take a team approach,” Husain says. “Our physicians are talking to one another and collaborating to meet our patients’ needs.”
In addition to older adult care, Avance Brier Creek providers offer child and adolescent psychiatry, general psychiatry, and addiction services.
Overall, Husain describes Avance Integrated Aging Care’s approach to caring for older adults as grounded in “common sense ideas.” These principles focus on meeting patients in their current circumstances and making care both accessible and deeply personal.
“We believe that thorough evaluations, good communication, a little education, and positive reinforcement go a long way,” he says. “We are looking at the whole person, as we provide not just medication, but education and support.”
Avance Integrated Aging Care is located at 7850 Brier Creek Parkway, Suite 100, Raleigh. Visit avancepsychiatry.com to learn more.
