Welcome to 2026! In this episode, we dove into the world of behavioral gerontology and behavior analysis with older adults. We’re joined by Dr. Jon Baker who helped break down what behavioral gerontology is, how it’s evolved, and what current research tells us about supporting the aging community in meaningful and effective ways. At the end, Dr. Baker breaks down some actionable steps for behavior analysts who want to break into working with new populations such as the aging community.
We spoke about the challenges practitioners face in this space including bringing behaviorism to a medical model, navigating mental health concerns, isolation, and cognitive changes that come with aging.
What really stood out in this discussion is how hopeful this work can be. Even later in life, behavior is still functional, learning is still possible, and individualized, compassionate interventions can make a real difference. This episode is about seeing aging not as a closed door, but as a stage of life where thoughtful behavioral support still matters.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Banter
02:51 Housekeeping and Why This Topic Matters
05:37 Welcoming Dr. Jon Baker
08:41 What Is Behavioral Gerontology, Really?
11:21 What Gerontology Looks Like in Practice
14:06 Behavioral Health and Aging
16:54 Do Behavioral Interventions Still Work as We Age?
19:56 Challenges in Behavioral Gerontology
22:57 Behavioral Plasticity and Aging
26:06 Behavior as Communication
28:59 Real-World Case Examples
31:54 Why Individualized Approaches Matter
35:04 Research Gaps and What We Still Don’t Know
38:08 Mental Health and Aging
41:04 Can Memory Loss Be Reversible?
43:39 Brain Injury vs. Neurocognitive Disorders
47:01 How to Get Into Behavioral Gerontology
49:46 Sustainability of Interventions
52:56 Final Thoughts and Listener Engagement
Our Guest:
Dr. Jonathan Baker is chair and associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Western Michigan University.
Prior to joining WMU, he was an associate professor and coordinator of the gerontology certificate program, as well as a faculty member in the behavior analysis and therapy program in the Rehabilitation Institute at Southern Illinois University. He received a certificate in gerontology from the University of Kansas and is a Doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D).
Baker is on the editorial board for the Analysis of Verbal Behavior and Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice. He has served as a guest Action Editor for TAVB and the Psychological Record, and serves as a guest reviewer for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, The Behavior Analyst, Behavior Analysis in Practice, The Psychological Record and The American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias.
He is also the former president of the Mid-American Association of Behavior Analysis, former chair of the Behavioral Gerontology Special Interest Group with ABAI, and is on the Board of Directors for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
Resources:
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