At 25, Darwin Tepe is already thinking about aging. Tepe is the strategic data and economic analyst at Senior Friendship Centers, where he quantifies the economic and social value of programs that help older adults stay healthy, independent and connected. A third of Sarasota County residents are 65 and older, and Tepe’s work pairs numbers with human stories, showing legislators and funders that investing in seniors isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s financially savvy.

Tepe spoke with us about navigating assumptions about being young and Black while staying focused on making Sarasota a better place to age well. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How did you come to work at Senior Friendship Centers?

“I started as a board member when I was a senior at New College of Florida. Declan Sheehy, our chief advancement officer, saw my thesis work about the economic benefits of arts organizations. He hired me, and I’ve been here full-time since August 2024.

“People ask me why a young person works here. The closest person to me is my grandpa. We’re soulmates. I’m learning and educating myself on the best way to care for the person I love most in the world, and for myself.”

What is your data trying to show, and why does it matter?

“I quantify the economic benefits of our programs at the local, state and national levels. It hasn’t been done here before, especially by a nonprofit that’s not government-run. We’re the lead agency for aging services in Charlotte, DeSoto, Lee and Sarasota
counties, and we’re here to prevent early institutionalization. A lot of seniors end up in long-term care before they need to, which is costly to taxpayers. We help people stay at home or in the community longer, which is often where they want to be. That generates more economic activity and is better for seniors and for the long-term care system.”

What leads people to seek institutional care before it’s necessary?

“A big part is education, especially for children of seniors. They might not know the timeline of aging or other options [for care]. Also, long-term care facilities are for-profit and invest in marketing, [which helps them] present as the best solution. We offer a middle option. We’re not replacing nursing homes or competing with them. Our services cost about one-seventh to one-tenth as much as long-term care funded by tax dollars. Our programs reduce isolation and loneliness, which improve mental health and quality of life and decrease Medicaid and Medicare spending. Home and community-based care are linked to longer life expectancy, too.”

What have you learned about ageism?

“Ageism here is rampant because of the large divide between the older and younger generations. People say, ‘Wow, you’ve accomplished so much for your age.’ But I’m a product of the leadership and mentorship in this city. If everyone older poured into someone younger, we’d see tremendous outcomes and solve more problems. I want us to get over this age thing.”

What’s a finding from your work that surprised you?

“The economic impact of solving issues [such as isolation and loneliness] can be more than $1.5 million in savings. About 37 percent of seniors report significant isolation to a doctor. For LGBTQ seniors, it’s 63 percent. Our services have been shown to bring that down to about 5 percent in both cases.”

If you could show the public one chart or statistic from your work, what would it be?

“The value that private philanthropy can bring when paired with strategy. That combination is what makes our model unique. The journey of aging can be joyful, and that has economic value, too.”

Has being a young Black professional affected your work here?

“Throughout my life, I’ve struggled with doubts about my competence, shaped in part by Sarasota’s reaction to my ethnicity and age. I was raised by an Italian family with little connection to my Black roots. Now I take great pride in my identity. A lot of people discount our race while enjoying the culture and products we create. There are major obstacles living in a place where people want to see me for my race rather than my mind. But everybody has challenges when working with others. I’m here to focus on being the best man I can be.”

What have Sarasota’s seniors taught you that a chart couldn’t?

“They’re just like me. They have the same desires, interests and sense of humor. I think we put so much emphasis on growing up, but we’re all just kids at heart. I love dancing, playing pool and joking around with them. Spending time with them is one of the highlights of working here.

“I also wish people would focus on preventative care at any age. If you’re over 18, it’s time to think about your journey of aging.”

Where do you hope to take this work next?

“Creating a master document that shows the total economic impact of the home and community-based services we provide at every level. It’s comprehensive, and I’d love to see other organizations use it as a model. It should be the future of aging services.”

What victory are you most proud of so far?

“Going to Tallahassee and starting conversations with legislators. That trip introduced them to the idea that placement decisions, prevention savings and home- and community-based services are an economic powerhouse they may have overlooked. We can demonstrate these outcomes. We plan to continue these one-on-one conversations with legislators.”

Fall Report

Tepe at The Senior Friendships Centers (SFC) analyzed the SFC’s “balance program” and found it prevented 16 significant falls out of 100 seniors in the program, saving a cumulative $33,000 out-of-pocket expenses and $168,000 in Medicare expenses in 2024. With approximately 14 million adults ages 65 and older (one in four) falling every year, that savings adds up. Bottom line: It pays to prevent falls.