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MIT AgeLab and John Hancock Launch Free Longevity Preparedness Index

HealthSociety5/4/2026
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A new free online tool, the Longevity Preparedness Index, helps individuals assess their readiness for a longer life. Developed by MIT AgeLab in partnership with life insurer John Hancock, the 15-minute quiz scores users across eight life domains. The tool arrives as the number of centenarians is projected to quadruple by 2054, highlighting a growing need for personal and societal planning.

Facts First

  • A free online Longevity Preparedness Index quiz assesses readiness for longer lives across eight life domains.
  • The tool was developed by MIT AgeLab in partnership with life insurance provider John Hancock.
  • The average score on the index is 60, with financial planner Matt Hudack scoring an 89 in an early demonstration.
  • The number of centenarians is expected to quadruple by 2054, underscoring the tool's relevance.
  • Non-medical caregiving costs average $80,000 a year, a key part of the 'dual burden of housing and care' many may face.

What Happened

The MIT AgeLab, in partnership with life insurance provider John Hancock, has developed and released the Longevity Preparedness Index. This free online quiz, introduced at a John Hancock longevity conference in April, takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. It generates a score out of 100 based on answers across eight domains, including relationships, health, and daily activities. At the conference, MIT AgeLab researcher Katie Warren demonstrated the tool with financial planner Matt Hudack, who received a score of 89; the average score is 60.

Why this Matters to You

If you hope to live a long, healthy life at home, this tool may help you identify areas for improvement in your personal plan. Your score could highlight gaps in your social connections, health habits, or daily routines that are important for aging well. The financial implications of longevity are significant, as non-medical caregiving support... costs an average of $80,000 per year, creating what researchers call a 'dual burden of housing and care.' With life expectancy now about 30 years longer than in 1900 and the centenarian population set to grow sharply, such planning tools could become more common.

What's Next

The Longevity Preparedness Index is now publicly available for anyone to use. Its release coincides with broader academic work, like Stanford Center on Longevity's The New Map of Life, which examines how societal structures can support lifelong thriving. As more people use tools like the index, it may spur broader conversations about financial products, community support, and policy needed to accommodate an aging population where most prefer to age in place.

Perspectives

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Index Developers maintain that the Longevity Preparedness Index is designed to help individuals 'design their years' by evaluating holistic factors like community, care, and home rather than focusing solely on financial savings.
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Individual Observers suggest that witnessing the aging process in family members serves as a wake-up call to face the realities of changing needs rather than 'digging your head in the sand.'
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Survey Respondents observe that a general lack of preparedness exists, noting that people often make major life decisions based on superficial factors like hobbies without considering essential domains of longevity.
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Financial Realists argue that the unpredictability of health and longevity makes it impossible to know how long savings will last, especially when the 'insurmountable' cost of care is factored into housing and living expenses.
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Optimistic Visionaries warn that a 'white-knuckled approach' focused only on avoiding dementia or poverty risks missing the potential benefits of longevity, urging people to 'daydream' about thriving at age 100.
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Sociologists contend that while personal planning is necessary, health outcomes are significantly shaped by broader community structures and social norms.