As we’ve all heard, America is aging and the numbers are pretty startling.
People 65 and older represented just 16% of the population in 2019. By 2040, they’ll make up nearly one fourth of all Americans, and those numbers are expected to continue to climb.
Part of the reason people are living longer is because of new technologies and innovations in the healthcare sector that are enabling providers to deliver more effective care in new and more efficient ways. It’s a space full of challenges and opportunities – and local Baton Rouge entrepreneurs are on the front lines.
Rachael Slaughter is President and co-owner of Orion Labotatories, a medical testing lab based in Baton Rouge that in just a few short years has become the largest independent lab in the state, processing some 600,000 patient samples a year.
Rachael Slaughter, when you get your labs done by Orion Laboratories you’re supporting local business
Rachael co-founded the company with her husband David Slaughter in 2017. Today, they’re taking on industry giants like Quest and Lab Corps, with an in-house test menu, a dedicated team for specimen collection and an extensive courier network.
Rachael has more than 15 years experience in the medical field – in fact, she was the one who got David into the business. In the years since it has grown to more than 80 employees, headquartered on Corporate Boulevard.
Maria Yiannopoulos is founder and owner of Bon Jour Social and Leisure Center, a social club for seniors who are aging in place in the Greater Baton Rouge area.
Maria Yiannopoulos, her Bon Jour Social and Leisure Center isn’t daycare for seniors, it’s a club complete with chat, sports and music
Bon Jour opened its doors in February 2023 and offers social life enrichment activities and a safe social outlet for seniors to meet and socialize in the aftermath of COVID.
Maria was a guest on this show a few years ago when she was marketing director of a local assisted living facility. In the years since, a lot has changed and Maria has decided to out on her own with this unique and much needed niche service.
Maria is a native of Baton Rouge, who spent her early childhood in Greece, and has extensive professional experience in assisted living communities, aging in place for seniors and helping individuals with disabilities gain independence through technologies and devices.
Maria Yiannopolous, Stephanie Riegel, Rachael Slaughter, Out to Lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard
Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. Photos by Brian Pavlich.