Glowing Older

Shelley MacDougall is co-founder and principal of The Coaching Department, and serves as the Director of Leadership and Development for GGA Partners, an international consulting firm for private clubs, resorts, and residential communities.  As a Certified Executive Coach with more than three decades of experience, including senior leadership positions with Marriott International and The Glencoe Club (Calgary, Albert), she is highly skilled at supporting individuals navigate challenges, shifts, and aspirations throughout their lives and careers.  

Shelley's professional experience includes thousands of hours of executive and leadership coaching, as well as workshops and trainings for all levels of managers and employees. Over the years, she has designed and delivered numerous training and coaching programs as well as presentations.

You can find more about Shelley's work at www.thecoachingdept.com

Website: azperfectcompanion.com

Key Takeaways          

• Aligning caregiver skill sets and personality with the individual needs and personality of the person who needs care is hugely important and impactful, yet often overlooked by service providers. 
• To bring true hospitality to caregiving, incorporating a holistic view of the individual and the family system is paramount. Caregivers should consider the psychosocial dynamics within families and individuals.  
• The key word in caregiving is trust. Trust is the most important thing between a caregiver and a care recipient.
• Having a professional caregiver allows family members to be that: family – and focus on have “meaningful moments.” 

Heather Brooks is the National Aging in Place Council (NAIPC) Housing Committee Chair and Founding Chapter Chair for NAIPC in SE Florida. She has spent nearly three decades in real estate, specializing in helping seniors "Modify or Move." She is Certified Aging In-Place Specialist (CAPS)Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) and Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) and SFR® certifications National Association of Home Builders National Association of Home Builders.

Heather is the founder of "How 2 Age Your Way" and "Step Up Housing", connecting communities and promoting affordable housing for seniors. She is actively involved in NAIPC and SE Florida's founding chapter chair. She has been featured on top podcasts like the NKBA Webinar Series, spoken at the International Builders Show and advocate for aging in place through education and neighborhood initiatives.

Key Takeaways

• The nation’s housing infrastructure is insufficient to support the aging population. The average home is 44 years old and less than 5% of our nation's housing units can accommodate individuals with mobility issues.
• Sixty percent of falls happen at home, and one in four adults report taking a fall.
• Key aging in place features include step free entries and access to a bedroom and full bathroom on the 1st floor. Important home modifications include installing grab bars, non-slip flooring surfaces, improved lighting, multi-level countertops and replacing doorknobs with lever handles.
• Universal design goes beyond ADA requirements to design environments that are accessible and usable by all ages and all abilities, whether you have a wheelchair or a stroller.
• Age-friendly communities are huge drivers of aging well. They encompass more than the home you live in. Social determinants of health like access to transportation, medical care and connections to family and friends are crucial for healthy longevity.

There are 4,130 licensed adult day centers in the US servicing 237,000 people daily. The industry is experiencing huge growth as families recognize the importance of taking breaks from caregiving. Adult daycare combats caregiver burnout and is significantly less expensive than homecare.

Barbara Waxman, the founder of The Odyssey Group, is a highly sought-after longevity and leadership advisor, coach, speaker and author. Barbara translates cutting edge research and collective wisdom in ways that enable others to understand how the dynamics of our aging world impact individuals, communities, companies, and the planet.

Barbara's leadership as a gerontologist in the coaching field has culminated in the transformative coaching model Entrepreneurship Turned Inward™️ (ETI), the evidence based Seven Lifestyle Levers Assessment™️ and the Longevity Roadmap™️. Barbara is an Advisor to the Stanford Center on Longevity, Stanford Lifestyle Medicine and is a faculty member at Chip Conley's Modern Elder Academy. 

Key Takeaways

• Longevity is aging’s aspiration partner. Rather than “aging,” which refers to the biological maturation of our cells, “longevity” encapsulates the spirit of living healthy, joyful, and robust lives. Even if we aren’t fans of aging, we can be fans of longevity.
• Our expectations of aging are changing in real time. What used to be considered “old” is not anymore. Consider how your own trajectory and experiences has shifted your belief on what is “old.”
• Consider the term “preferment” versus “retirement”. We can reach a stage where we do not want to be anchored by a paycheck or other responsibilities, so we get to create a constellation of activities in the ways we prefer to do them.  

• Don’t confuse an easy life with a happy life. Full lives are not devoid of challenge, exhaustion, or pain. You can create happiness amid struggles through a positive mindset.

In our final episode of Season 17, Dr. Kerry Burnight offers listeners a chance to examine ageism through their own attitudes toward aging and her perspective on how the field of gerontology has shifted in the last few decades. Gerontologist, professor, researcher, podcaster, and writer, Dr. Burnight is “America’s Gerontologist,” and provides relatable, digestible, and humor-filled insights on aging through articulating six core principles that support individuals to age well.

About Kerry

Dr. Kerry Burnight is a gerontologist on a mission to make older better. She served as a Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at the University of California, Irvine for 17 years. She is the co-founder of the nation’s first Elder Abuse Forensic Center, where her team of law enforcement officers, physicians, attorneys, and social workers have served over 2000 older adults.

Her research focuses on the two ends of the spectrum of the aging experience: wellness and purpose at the one end and loneliness and elder abuse at the other end. As a society, and as individuals, there is so much we can do to improve older lives. Burnight founded the national non-profit Ageless Alliance and serves on executive advisory boards for companies innovating in the aging space. She is currently writing a book and was recognized for her work by the U.S. Department of Justice and has appeared on the Dr. Phil Show, The Doctors, Money Matters, and Headline News.

Key Takeaways

• Our health spans are a key component of aging, and there’s lots of variability among the adult population.
• “Othering” older people is harmful. We are, as a society, starting to acknowledge that intergenerational connection is both necessary to our health and is an antidote to ageism.
• Getting older is inevitable, growing older is not. It takes effort to continually grow and you have to think about what kind of older person you want to be and what will it require to get there.
• We are all – at least – somewhat ageist. Internalized ageism is really dangerous. We must start looking at our own ageist thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Six Principles of Aging:

1. A: Acceptance (Accept Yourself)
2. B: Be that Friend (the one who brings over soup, gives the best hug.)
3. C: Challenge Yourself
4. D: Decide to Give (Recognize what you have to give, and give it.)
5. E: Educate to Navigate (Learn about resources to help you navigate your aging journey)
6. F: Focus on Interdependence (Humans are naturally interdependent; don’t silo yourself, especially as you age!)

Harry “Rick” Moody, Ph.D., shares his opinions on positive aging, climate change, and the importance of finding meaning and purpose in later life. Gerontologist, professor, executive, speaker, writer, and activist, he is Distinguished Visiting Professor at Fielding Graduate University’s Creativity and Wisdom Program and author of the hallmark textbook Aging: Concepts & Controversies, in its 10th edition.

About Dr. Moody

Harry R. Moody is a graduate of Yale University and received his Ph.D. in philosophy from Columbia University. He has taught philosophy at Columbia University, Hunter College, New York University, and the University of California at Santa Cruz.  He recently retired as Vice President and Director of Academic Affairs for AARP in Washington, DC.  He is currently Visiting Professor at Tohoku University in Japan, and Distinguished Visiting Professor at Fielding Graduate University’s Creativity and Wisdom Program.

Dr. Moody previously served as Executive Director of the Brookdale Center on Aging at Hunter College and Chairman of the Board of Elderhostel (now Road Scholar). Moody is the author of over 100 scholarly articles, as well as a number of books including: Abundance of Life: Human Development Policies for an Aging Society (Columbia University Press, 1988) and Ethics in an Aging Society (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992).

His most recent book, The Five Stages of the Soul, was published by Doubleday Anchor Books and has been translated into seven languages worldwide.  He is the editor of the Climate Change in an Aging Society and Human Values in Aging newsletters. In 2011 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society on Aging and in 2008 he was named by Utne Reader Magazine as one of “50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World.”

Key Takeaways

• Internalized ageism contributes to self-limiting beliefs, like: “I'm too old to play tennis anymore.” “I'm too old to learn to play an instrument,” You are never too old to learn.
• There are small things we can do for climate change that add up when you connect with other people doing small things. Begin where you are.
• Think globally, act locally. It is a false narrative to think you either act as an individual or act politically. You can and should do both because one reinforces the other.
• Positive aging begins by changing the way you think. Begin by believing there is always something you can do to make a difference in your own life and the lives of others.
• Aging is diminished reserve capacity. But that means reserve capacity. Decrement with compensation means recognizing there will be limitations and then finding an alternative (Ex: you can’t run anymore, so you walk.) Look for opportunities, find them and act on them.
• Dreaming is a natural organic function of humans and all mammals. Dreams show us what we already know, but do not yet see.
• The young and old are the most vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation. Successful intergenerational connections require reciprocity and mentoring in both directions.

To subscribe to Human Values in Aging and Climate Change in an Aging Society, email hrmoody@yahoo.com.

Kirsten Jacobs, MSW, Senior Director of Shared Learning at LeadingAge, shares insights on ageism, diversity, and leadership from her 20+ years in senior living. She talks about the importance of supporting peer-to-peer learning, promoting diversity at the top, and calling out the web of ageism, ableism, and other “isms”, standing in the way of aging well.

About Kirsten

With over 20 years of experience in older adult housing, services, and long-term care management, Kirsten credits her four late grandparents for her commitment to the field. Her undergraduate thesis project, dedicated to sharing art with older adults, set the stage for an ongoing interest in dementia and holistic wellbeing. Kirsten has held various positions—including administrator and executive director. Currently, she serves on the knowledge team at LeadingAge, a national association of elder-serving organizations.

As Senior Director, Shared Learning Initiatives, Kirsten leads and manages the organization’s wellness and dementia education strategy and other shared learning activities. Kirsten also guides a diverse set of education initiatives to advance LeadingAge’s ageism work and strategic focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

 Kirsten earned a Master of Social Work (MSW) and gerontology certificate from Portland State University (Portland, OR) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in arts administration and a minor in studio art from Scripps College (Claremont, CA).

Kirsten lives in her hometown of Portland, OR with her spouse, two kiddos, and goofy dog.

Key Takeaways

• LeadingAge’s shared learning approach creates opportunities for senior living providers to learn from each other. There is always wisdom in the room, whether virtual or physical.
• LeadingAge’s LTSS Center at UMass Leaders of Color Network provides career path support and mentorship for persons of color in senior living and aging services.
• Ageism starts with a youth-obsessed culture that reinforces the message that young is good and old is bad, starting with children's books and movies. By the time we are older, we have these really internalized negative feelings of what it means to grow old.
• Discrimination is layered. It' difficult to look at one “ism” without acknowledging other layers of oppression compounded with the experience of aging. The web of ageism and ableism is so intertwined it's impossible to separate.
• Leading Age Leadership Summit April 15th - 17th in Washington, DC. will address the implications of changing demographics and how to better support people in the experience of growing older.

The CEO of The Chopra Foundation shares global mental health and wellness initiatives, the importance of intentional intergenerational living and the seven principles of healthy living.

About Poonacha

Poonacha Machaiah is the CEO of The Chopra Foundation, dedicated to improving health, social, and planetary wellbeing—co-founder and CEO of Seva.Love the metaverse platform for wellbeing and ChopraX, a venture studio backing transformative entrepreneurs reimagining the future of health and wellbeing, along with world-renowned mind-body medicine pioneer and New York Times best-selling author Deepak Chopra, MD.

He has co-founded initiatives such as NeverAlone® to address mental well-being and suicide prevention. Co-founded CIRCA®, an anxiety management platform, along with Srini Pillay, MD - Harvard-trained psychiatrist and brain researcher. He is also the founder of Cyberhuman.AI, the personal AI digital wellbeing twin. 

He is on the board of transformative companies such as The Healing Company, Beacon Media, Limitless Minds, and Reulay. He has also held senior management positions at Nortel, Iridium, Motorola, and Sasken. He holds an MBA from the College of William and Mary and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering.

Key Takeaways

The three core focus areas of The Chopra Foundation are Mental Health, Longevity (healthspan versus lifespan) and Conscious Leadership.

Mental health is a silent pandemic. The second leading cause of death among young adults is death by suicide. It is a “bookend” problem—effecting the very young and very old.

The science behind equine therapy is solid. The goal of the Healing Power of Horses initiative, in partnership with Stella McCartney, is to create a global network of equine therapy and therapists.

Intergenerational living needs to be integrated into the design of cities and communities. Combining the wisdom of age and the biology of youth is peak living.

Seva.Love is the global metaverse for wellbeing platform offering a next generation meditation experience.

The Chopra Center’s Seven Principles for Healthy Living: 1. Nourish your body, 2. Integrate movement, 3. Manage negative emotions, 4. Develop a mind-body practice, 5. Prioritize sleep, 6. Connect with community, and 7. Connect with nature.

Robert Krueger, CPA, PFS, Senior Principal at Alexander Randolph, provides insights on the importance of financial planning at every stage of life, how to reframe “retirement,” and the benefits of financial transparency with loved ones.

About Robert

Rob began his career in financial planning by first obtaining his CPA license and working for KPMG for over 7 years, during which time he rose to the level of senior tax manager and advised clients on various tax matters. From there he started his own tax and advisory company, working with individuals and small businesses and helping his clients with tax planning and financial resource management. In 2000, he merged his firm with Alexander Randolph Inc, a financial services company located in Northern Virginia, expanding his services by offering investment and wealth management, along with comprehensive financial planning.

Rob received his Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) designation in 2006 and continues to work with individuals in need of financial planning and wealth management services. His focus is on clients who are nearing retirement or have already moved into this next stage of life, helping them manage their investments so that they can feel financially confident and truly enjoy their lives.

Key Takeaways

• Financial planning is a wholistic approach that encompasses investment management, insurance, and estate planning.
• Financial planning is important at all stages of life. In each decade, the priorities of financial planning shift, not just for those about to retire.  
• Avoid fixating on “the number”—the amount of money you’ll have when you retire. People should think about what they want to do – and what kind of life they want to live – and only then determine what they’ll need financially to support that lifestyle.
• Effective communication about finances with your loved ones is part of aging well. Talking about money can be uncomfortable, but having financial transparency helps your loved ones honor your wishes and support you in the best way.  

Sarita Mohanty, MD, MPH, MBA, President and CEO of The SCAN Foundation, shares their goal of improving the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. Learn how this grant making and impact investing organization supports older adults in home and community.

About Sarita

Sarita A. Mohanty, MD, MPH, MBA, serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of The SCAN Foundation. The SCAN Foundation is an independent public charity that envisions a society where every older adult has the choices and opportunity to age well. Its mission is to ignite bold and equitable changes in how older adults age in both home and community. Previously, Sarita served as the Vice President of Care Coordination for Medicaid and Vulnerable Populations at Kaiser Permanente.

Sarita was formerly Assistant Professor of Medicine at USC; Chief Medical Officer of COPE Health Solutions, a health care management consulting company; and Senior Medical Director at L.A. Care, the largest U.S. public health plan.

Sarita completed her Internal Medicine residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and research fellowship at Harvard Medical School. She earned her MD from Boston University, MPH from Harvard University, and MBA from UCLA. She completed undergraduate work at UC Berkeley. She currently is an Associate Professor at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine and is a practicing internal medicine physician with Kaiser Permanente.

Sarita enjoys international travel, tennis, and spending time with her husband, three kids, and her dog, Apollo.

Key Takeaways

• Americans do not have an accessible system of care. The infrastructure does not serve all populations equitably. There is a lot of fragmentation and a lack of care coordination and seamless focus on the individual.

• Vulnerable populations include lower income older adults and communities of color, and those in underrepresented geographies. We need more inclusive, equitable policies with private sector investment and integrated community support.
• Technology solutions are not being created equitably to address health disparities and access to quality care.
• In the next years, next 10 years, we will have more adults than children in the US. We need to invest in older adults so they can contribute effectively to society.
• The narrative on aging is starting to shift, yet still wrought with stigma and discomfort. Older adults need to be viewed as valued, actively contributing members of our communities, rather than framing them as a burden.
• Intergenerational housing models are a growing trend. Older adults and people with disabilities, caregivers and their families, live in independent living units clustered around shared spaces in exchange for labor for caregiving, receiving good wages, childcare and other benefits.
• There's not enough workforce to support the growing aging demographic, so intergenerational constructs will be critical.

Health and aging coach Al Lyman, author of Age Well and Feel Great, The Proven Path to Solving the Aging Puzzle and Going the Distance, shares his formula for healthy longevity. The Ironman triathlete offers practical tips for making positive lifestyle changes, and encourages small steps applied consistently for long-term success.

About Al        

From a young age, Al Lyman took a cue from Walt Whitman when he said, “Be curious, not judgmental.”  He has always wondered why some people live a healthy life until death and others suffer from chronic, debilitating illnesses.  As a result, at the tender age of 25 he made a conscious decision to die healthy, a concept he called ‘squaring the curve’ of life span vs. health span.  Sadly, his Dad’s declining health and eventual brain cancer diagnosis that claimed his life at the young age of 65 illuminated this concept, inspiring Al to turn up the volume on his own journey to optimal health.

While watching the Hawaii Ironman on TV with his daughter, he impulsively announced, “I’m gonna do the Ironman!”  That monumental decision propelled him to complete nine Ironman triathlons, while proudly displaying his #makehimproud arm tattoo (honoring his father).  During this journey he was approached by other athletes who were drawn to his passion and desire to ‘go the distance’ for a healthier outcome, and as a result, Al spent two decades in high performance sports coaching.

Today, Al is known as the Age Optimizer, who helps you “live stronger in your second half.”  He specializes in aging-related health coaching for mature adults determined to beat the ‘doctor dance’ and take back their lives. He teaches long-term physical, emotional and mental health techniques to help people over 50 conquer their inner critic.  He personalizes every client’s path to wellness and a pain-free lifestyle.  His signature Lyman Longevity Formula, in a few words, helps you spend more time with the ones you love, longer…and #makethemproud.  Al is the author of Age Well and Feel Great: The Proven Path to Solving the Aging Puzzle and Going the Distance.  He’s also the creator of the B.E.A.T. Aging Transformation, a nod to his life as a drummer, and commitment to march to a healthy beat.

Key Takeaways

• Health is our greatest wealth. Make the best choices to optimize health, but also enjoy life. Seemingly insignificant habits add up over time.
• Vitality and vibrancy are normal as we age, but we have to take action to create good health. The average American over 60 is on 2-3 prescription medications for chronic disease.
• Be proactive when it comes to healthcare decisions. Perform your own due diligence and advocate for yourself. Be willing to have challenging conversations with healthcare providers.
• Strength training is key to preventing age-related muscle wasting, known as sarcopenia. It's not about perfection; it's about consistency. Consistency leads to motivation because we start to feel the benefits.

Alban Maino shares his journey as founder of Memory Lane TV, a multi-sensory series of programs adapted for people living with dementia and their care partners, backed by 50 years of scientific research. Learn why standard television programming can be detrimental for those with cognitive impairment, and how Memory Lane TV can ease stress and anxiety and improve quality of life.

About Alban

Alban Maino is a Franco-American documentary film producer based in Portland, Maine, and the founder of Memory Lane TV, the “Netflix of dementia.” The creation of Memory Lane TV was inspired by his personal experience caring for his grandmother.  

He explains, “When my grandmother, Rosette, was affected by Alzheimer’s, I searched for a tool, an intervention, something to help manage her symptoms, but found there were no effective options available. I delved into the published research and slowly discovered decades of investigations into sensory stimulation and memory. Eventually I was able to leverage my media background and construct some sensory stimulation tools based on that research that helped with my grandmother’s symptoms. This was the genesis of Memory Lane TV.”

Key Takeaways

• Standard television is not ideal for individuals with cognitive decline. Complicated plot lines and distressing content can be overwhelming.
• The best TV for individuals with cognitive decline is plot-free, image-focused, and calming. This kind of programming is a positive behavioral intervention.
• Television programming can serve as a redirection technique. Like young children, older adults with cognitive decline may need redirection to ease acute stress, anxiety, and fear.
• Combining images with olfactory stimulation can enhance therapeutic benefits. Smell is a direct pathway to memory, so providing aromatherapy along with TV programming can help with memory recall and enhance the experience.

Clinical Social Worker and family caregiving expert Stephanie Erickson talks about her new book Plan for Aging Well and shares practical advice on how to navigate your family’s aging journey.

About Stephanie

Stephanie Erickson, author of Plan for Aging Well, was born and raised in California. She has a Master’s Degree in Social Work, is a Certified Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment Specialist (CADTS) licensed in both Quebec and California.  

She founded Erickson Resource Group, a clinical practice providing decision-making capacity evaluations for legal proceedings and expert opinions related to support for older adults. She also provides online consulting services for caregivers throughout North America. As a Family Caregiving Expert, she is a regular contributor on media outlets throughout the U.S. and Canada discussing topics related to caregiving, health, and well-being.

Stephanie is passionate about sharing her experience and knowledge and encouraging others to take control of their health and advocate on behalf of vulnerable populations. As a mom and entrepreneur, free time is hard to find. Yet, Stephanie always carves out time to enjoy the beach. She lives in California with her husband, two children and energetic golden retriever. 

Learn more about Stephanie at stephanieerickson.com or find her on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

Key Takeaways

• We have a crisis in the US healthcare system. One of the biggest challenges is access to quality consistent care. The care is often subpar, and the shortage of providers negatively impacts the quality of care.

• People don’t want to plan for aging well because they are afraid of getting older. Fears like having reduced mobility, getting an illness, running out of money and dying can feel overwhelming.
• Everyone wins when you plan. Create a life plan early in you're in your 40s and 50’s to share with adult children, family, and friends. We need a collaborative team approach to aging.

Aaron Hurst is the best-selling author of The Purpose Economy and founder of the workforce engagement platform Imperative and nonprofit Taproot Foundation. Learn about the power of purpose, how to build a culture of meaning, and the next step in his social impact legacy, Shared Purpose, retreats and dinners for friends, couples, and colleagues to clarify their purpose and vision for the next chapter in their lives.

About Aaron

Aaron Hurst is an award-winning social entrepreneur who uses curiosity, creativity, courage, and care to navigate the world with purpose. He founded the Taproot Foundation, Imperative, Board.dev, and Shared Purpose. More importantly, he is a husband, father, and friend.

In 2013, co-founded and led Imperative, a venture-backed start-up, that developed the first employee purpose profiling technology that has enabled hundreds of thousands of people to discover and own their purpose at work. In 2020, he re-launched the company, creating the first enterprise peer coaching platform which has become a critical way to connect and develop employees in the hybrid workplace.

In 2001, he founded the Taproot Foundation, where he catalyzed the $15 billion pro bono service market in the US and helped establish markets in over 30 countries. The nonprofit was one of the pioneers in building cross-sector partnerships and helped accelerate the growth of corporate social responsibility.
Aaron’s best-selling 2014 book, The Purpose Economy, predicted the rise of purpose as a leading driver of economic growth and innovation. He coined the term ‘Purpose Mindset’ and in partnership with NYU developed the first commercial measure of employee fulfillment. He has led national and global studies on purpose in the workplace and in higher education in partnership with leading corporations and universities.

Key Takeaways

• The Purpose Economy was based on Taproot Foundation—a pro bono service to help business professionals use their skills to help nonprofits. The book makes the business case that purpose and meaning drive innovation and economic value creation.

• A key to having a sense of purpose and meaning in your life is strong relationships. Meaningful relationships and the need for purpose and meaning these are two of the biggest predictors of life span and quality of life.

• Research shows women over 55 are especially likely to have a purpose mindset. A purpose mindset is related to the strongest leaders with the highest performance. There is a strong case that people over 55 are the best employees. Recognition of the value of older people is a major opportunity for employers.

• At a Shared Purpose Retreat, attendees come with a “co pilot” – a spouse, sibling, or friend to share the experience and language. The co-pilot accelerates your ability to be vulnerable.

Nature-based art therapist and founder and executive director of Evergreen Minds runs community programs for communities, senior living, and healthcare professionals.

About Michelle

Dr. Michelle Olson is a lover of the outdoors and mindful and body-full practices.  She is a social gerontologist, a licensed, board-certified creative arts therapist, a certified Montessori Dementia Care Professional, Certified Activity Consultant with a specialization in Memory Care and she is also a Certified Forest Therapy Guide.  Michelle teaches about mental health and social issues in aging including ageism at Montana State University.

During the pandemic, Dr. Olson founded a 501(c)(3) charitable organization called Evergreen Minds, Inc. which aims to reframe stigmas associated with dementia by connecting people in and outside of senior living who are living with dementia with Vassar College students and members of all ages in the Hudson Valley and New York City. This is done through a wide variety of meaningful dementia-inclusive experiences in and with nature and expressive arts.

Key Takeaways

• Creative arts therapies like visual arts, music, drama, and dance are valuable approaches for helping people living with dementia amidst changes in verbal communication. People with dementia rarely have opportunities to express their emotions and receive validation.
• Spending time in nature has physical, mental, and cognitive health benefits. Natural elements bring people together and provide opportunities for deeper connections with the earth, healing, and expression.
• The most common barriers that keep older adults from getting outside, particularly in senior living, are staffing challenges, safety concerns and temperature. Many senior living communities are not structured for residents to get outside. There is a fear of taking risks and team members are not even supported.
• Time in nature makes us less depressed and anxious and more empathic, creative and grateful. Nature gives us what we need in that moment.
• Ageism and ableism are at the systemic root of issues in senior living and home care Segregating people from the rest of society eliminates daily opportunities for intergenerational connections.

Patrick Roden, PhD, is the CEO of Aginginplace.com and author of Women, Aging & Myths: 10 Steps to Loving Your Long Life. Patrick talks about the free resources Aginginplace.com offers to support for older people and caregivers, how to change the narrative around aging, and the importance of lining up your tribe.

About Patrick

Patrick Roden Is a native of Oregon and spent the first years of his life crawling around the floors of a nursing home where his grandmother was head nurse. He feels this experience imprinted him and influenced his life's work. It was his "chance meeting" with 85-year-old marathon participant, Mavis Lindgren in 1992 that set Patrick on his current path. Acting as Mrs. Lindgren's medical escort for five marathons changed his view of what is possible in old age.

Patrick’s nursing career has spanned over three decades and includes ICU, CCU, Trauma Care, Inner-city Public Health, YMCA Cardiac Therapy Volunteer, and post-surgical recovery. In 2010 he was awarded The Lloydena Grimes Award for Excellence in Nursing from Linfield College School of Nursing (1st male ever to be awarded). He is a first-generation college graduate with a BS in Nursing, Masters in Adult Education and holds a Ph.D. in Gerontology. He is a Fielding University Creativity Longevity & Wisdom Fellow Human and Organization Development Scholarship recipient in recognition of scholarly contribution. Professional organizations include, The Oregon Nurse’s Association, Oregon Gerontological Association, American Society on Aging, and he is a Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS).

He is the creative force behind aginginplace.com, author of the new book, Women, Aging & Myths: 10 Steps to Loving Your Long Lie, and a new series of Journals, What I Want You to Know About Aging, an intergenerational conversation starter and keepsake.

Key Takeaways

• The “biomedicalization of aging” model views aging as a disease. Also called the “peak and decline model,” the focus is on pathology and assumes an individual has a few good years followed by a steep downward slide.
• Women, Aging & Myths: 10 Steps to Loving Your Long Life showcases women who are debunking aging myths. A chapter features Marianne Kilkenny who founded Women for Living in Community (WLIC) in 2007. WLIC has grown from an online website to a complete network of individuals, families, groups, and professionals, which focuses on the power of women as advocates and leaders for alternative housing choices.
• The narrative on aging needs to change. We are aged by culture not just biology. But we are aged by culture only if we agree to it.

Susan O’Connell, Spiritual Director of the Zen-Inspired senior living communities, Enso Village and Enso Verde (in development), speaks to how Zen is a transformative foundation for elder housing, building a healthy community, and bringing joy into everyday living.

About Susan

Susan O’Connell is the Spiritual Director of the Zen-Inspired senior living communities, a collaboration between the San Francisco Zen Center and Kendal Corporation. Their first community, Enso Village, is opening in Healdsburg, California in November 2023, and Enso Verde, its sister property, will be opening in Simi Valley in 2027. These revolutionary new Zen-inspired life plan communities are the result of Susan’s leadership and vision over the past 15 years as Vice President and President of the Zen Center Board of Directors, and the wisdom and experience of the Kendal Corporation.

 Susan’s career wasn’t always rooted in Zen practices. In fact, she spent over 25 years in the entertainment industry working as a professional actress and developing and producing several films. It wasn’t until her visit to Green Gulch, the Zen Center’s Muir beach location, in 1987, that Susan’s interest in meditation was sparked. After a few years of exploring this new practice, she experienced a long series of losses and difficulties and in 1995 she decided to give up her Russian Hill apartment, give everything away and move into the San Francisco Zen Center in search of peace and refuge. Susan went on to receive priest ordination from Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1999, was head monk (shuso) in 2004, and was given Dharma Transmission in 2017.

Today, Susan gives regular Dharma talks via the Zen Center, and is known for speaking on and writing about topics such as “The Power of Joy”, and “Transition- A Way to See What Matters.” She is passionate about sharing her wisdom on mindful and positive aging and after 27 years at the Zen Center Susan is now a proud resident at Enso Village in Healdsburg, spearheading the spiritual direction of Enso Verde as it is developed, and living her life to the fullest.

Key Takeaways

• Zen is what you think it is. It’s simplicity, calmness, and about being present, in its widest sense. Beyond that, it’s about living an equanimous life, being able to be flexible, and move with whatever is arising from having a strong base, cultivated by meditation.
• Community itself can be a healing modality. In Zen-inspired senior living communities, you can integrate quiet, meditation, caring about the planet, and this leads to a sense of community that is healing in and of itself.
• Dual caregiving, which often occurs at senior living communities, is when a person who thinks they’re “well” cares for another who they believe is “not well,” and the care becomes oppressive.
• Try to have buckets of joy. It can be easy to get caught on the side of loss, but there can be joy in just being alive.

The Founder of Booming Encore talks about how the digital media hub provides information and resources to help people design and live their best later life.

About Susan

Susan Williams is the Founder of Booming Encore – a digital media hub dedicated to providing information and inspiration to help people create and live their best later life. Susan is also the co-author of the book, Retirement Heaven or Hell: Which Will You Choose? and contributor to the book, Longevity Lifestyle by Design. Susan frequently writes and publicly speaks about the opportunities and challenges related to aging, retirement, and longevity.

Key Takeaways

• Older adults are choosing “slash careers” instead of retirement. An example is business analyst/dog walker
• We need to retire the word retirement. As people are living beyond standard life expectancy the whole concept of retirement is being questioned from a societal and personal perspective. Retirement means to withdraw, to pull back.
• Age-tech like wearables and sensors are being developed to support the 90% of people who want to age in their homes.

M.T. Connolly is a leading national expert on elder justice, a MacArthur “Genius Grant" awardee, and author of the 2023 book, The Measure of Our Age: Navigating Care, Safety, Money, and Meaning Later in Life. She was the architect of the federal Elder Justice Act, founder of the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, and lead author of the Elder Justice Roadmap, shaping federal, state, and local research, policy, and practice.

She is also co-designer of the community-based “RISE” model intended to introduce holistic, hopeful, and effective ways to empower older adults, reduce harms, and promote elder justice. Learn more about her work at www.mtconnolly.com

Key Takeaways

• With aging, no decision ever stays made. You have to plan, and be ready to pivot when you need to.
• Most decisions when it comes to Elder Care are made from a crisis perspective. This limits your options, your ability to do research, and make sound decisions. Work to make decisions proactively.
• To help prevent elder abuse, plan, plan, plan. Talk about your life planning in advance, consider who you trust and will put in place to help make decisions, and what kind of resources that you need now and in the future.
• Often, our perspective on aging is largely built on fear. A more positive view of aging could help combat ageism and shift cultural norms.
• Caregiving is a team sport, not a solo endeavor. Caregivers have to learn to ask for help, not take it all on themselves, and build in respite.

Roberts Signore, President and Co-founder of Thrive Pavilion encourages the use of spatial computing and virtual reality to create authentic connections and interactions between seniors.

About Robert

Robert Signore is a well-respected leader in the field of virtual reality, with a focus on using innovative technologies such as Social Virtual Reality, Spatial Computing, and the Metaverse to combat social isolation and loneliness among older adults. He co-founded Thrive Pavilion Inc, a nonprofit organization that uses the Metaverse to assist older adults overcome isolation and loneliness. Throughout his impressive career, Robert has held various executive roles in Hi-Tech and Age-Tech companies. He is committed to utilizing VR/AR technology to create meaningful connections and improve the lives of older adults.

In addition to his professional achievements, Robert leads an active personal life. He is an avid runner, biker, and powerlifter, and he is dedicated to promoting social connection to improve older adults' mental and emotional well-being. With his unique blend of technical expertise and personal commitment, Robert can connect innovative technology with genuine human experiences, profoundly impacting the lives of those he serves.

You can reach Robert via email at president@thrivepavilion.org, or on LinkedIn (https://linkedin.com/in/rsignore)

Key Takeaways

• The goal of Thrive Pavilion is to provide social connection through a virtual community center in Horizon Worlds, inside the metaverse. More than 400 members from the USA and Canada currently engage in activities which are published on the website thrivepavilion.org. Members communicate through a Facebook group when not in VR.
• Spatial computing or virtual reality has a significant impact on older adults’ emotional and mental well-being. VR creates an emotional social connection between senior living residents like relationships in the real world.
• Using a Meta Quest Headset, members participate in activities as a computer-generated avatar with other members who are also avatars. All activities—including games like Uno, corn hole, bocce, darts, and mini golf, plus a theater company, health seminars and classes on aging and art—occur in computer-generated spaces.
• The advantage of spatial computing or virtual reality is it takes away high-tech abstractions. You interface with technology the way your body is designed to work, just as you learned to interface with the world as a toddler.
• A “vignette” is a three-dimensional art piece designed by an older adult and a 3D artist inside Horizon Worlds. The art piece recreates the visuals of the story, and you experience the memory as the older adult is explaining it.

Joy is the author of the best-seller, The Complete Eldercare Planner, Revised & Updated 4th Edition and Who Will Take Care Of Me When I’m Old?  A seasoned keynote speaker and media spokesperson, Joy’s appearances include the Today show, CBS Early Show, ABC News, NPR and more. She is quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Time Magazine, and many others. USA TODAY ran a four-part series on her employee eldercare programs. Joy works with professionals as a mature-market consultant.  Visit Joy’s website: https://elderindustry.com   

Key Takeaways

• Housing and health are interrelated; you cannot talk about one without the other. When thinking about where you’re going to live as you age, you must consider what resources to support your health will be available to you.
• Aging in place requires planning. Making sure you have the appropriate support and resources while aging in place is critical to longevity, especially when homecare services can be limited.
• Aging involves lots of change. Rather than focus on the acute change, focus on the transition. Explore the questions and possibilities that arise based on the transition.
• It is important to create a safety net as you age. This includes finances, but also the flow of people around you, your community, and the things that make your feel vibrant and supported.
• Aging planning can be overwhelming. Start your planning process by picking one thing to do. Let that sink in and be enough for a while. Then, go back to planning when you can.
• Having people that are 20-30 years older than you as part of your safety net is a gift. They can be your living answers to questions that cross your path.

Lakelyn Eichenberger, Ph.D. serves as gerontologist and caregiving advocate for Honor and Home Instead, the world’s largest providers of home care. Lakelyn began her career in a local Home Instead working one-on-one with aging adults. Today, she works to educate professionals, families and communities on the unique challenges older adults face and the resources available to help them thrive.

Lakelyn earned a PhD in Gerontology from the University of Nebraska. She has spoken nationally and internationally on the topic of caregiving and aging and serves as a resource to major media including Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz. Lakelyn has a passion for helping others and giving back to her community. She is a board member of the National Alliance for Caregiving.

We are proud to have Lakelyn as an Advisory Board Member for Glowing Older!

Key Takeaways

• Caregivers often feel alone and isolated. The Caregiving Chats podcast provides education and resources for people to plan for their caregiving journey, including information on Alzheimer's and dementia, aging in place, and self-care.
• We underestimate how the person we are caring for feeds off our energy and mood. Take breaths and slow down when feeling anxious, rushed, and frustrated. Tap into homecare services and reach out to family members to build your care team.
• People are more comfortable planning for their funeral than the days, weeks and months leading up to it. We can pick out our casket and gravestone, but don’t want to talk about losing mobility, giving up driving, or needing help with activities of daily living.
• Families need to start having difficult conversations earlier. When making decisions in crisis mode, you are not gathering as much information as you should and are not evaluating all the options, which leads to regret, stress and strain.
• According to the Home Instead guide Action plan for successful aging, a majority of adult children  (54%) surveyed described their critical conversations with parents as uncomfortable at times, difficult but necessary, emotional with yelling and tears, or difficult and unsuccessful.

The Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Primetime Partners talks about building a fundamental infrastructure to improve the quality of living of older adults, including applied technology for financial longevity, caregiving, mental health, and resources for social determinants of health.

About Abby

Abby Miller Levy has spent her career helping businesses and consumer brands grow as an operator, entrepreneur, and advisor, most notably in the wellness sector. Prior to Primetime Partners, she was Senior Vice President of Strategy & Growth at SoulCycle, where she oversaw business development and revenue growth outside the consumer studio business, with an emphasis on building new digital products. Abby teamed with Arianna Huffington to launch Thrive Global, a behavior change technology company focused on employee productivity and wellness. Abby served as President of Thrive Global and remains on the Thrive Board. Abby began her career at McKinsey & Company then led product development at OXO International. She is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Business School. 

Key Takeaways

• Financial longevity is a key component to aging well. 50% of Americans are going to run out of money—not just because lifespans are increasing, but because we don't have an adequate infrastructure. People should start financial planning as early as possible.
• The number one resource to build your retirement savings is a tax free 401k. The second thing is to continue working. Forced retirement is going out the window—70% of Americans want to work longer.
• Only 11% of Americans have long-term care insurance. Many people assume incorrectly that Medicare pays for long-term care. Added to care expense are hidden costs such as home modification for aging in place.
• The cost is being borne by families. There are 53 million unpaid family caregivers who pay an average of $7,000 a year to take care of a loved one.
• Social isolation affects older adults disproportionally—50% of adults over the age of 85 live alone.
• Older adults don’t want to be stereotyped by age. They want to be aligned with their interests and passions versus numeric segmentation.
• Older adults are heterogeneous in interests, priorities, and attitudes, so marketers must consider microsegments not just sociodemographics.

The founder and CEO of Serenbe talks about the importance of fresh air, farm to table food, art, and education, and the community’s 20-year progression from breaking ground in 2004 to 500 houses, five restaurants, 35 businesses, and development of a leading-edge aging in place campus.

About Steve

Steve Nygren began his career in the hospitality industry, eventually starting a restaurant corporation that grew to 36 restaurants. In 1994, he and his wife Marie retired to a farm outside Atlanta, with their three daughters. Six years later, he became concerned about urban sprawl invading their adopted country paradise and in 2000 led the effort to create the Chattahoochee Hill Country Alliance to bring together landowners, developers, and conservationists to find a mutually agreed upon solution for balanced growth. Through two years, a land use plan was adopted to preserve 70% of the 40,000 acres on the edge of Atlanta while providing 20% more housing that traditional suburban sprawl yield.

 In 2004, the Nygren’s began the development of Serenbe interlacing agriculture with a range of housing choices mixed with shops, galleries, restaurants and a full-service Inn. The result is reminiscent of century old communities where many of your needs are within a walkable distance and neighbors know each other. Today, Steve serves as the CEO of Serenbe and lives in the community full-time.

Key Takeaways

• Serenbe contributes over a million dollars for art and environmental programming annually. Zoning requires 70% of the land to remain agricultural.
• Serenbe’s Montessori-based school has grown from a resident’s basement to the completion of a 100% geothermal multimillion-dollar campus with the first Tesla solar shingles on any commercial building in the world and they will be totally self-sustaining from an energy standpoint.
• The new aging in place campus, breaking ground in February 2024, is based on The Hogeweyk® dementia village in the Netherlands. There will be no gates or locks, no age restrictions, multigenerational living, and care based on needs and lifestyle.
• Feasibility studies are based on looking through the rearview mirror. There are a lot of roadblocks to cutting new territory—many developers do not have the passion, patience, or ability.

Scott Fulton, President of Home Ideations and The National Aging in Place Council®, is on a mission to improve the way people age. He shares his vision of aging well, which includes nutrition, exercise, connection, and community.

About Scott

Scott Fulton is a recognized health and longevity thought leader, celebrated for his pragmatic, systems approach to solving big challenges. He wears multiple hats as an accomplished business leader, adult educator, design consultant, and keynote speaker. Scott also serves on numerous community, national, and corporate Boards.

Driven by his dedicated mission to enhance public health and overall well-being, Scott serves as President of The National Aging in Place Council and is a proud member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

In his role as President of Home Ideations, Scott guides consumers and corporate clients to see opportunities in designing better solutions for tomorrow’s longevity needs. Notably, he recently designed and built a forward-looking home for his family that he calls the Livability Project, with functional design features for today’s longevity adults. A respected author, Scott has co-authored influential works such as "Eldercare 101," "Aging in Place Conversations," and "Longevity Lifestyle by Design." His latest project, "WHEALTHSPAN," is poised for release in late 2023.

As a co-host on "The Tattered Capes Podcast," Scott passionately shares his mission to foster awareness about the opportunities associated with aging, longevity, and the capacity to optimize for healthy and fulfilling lives. Beyond his intellectual pursuits, Scott is a multisport athlete, competing in numerous triathlon events, including two Ironmans.

Key Takeaways 

• The community of the future adopts the best of senior living and aging in place and provides new ways of building connections.   
• Lifestyle communities are more than a building—they create a lifestyle that is consistent with where you have been and where you are trying to go. The loneliest you can be is around a group of people where you don't belong.
• Hospitalization brings a host of negative health consequences, increasing the risk of dementia by 50%, a 30% increased risk of heart and stroke, and up to a four times higher risk of death.
• Nutrition and exercise are the cornerstones of health. There is no way to be healthy without daily movement, ideally 150 minutes of moderate intensity a week that gets the heart up.
• The pandemic brought more options to successfully age in place, including telemedicine and options for food delivery and home maintenance.

Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on issues of aging and the new retirement with academic, corporate and nonprofit experience. She has received numerous awards for her university teaching at the University of Southern California’s Davis School of Gerontology and for her contributions to the field of aging, the community, and literary arts. As one of the nation’s leading experts on preparing for the non-economic aspects of retirement, she has worked with over 25,000 employees at corporations, universities, and religious institutions to do just that. 

Editor of two books, author of over 100 additional articles and frequent speaker, Helen is co-founder of Renewment®: and co-author of the Los Angeles Times bestseller, "Project Renewment: The First Retirement Model for Career Women" (Scribner).  She has been recognized by PBS Next Avenue as one of the 50 influencers in aging. In her volunteer life she has been president of five nonprofit organizations and has been recognized with awards for her leadership.

 Key Takeaways

• Ageism is the dominant theme in Dennis’ Successful Aging column. Other key themes include loss—of loved ones, physical ability, and jobs—caregiving, and cognitive health.
• There is a shortage of geriatricians in the U.S.—approximately 7,500 board-certified geriatricians for nearly 56 million people 65 and over in the U.S. 

• Workplace and retirement are big issues for older adults—finding a new identity and sense of purpose as overarching themes. Dennis recommends taking a breath and thinking about what brings pleasure and joy.
• Aging is a hard sell. We need to figure out how to make it palatable and aspirational. Aging needs to be framed in both realistic and positive terms with a focus on opportunities.

Pamela Toto, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Occupational Therapy, shares details on the Pitt Healthy Home Laboratory which develops and evaluates technologies and home services to help people live safely and independently at home.

About Pam

Pamela Toto, PhD, OTR/L, BCG, FAOTA, FGSA, is a Professor at the University of Pittsburgh and senior scientist in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Healthy Home Laboratory. She is also a Doctor of Clinical Science in Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Pittsburgh, an online post-professional clinical doctorate focused on strategies to implement best evidence in clinical practice. She is an occupational therapist, researcher and educator who is internationally recognized within her field for her expertise in gerontology.

Board Certified in Gerontology and a Fellow of  the American Occupational Therapy Association and a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, Dr. Toto has over 30 years of clinical experience as an occupational therapist providing services for older adults in the community and in long term care settings. Dr. Toto’s clinical and research interests focus on the implementation of client-centered interventions in “real world” settings to promote independence, participation and healthy aging in older adults.  She is a national trainer and instructor for evidence-based programs including CarFit, Matter of Balance, and Skills2Care, and  has over 100 peer-reviewed publications and presentations, combined, on topics related to successful aging.

Key Takeaways

• Healthy Home lab brings together professionals who help people age in place to educate students about challenges and develops solutions. Professionals include nurses, social workers, engineers, occupational and physical therapists, physicians, and physician assistants.
• Occupational therapists are trained to help people across the lifespan with activities of daily living and help people maximize their bodies and minds. The goal is helping older adults remain autonomous and independent as long as possible.
•  Housing stock in the United States is not ready for aging in place. Only 10% of homes are ready for people to age in place, and in the Northeast it is 6.8%.

• The dynamic between older adults and adult children is challenging. Older adults want autonomy and adult children choose safety over independence. Older adults are willing to accept some risk to maintain their dignity.

• It is important to have hard discussions when people are well rather than waiting for a crisis. We must figure out better ways to minimize the risk and find solutions for older adults. Eliminating a person’s chosen activity is not the solution.

• Young people have fewer natural opportunities to interact with older adults, so working with older adults is not their first impetus. Occupational therapy students are excited about the shift to a preventative model versus Medicare reimbursed “damage control.”

The founder and CEO of Happy at Home Consulting in Iowa shares the company’s progression from humble roots to a sophisticated offering of home modification and wellness consultations, resource navigation, safety evaluations, and community partnerships.

About Sydney

Sydney Marshman, OTD, OTR/L, is the founder and CEO of Happy at Home Consulting based in Des Moines, Iowa. In her own family's struggles with keeping Nana safe at home, Sydney recognized the unique role of occupational therapy in assessing how environmental factors contribute to aging well at home. Happy at Home provides therapy at home to older adults with her team of physical, occupational and speech therapists. In addition to traditional rehabilitative services, Sydney continues to increase access to home safety evaluations throughout the state.

Happy at Home presently provides the evidenced-based programs CAPABLE and HARP through collaborations with community partners. Sydney is presently acting as the President-Elect of the Iowa Occupational Therapy Association and advocates for accessible housing through her involvement with multiple state coalitions. She received her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Drake University. In her free time, Sydney enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and their three dogs. 

Key Takeaways 

• The CAPABLE program  run by Iowa’s Connections Area Agency on Aging helps older adults function safely in their homes. Participants receive up to 6 visits with an Occupational Therapist (OT), 4 visits with a Registered Nurse (RN), and minor home repairs/modifications and/or assistive devices to help individuals age in place and prevent falls.
•  The majority of falls occur in the bathroom. It is considered a high-risk environment.
•  Assisted technologies are game changers but need to meet people’s level of comfort with technology, the OT may recommend low-tech solutions like motion sensor nightlights, or high-tech solutions like smart home environmental control units.
• The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) offers resource navigation and a list of providers and services in each state. The AAA Assistive Technology Program allows older adults to check out technologies for 30 days at no cost.

Senior Advisor of Trilogy Connect Scott Townsley talks about stagnation in senior living and how we prepare for the avalanche of aging consumers.

About Scott

Scott Townsley has more than 30 years’ experience in the senior living and senior care field.  He formed Trilogy Connect, LLC after serving as the managing principal of Third Age, Inc. – one of the largest firms dedicated to consulting and strategy for senior living organizations.  He was also a principal within the senior living practice of CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP.   Scott has worked with hundreds of organizations across the country as they have grappled with how to successfully navigate and drive change. He is known for his willingness to ask provocative questions and probe traditional thinking.

Scott has previously served as a Lecturer, Adjunct Associate Professor and Professor of the Practice with University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Erickson School, where he taught graduate courses on Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation. He has also served as the Chair of the Advisory Committee for UMass Boston’s graduate program in the Management of Aging Services.   In 2016 he co-founded the Center for Innovation - a 501(c)(3) that sponsors The Green House Project.

Key Takeaways

• Innovation in senior living is incremental. There is a disconnect between what the consumer is looking for and where we need to go in the sector.
• Getting back to the way things were pre-Covid is not the answer. There is innovation, but not on a significant scale. One of the reasons is the gravitational pull of the status quo.
• We're facing an avalanche of aging consumers and we are not structurally prepared. We need investment in common areas, hallways, living units and pricing plans.

Carol Chiang, OTR/L, CAPS, ECHM, CHAMP, founder and CEO of Evolving Homes®, shares insights from her 25 years as an occupational therapist. As a “professional problem solver,” she helps clients create a personal advisory board to optimize their environment and quality of life.

About Carol

Carol Chiang is an Occupational Therapist, Aging in Place and AgeTech Expert. She is the founder of Evolving Homes® which specializes in luxury accessibility for homeowners designing their forever homes. She is the creator of Age in Place or Find a New Space®, a service which determines if moving to a new home is more cost effective than remodeling an existing home.

Carol is an Aging in Place and AgeTech consultant for Toyota Research Institute, MITAgeLab, AARP and AARP AgeTech Collaborative where she teaches innovators what challenges their target markets face. She has been a speaker at numerous conferences including the Planning for Longevity Advisors Network Form at MIT, University of Florida’s Parkinsons Symposium, UBS’s Family Forum and the Rehab Tech Summit. She has appeared in national webinars for the National Kitchen and Bath Association, AARP and Davis Phinney Foundation. She also filmed a pilot TV show about luxury Aging in Place in 2021.

Carol is a former elite athlete, missing the 1996 Olympic Team cut by 1/10th of a second. She enjoys challenges and has climbed Mt. Kilamanjaro, lived abroad as an ex-pat and speaks multiple languages including English, French, Chinese. She is very active in her community as a Rotarian and has a special interest in building multi-generational relationships between teens and older adults in programs such as the MIT AgeLab Omega.

Key Takeaways

• Planning allows for better decision making and saves money. Start home modifications early and evolve as needs change. Construction is challenging no matter how well you plan for it.

• Occupational therapists look at the big picture with a focus on what is most meaningful. An example is the addition of raised planter beds if you love gardening but can’t crouch down due to knee surgery.
• Fall prevention is not installing grab bars, it is looking at the whole person and all the pieces, including caregivers and finances.
• Social networks are a critical component of aging in place. Local community is vitally important for connection and support.

The founder and CEO of Second Act Financial Services shares his formula for helping older adults and their families find financial flexibility. Second Act allows people to take their time selling their homes, providing tailor-made bridge loan solutions and comprehensive resources to age well.

About Elias

Elias Papasavvas has dedicated his career to enhancing access to retirement housing and senior living. He is viewed as an authority on tailoring and delivering consumer banking programs for the elder population.

Elias is known for pioneering the concept of elder care loans and point of sale financing for senior living over two decades ago. As CEO of Second Act Financial Services, Elias successfully oversees the Division’s unique lending approach in its understanding of the needs of retirement housing providers, retirees, and their families. 

Elias has been named a “Leader in Elder Care”; has served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Assisted Living Association, the Advisory Board of the George Mason University Assisted Living Program, the Advisory Board of the American Seniors Housing Association; and is a past member of the American Seniors Housing Association Chairman’s Circle.

Key Takeaways

• Aging in place—especially for solo agers—can be lonely. Studies show social isolation is as harmful as smoking two packs of cigarettes a day.
• Considerations for moving into senior living include the level of independence and support needed for daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and remembering to take medication.
• Geriatric care managers (aka aging life professionals) can initiate hard conversations with aging parents and make assessments that are helpful for next steps.
• Multigenerational living is a viable alternative to senior living. Families are adding accessory dwelling units and in-law suites so older adults can maintain privacy and autonomy.

Berit Lewis shares insights from her new book Ageing Upward, A mindfulness-based framework for the longevity revolution. Learn how to create more acceptance, self-compassion and mental flexibility while overcoming unconscious negative beliefs and societal discrimination.

About Berit

Berit Lewis is co-founder of Thrive Life, customized mindfulness-based training programs. She is an accredited MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) Teacher, trained in ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and also trained at Mindfulness in Schools Foundations (MiSP) to teach .B Foundations for teachers.

She is a category 1 member of VMBN (Vereniging Mindfulness Based Trainers Nederland en Vlaanderen) and holds a BA (Honours) in Psychology, a MA of Communication and a MSc of Vitality and Ageing. She has extensive experience in teaching MBSR courses in groups or to individuals.

Recently as part of her master thesis at Leyden Academy for Vitality and Ageing she developed, taught and researched an online Mindfulness Based Vitality and Ageing (MBVA) course for older persons. She has previously also developed a successful mindfulness course for teenagers. 

Before founding Thriving Life, she worked as a communication- and PR specialist in Denmark and Australia – including 10 years as a communications specialist at the Danish Defence. Berit is Danish, married to a Welshman and lives in the Netherlands with two teenage children.

Key Takeaways

• When we are mindful, we are better able to sustain attention and become aware of habits, thoughts, and behavior. Mindfulness allows the freedom to consciously make new choices.
• There is a lot of advice to help people avoid aging but not much about how to cope with the challenges that we will face as we age.
• Mindfulness breeds compassion. When we meet life with compassion and kindness, we are more resilient and emotionally intelligent.

Nicole Will shares insights from 120+ willGather podcasts episodes about family caregiving, the care economy, and senior living. Learn about her mission to bring senior living out into the community and empower older adults and families.

About Nicole

Nicole Will is a passionate advocate for our aging community, equipping older adults, family caregivers, and eldercare professionals with valuable information and resources. As the founder of willGather, she enlightens and expands people's awareness of leaders and initiatives in the care economy space through the willGather Podcast: Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One. Nicole Will brings helpful resources, valuable information, and practical tools that will encourage and give hope to caregivers as they navigate the aging journey with their loved ones for a more meaningful and fulfilled life.

In honor of her grandma, she also founded Gigi Betty co. by willGather, a boutique gift shop raising funds and awareness for family caregivers. As a collective, we are a powerful force for good. A portion of all proceeds are donated to support caregivers. With over 20 years of experience in aging and senior living services, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services: Social Gerontology and is actively certified with NCCAP. She spent years as a Director at a well-respected senior living community overseeing the Therapeutic Recreation, Volunteer, and Spiritual Care departments. She also served on the MAPA board and as an adjuvant faculty member at the University of St. Catherine.

Her hands-on approach and advocacy are inspired by her close relationship with her grandma, who came to live with her family giving her a deep understanding of family caregiver needs.

Website and Links:

www.willgather.com

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Podcast on Apple & Spotify

www.gigibettyco.com

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/WillGather-1132074970266544

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/willgather/

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/user/myEventConnect

Key Takeaways

• Family caregivers only look to senior living when there is an event or crisis. Senior living communities can provide education and support and serve as guides for adult children to understand the caregiver’s journey.
• Senior living community should partner with companies that provide solutions for aging in place. For example, occupational therapists that provide support systems for the home.

• Senior living combats social isolation and at its best provides opportunities for lifelong learning, purpose and joy.

Paula Hertel and Nancy Schier Anzelmo had a dream to support individuals with mild cognitive decline and their care partners through the magic of horses. Learn how their passion for horses and senior living collided in 2015 with Connected Horse, how research from Stanford and UC Davis shows a reduction in depression, improved sleep and increased feelings of hope and connection, and their plans to expand the ground-breaking programs nationwide.

About Paula

Paula Hertel, MSW, is a co-founder and President of Connected Horse, and she has spent the last 25 years focused on improving service delivery systems for elders in need of care and services through consulting projects and executive management positions. She has broad experience in senior housing and assisted living operations, staff training, regulatory compliance, new program development and family and community needs. She is the founder of Senior Living Consult and co-founder of The ElderHub and provides consulting services to organizations and individuals in need of operational and strategic direction regarding elder care services and program development. Prior to her current ventures, she was Executive Operations Officer for Emeryoak, LLC and Chief Operating Officer of AgeSong Senior Communities, operators of assisted living and dementia care communities, where she oversaw operations, marketing and new building development. Previously, she served as Vice President of Operations and Marketing for Elder Care Alliance, a nonprofit faith-based organization, where she participated in all phases of feasibility, development, and operations for its assisted-living, dementia care, and multilevel long-term care communities in California.

About Nancy

Nancy Schier Anzelmo, MSG, is a co-founder and Educational Director of Connected Horse and is a widely known, highly regarded gerontologist and Alzheimer’s/dementia care specialist, consultant, speaker and trainer. As principal and founder of Alzheimer’s Care Associates LLC, she strives to enable her clients to achieve excellence in dementia care. Whether the environment is assisted living, adult day programs, skilled nursing or home care, Nancy is dedicated to promoting “person-centered” care that offers those with dementia opportunities to grow socially and spiritually and to enjoy enriched an satisfying lives. Nancy’s career spans nearly 20 years and includes hands-on understanding of senior care marketing, operations, budgeting, program development, planning and evaluation gained as staff in a variety of long-term care setting. She is a faculty member in the Gerontology Department of California State University Sacramento and the Program Forum Professional Training Program Coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Association of California.

Key Takeaways

• Connected Horse takes a “research-first” approach to validate outcomes, partnering with Stanford’s Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) and the Red Barn Leadership Program and UC Davis School Center for Equine Health and Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
• Outcomes from the 4-week Connected Horse program include reduced depression and agitation, improved sleep, increased complex engagement, increased language ability and relationship satisfaction at home or in senior living or adult day care programs.
• Studies show a horse can match your heartbeat four feet away and is quick to pick up on human emotions.
• The Home Sensory Engagement Kit showcases Connected Horse in a virtual setting, capturing the horse’s natural responses in a variety of settings. The box comes with a handful of hay and pieces of leather along with stories and photographs of horses to create a multisensory approach.

With degrees in design, gerontology, environmental psychology, and community planning, Esther Greenhouse brings a unique perspective to housing and communities. Learn about Silver to Gold’s Enabling Design Approach that eases the staffing crisis by creating environments that support independence and allow people of all ages to flourish.

About Esther

Esther Greenhouse, CEO of Silver to Gold Strategic Consulting, is a strategist and environmental gerontologist bringing a unique constellation of experience and expertise in design, gerontology, environmental psychology, and planning, to help organizations and communities excel at meeting the needs of those 50+ and enable them to THRIVE!

Her unique Enabling Design Approach informed AARP International’s Equity by Design initiative, as well as the design of the nation’s first elder-focused Emergency Room at the request of Dr. Bill Thomas. Esther co-authored the American Planning Association's Aging in Community Policy Guide, is an industry scholar for the Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures and served as the Strategic Director for one of the nation’s first Age-Friendly Centers for Excellence. The International Well Building Institute has appointed Esther to their newly formed Investing for Health Advisory.

For 10 years she was the primary caregiver for her mother.

Key Takeaways

• Environments impact the functioning and well-being of older adults, for better or worse. An optimal fit between the person and environment allows the highest level of independence.

• The greater the gap between a person’s abilities and what an environment demands, the more they are subjected to environmental press–when the person is pushed to an artificially lower level of functioning by design.

• Status quo environments are designed for a small subset of the population—the average height male between the ages of 20 and 40. We design for the highest physical cognitive and sensory abilities; everybody else has to adapt.

• In 2010 we had approximately seven potential caregivers for every older adult. By 2050, it will be less than three. Enabling Design leverages the built environment to reduce demand for long-term care.

Jennifer is the co-host of the Biophilic Solutions™, a podcast about the human connection to nature, and faculty advisor at the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics and Brain Health Initiative— a collaborative effort that launched with Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital. 

 About Jennifer

Jennifer is a 26-year serial entrepreneur in the wellness, beauty, and retail landscape. She created the first omni-channel beauty brand in the US in 1997, Beauty Bar sold to Amazon in 2010. Her retail concept became the first in America to incorporate biophilic design where she understood the connection between nature and the beauty space. Jennifer grew her business until she sold the

Utilizing her experience creating immersive retail spaces and living in a tent each summer for 30+ years, Jennifer incorporated Recharge Rooms for clients around the country to aid in calm and relaxation for corporate clients, hotel groups, and others. In 2017 she began creating Back to Nature programs, including her signature Wellness Walks in Central Park and around the country. Her new walking journal, Walk Your Way Calm, is a wellness handbook on how to use walking in nature as a potent tool for tackling stress and anxiety.

Key Takeaways

• Biophilia is our innate human connection to all living things. Connecting to nature and green spaces gives us life.

• Neuroscientists and doctors confirm the health benefits of nature on the body. Studies show looking at nature outside a window for 40 seconds can relax the prefrontal cortex.
• Outdoor activities like walking in nature and gardening promote awareness and lowers stress. Contact with living things in the soil builds the immune system and aids in brain health.

The “Ambassador of Elderhood” talks about approaching aging as a “Team Sport.” His newest venture, PLAYING TO WIN, is a Global Symposium on Aging Magnificently presented by Lifespark in partnership with The Eden Alternative. The 10-week online educational series focuses on creating strength, purpose, and belonging through gamification, combating ageism, and shifting the focus of wellness from “Me” to “We.” 

About Dr. Bill

Dr. Bill Thomas is a physician, professor, entrepreneur, playwright, and performer whose wide-ranging work explores the terrain of human aging. His dedication to culture change and innovations for well-being led to him being named by the Wall Street Journal as one of the nation’s “Top 10 Innovators changing the future of retirement in America. He was also included in US News and World Report list of “America’s Best Leaders.”

Dr. Thomas is currently the Chief Independence Officer at Lifespark and the founder of PLAYING TO WIN, a Global Symposium on Aging Magnificently presented by Lifespark in partnership with The Eden Alternative.  Learn more and sign up here.

Key Takeaways

• Dr. Thomas wrote four books focused on enhancing strength, purpose and belonging: 1. Aging Magnificently, 2. MESH (Move, Eat, Sleep, Heal), 3. The Good Life, planning for a better future, and 4. Better Together, aging as a team sport.

• Older people are often missing risk in their lives, and risk is an essential ingredient of strength, purpose and belonging. Risk is defined as entering a situation where we don't know the outcome.

• Lifespark hosts four Performance Leagues with teams, prizes, and a competition schedule—a Triathlon Tournament, Forklift Racing, the Grip games focused on increasing grip strength, and the Spark Challenge, a quiz show about aging.

• A cruel manifestation of ageism is the notion that older people either rise or fall on their own. The ticket to healthy old age is reciprocity—where you depend on somebody and somebody depends on you. Wellness needs to shift to the level of community.

Jeannie Ralston talks about the evolution of NextTribe, the travel and events company for women 45+. Learn about how NextTribe breaks down stereotypes about aging while providing opportunities for community and adventure.

About Jeannie

Jeannie Ralston is the co-founder and CEO of NextTribe, which informs, promotes, and connects women who are determined to “Age Boldly” (NextTribe’s tagline). In addition to publishing articles by top writers, NextTribe hosts events around the country and takes women on trips, both internationally and domestically.

Ralston’s work as a journalist has been published in National Geographic, Life, The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, Allure, and many other magazines. Her years growing lavender in rural Texas was the subject of her memoir, The Unlikely Lavender Queen, published by Broadway Books; her e-book, The Mother of All Field Trips, was about the three years she and her husband homeschooled and traveled with their sons.

In 2018, she was named Digital influencer of the Year by Austin Woman magazine, and was a Folio Top Women in Media honoree. She also organized and spoke at a SXSW panel called “How Midlife Women Work Their Entrepreneurial Mojo.”

Key Takeaways

• NextTribe’s growth numbers reflects an unmet need for women 45+, with 60,000 monthly unique website visitors, 100,000 Facebook followers, and an 20,000 subscribed to the e-newsletter, and 1,500 paid members. Fourteen trips are planned in 2023.
•  The central premise of NextTribe’s content and events is to help women reach their potential and connect to likeminded women.  

•  Ageism starts with ageism against ourselves. You can’t change the fact that you are aging but you can change your attitude.

The Positive Aging Community is leading the conversation on aging well with professionals, older adults, and family members. Steve shares key trends and lessons learned from more than 300 interactive discussions on resources for senior living, aging in place, and thriving in the next chapter.

About Steve

Steve Gurney founded Retirement Living SourceBook in 1990. Drawing from the experience of observing his family care for Steve’s aging grandfather, he created a comprehensive publication to help others in the same situation. Steve has worked closely with nearly every regional and national organization on aging to help maximize their exposure and find solutions to their challenges.

In 1998, Steve sold his company to The Washington Post where he served as General Manager of Sourcebook and the Senior Living Solutions Division. In 2019, he re-acquired Sourcebook and re-branded as Positive Aging Community with a robust schedule of live and interactive programs.

Steve has a Masters Degree from the Erickson School of Aging Studies at University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), where he also served as an adjunct professor.

Key Takeaways

• Members in the Positive Aging Community are equal parts personal and professional—half older adults and families and half senior living and aging services.
• Positive Aging Community’s number one topic is solo aging. Most of us are solo agers in training—couples are unlikely to pass at the same time, and parents don’t’ want to burden their children.

• Assisted living and a trend towards aging in place with grassroots initiatives like The Village Movement have changed the landscape of support for older adults.
• Covid created an awareness about the unhealthy effects of loneliness and isolation. Social connections are an important determinant when considering aging in place.

Kerry Hannon is a workplace futurist and a leading expert and strategist on career management and work transitions, entrepreneurship, personal finance and retirement. Kerry is the author of more than a dozen best-selling and award-winning books, including “In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in The New World of Work,” “Never Too Old to Get Rich,” “Great Jobs for Everyone 50+,” “Great Pajama Jobs: Your Complete Guide to Working From Home,” “Love Your Job” and “What’s Next?”

She has covered all aspects of careers, business and personal finance as a columnist, editor, and writer for the nation’s leading media companies, including The New York Times, Forbes, MarketWatch, Money, PBS, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal, among other national publications. Kerry has appeared as a career and financial expert on The Dr. Phil Show ABC, CBS, CNBC, NBC Nightly News, NPR, Yahoo Finance and PBS.

Follow Kerry on Twitter @KerryHannon, visit her website at KerryHannon.com, and check out her LinkedIn profile at www.linkedin.com/in/kerryhannon. For Instagram users: https://www.instagram.com/kerryhannon/

Key Takeaways

• You are never too old to get rich. Focus on finding richness in your work and value in what you are doing.
• The workplace profoundly changed during the pandemic, particularly for those over 50. People were laid off and took early retirement. The shift was psychological as well as financial.
• By nature of the aging population, there is a tremendous need to keep workers on the job longer.
• Start planning in your 50s, what you might want to do in your 60s. 'Wade' into that territory by taking a class, doing some informational interviews or job-shadowing. Adopt a learning mindset.

Brian Patterson talks about his role as Goodwin Living’s Innovation and Development Chef, including mentorship, vocational culinary programs, and sustainability. Learn why Goodwin Living is a Washington Post Top Workplace for the past four consecutive years.

About Brian

Brian Patterson is the Innovation and Development Chef at Goodwin Living™, supporting dining services operations at the three senior living communities Goodwin House Alexandria, Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads and The View Alexandria. Brian also partners with local culinary programs to host internships designed to smooth the transition from the classroom to professional work in a senior living setting. He joined Goodwin Living in 2020, having previously worked for the American Medical Association, L’Academie de Cuisine and Glenstone Museum. 

Goodwin Living touches the lives of thousands of people every day through its range of senior living communities, specialized health care services, community partnerships and philanthropic endeavors. With a mission to support, honor and uplift the lives of older adults and the people who care for them, Goodwin Living leads the way in expanding the places and ways we can all thrive and find purpose as we age. Older adults will discover options that meet them where they want to be, and those options are managed and provided by team members who represent more than 65 countries. Get more information at GoodwinLiving.org or by following Goodwin Living on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Key Takeaways

• Goodwin Living’s mentorship program is paramount to retention and recruitment success. Their partnership with local vocational culinary program Kitchen of Purpose, which donates meals to low-income families and individuals, and high school programs.
• The Kitchen of Purpose program has resulted in the successful matriculation of three interns to full-time positions. Cooks develop skills in a three-tiered job system where they move up the career ladder with attainable goals, progressing from a “Cook 1” to “Cook 3” role.
• Goodwin Livings sustainability efforts include a composting program to reduce waste, sourcing local ingredients, and community-wide recycling and conservation programs spearheaded with the resident “Green Team.” Composted soil is delivered to residents each spring to use in their garden boxes.
• Dining trends include interest in less formal dining spaces like cafes and to-go and delivery options. The key is flexibility and choice.

As Senior Vice President of Operations for Sunrise Senior Living, Denise Falco is helping residents design their preferred lifestyle in the heart of New York City. Learn how Sunrise is creating the best of urban living—from 5-star dining, to state-of-the-art technology, to a partnership with The Julliard School, to Silver LEED Certification and WELL Building Standards.

About Denise

Denise joined the Sunrise team in 2007 and has risen to Senior Vice President of Operations for both of Sunrise’s Manhattan communities, Sunrise at East 56th (now open) and The Apsley (opening this spring). In her role, Denise works across all aspects of the communities from business management and strategy, recruiting and training new hires, and resident and family services.

Key Takeaways

• Sunrise’s luxury projects in Manhattan have flexible spacesincluding wellness suites for physical and occupational therapy and extensive outdoor areas, including a rooftop garden with doors that open and close depending on the weather. Smaller suites turn into larger suites, depending on residents’ wants and needs.
• The 5-star dining program at Sunrise at East 56th features executive chefs from top US restaurants, and partnerships with local establishments such as Balthazar Bakery. Residents can continue to enjoy the things they are used to enjoying throughout the city.
• State-of-the- technology includes Philips wearables to monitor steps, movement, and vitals, digital signage, and a voice assistant.

The founder of Silvereco.org talks about the 2023 Silver Eco & Ageing Well International Festival at the prestigious Palais des Festivals de Cannes on September 18th. More than 30 countries are expected to participate in the most comprehensive B2B for aging services in the world. Highlights include the SilverNight International Ageing Awards, expert forums, an expo of aging services and products, and tours of senior housing and home care models in the South of France.

About Jérôme

Jérôme Pigniez is founder and president of On-Medio and SilverEco.org, the silver economy portal that lists all the players in the aging well sector. He is an expert in demographic transition, technologies for autonomy and the Silver Economy; he is invited to speak at conferences, write books and reports, and take part in working groups on the subject of ageing.

Jérôme was the reporter for one of the Silver Economy working groups of the Ministry of the Elderly and Autonomy, which followed the official launch of the Silver Economy branch of the government, and was entrusted with a mission to identify the players in this complex sector. He did so by co-founding several ageing well structures and founding On-Medio through which he supports and advises various companies in this field.

Finally, Jérôme is the producer and organizer of SilverNight, the SilverEco Awards and Aging Well International Awards, whose purpose is to discover and reward the best structures involved in supporting the elderly population. After a great international success in Paris and Tokyo, this annual event has been hosted since 2021 at the Palais des Festivals of Cannes as a part of the SilverEco & Ageing Well International Festival, the worldwide meeting of Silver Economy players. The event has continued to grow, gathering international representatives from all around the globe to build a better ageing well world.

Key Takeaways

• SilverEco Awards and SilverNight Aging Well International Awards are open to innovations in aging around the globe. Applicants pitch directly to a jury of experts on the first day of the Festival.
• The educational program features age-tech, senior living housing models, caregiver support, and marketing and communications to target older adults.
• The post-festival tour includes visits to senior living communities and home health venues in the South of France, including networking with the founders of innovative start-ups and representatives from the French government.

As professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Grabowski advises the US Congress on Medicare policy issues and nursing home reform. Learn about the recommendations from CMS’s Coronavirus Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes and the National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine Commission.

About David

David C. Grabowski, Ph.D. is a professor of health care policy in the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed research articles with a particular focus on long-term care. He has testified in front of Congress five times on issues related to the care of older adults.

Dr. Grabowski is a member of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. He has also served on several Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) technical expert panels, including the recent CMS Coronavirus Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes. He was also a member of the recent National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Committee on the Quality of Care in Nursing Homes.

Key Takeaways

• The pandemic has been a “crisis on top of a crisis.” COVID lifted the veil on social ills that have been present in nursing homes for four decades.
• There are two major challenges in long-term care and post-acute care in the U.S. 1. We underfund long-term care and post-acute care services and 2. We spend money on the wrong things without enough accountability for how public funds are being spent.
• Budgets need to transition away from nursing homes and towards home and community-based services. The Biden Administration tried early on to put more money into home-and-community-based services, but the effort failed.
• Nursing home reforms include consideration of minimum staffing standards, greater transparency around ownership and finances, and increased regulatory oversight to make certain facilities are accountable.

Bryan Rife, CEO of Sparkle Success, has over 27 years in the healthcare arena and holds a Life Coach Certification through the Academy of Modern Applied Psychology and is nationally certified as an Activity Director with a specialization in education through the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals.  He is also a Licensed Montessori Home Engagement Certification and MEPAP 1 APC course Instructor through NCCAP.

Bryan has previously served on the boards of the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals in Washington, DC and the Coalition of Activity Professionals in North Carolina.  He is a former instructor for the North Carolina state approved Activity Director course and has traveled the country presenting at many different healthcare conferences and workshops as a keynote speaker.

Key Takeaways

• The position of activity professional has pivoted from playing games and doing crafts to a person-centered care approach. Today there is more inter-departmental interaction with nursing and administration to provide the best solution for each resident.
• The pandemic allowed insight into the invaluable impact that activities directors have on residents and elevated the profession.
• Activity professionals are hungry for education about programming and meeting the needs of people with cognitive impairment, different religions and cultures, and LGBTQIA+.