Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Partners in Change

No matter what you celebrate, as we enter this beautiful season of lights, I’m reminded that every culture shares one truth: Hope grows when people come together.

That spirit has defined AgingIN throughout 2025.

This year, we:

  • United our identities bringing the Center for Innovation, The GREEN HOUSE® Project, and Pioneer Network together under one clear, powerful brand.
  • Shared our message nationwide, speaking at conferences and gatherings ____ times where leaders are shaping the future of aging services.
  • Hosted an unforgettable Annual Conference in St. Louis, filled with courage, laughter, meaningful conversations, and “AH HA” moments.
  • Elevated new voices through 326 podcast episodes featuring some of the brightest minds in aging services today.

I thank you. These successes belong to you…our partners, care teams, coalition leaders, sponsors, volunteers, and advocates working every day to make aging better.

Looking to 2026, I remain deeply optimistic. Yes, funding challenges persist, and our workforce continues to carry heavy burdens. But we are not powerless. Each of us can help reshape what aging and caregiving looks like in this country and globally.

In the year ahead, AgingIN will double down on:

  • Workforce empowerment
  • Sustainable education and coaching
  • Emotional and professional support for care teams
  • Practical tools that lift up care partners and enrich lives of older adults

If you’re ready to take the next step, there are many ways to get involved: Become part of a State Coalition, volunteer, bring culture elevation to your community, or simply begin adopting small, person-directed practices.

Every action matters. Every voice helps shift the narrative.
Thank you for being part of this movement that believes aging is living—and that every person deserves to be treated as someone’s precious child.

Wishing you peace, light, joy, and connection this holiday season.
Here’s to a brighter, more human 2026—together.

With gratitude and hope,
Susan Ryan
CEO, AgingIN

What’s Ahead This January.

We’re kicking off the year with a full calendar of opportunities to learn, connect, and spark new momentum:

January 21-22—ReImaging Care Models: Financially Responsible Decisions in a Changing Landscape
New Orleans
Start 2026 with the clarity, strategy, and expert insight you need to make one of the most critical decisions facing senior care providers. Learn more and register today!

The Event of the Year: August 10-13, 2026:

The AgingINnovation 2026 Conference in Denver

Peak Purpose: Redefining How We Live and Age

There are many wonderful conferences in our field, but if you had to choose just one in 2026, this is the one you don’t want to miss. Every year, participants tell us this conference changes them.

This August, the AgingINnovation Conference returns to Denver for three extraordinary days designed to expand your thinking, elevate your practice, and reignite your purpose. It’s where the latest global research meets practical, person-directed approaches that you can bring home immediately combined with stellar leadership topics and inspiration.

If you have team members who might be feeling stretched thin or on the edge of burnout, this conference is the perfect reset. They’ll leave energized, inspired, and equipped with new tools from cutting-edge behavior and care research straight from academic collaborators to proven coaching frameworks that support workforce resilience.

Pre-Conference Longevity Summit

With robust science confirming the impact of brain health practices, dementia-delay strategies, nutrition, and movement along with the new findings emerging almost daily, AgingIN is committed to bringing this knowledge directly into practice. This session will feature thought leaders translating cutting-edge research into actionable steps your community can adopt immediately.

You’ll hear from powerhouse speakers shaping the future of culture, workforce transformation, and eldercare innovation. You’ll learn alongside colleagues who share your vision and values. And you’ll experience the kind of connection, courage, and clarity that define AgingIN’s approach to changing the field.

AgingIN Job Bank: Now Open (and Free!)

AgingIN is excited to announce that we’re actively populating our new Job Bank, your hub for opportunities across the aging services field. Whether you’re exploring a new role or seeking talented team members who believe in person-directed living, now is the perfect time to jump in.

The best part? It’s completely free right now. Add your listings, browse openings, and help us build a vibrant, connected workforce that lifts up older adults and the professionals who care for them. Visit the Job Bank and get started today.

Small Gestures. Big Impact.

TIP: Offer a three-minute “reset moment” during long shifts.

A quick step outside for fresh air, a quiet corner to breathe, or a moment to stretch can dramatically improve emotional regulation and lower stress hormones. Care professionals rarely ask for breaks they desperately need—inviting them to pause communicates respect, care, and humanity.

A Tribute to Debbie Wiegand.

It is with immense gratitude and admiration that we celebrate Debbie Wiegand as she steps into a well-earned retirement. Her dedication, steady leadership, and wholehearted commitment to the mission of AgingIN have shaped our organization in profound and lasting ways.

From the moment she joined our team, Debbie brought exceptional expertise and a deep belief in person-directed living. As a project coach, she guided Green House adopters globally with clarity, compassion, and an unwavering focus on creating environments where elders and care teams could truly thrive. For part of her 13-year tenure, Debbie served as our Director of Operations, where she provided a level of stewardship and operational excellence that became a cornerstone of our work.

Debbie’s impact extended far beyond her titles. She offered invaluable consulting and guidance to ensure the financial viability of projects and shepherded countless organizations through the complexities of architecture and design. She mentored new team members with patience and generosity, helping each person grow in confidence, capability, and purpose. And time and again, her critical thinking enriched our new product development and strategic planning efforts, strengthening AgingIN’s mission for the future.

We are also grateful for the moments we shared along the way—moments that speak to Debbie’s spirit and heart. Together, we celebrated groundbreaking and grand opening ceremonies of Green House homes, marking milestones that brought hope, purpose, and meaningful life to elders and the teams who support them. During the uncertainty of COVID, Debbie was a steady and reassuring presence. Her level-headed problem-solving, her unwavering commitment to a mission that matters, and her personal encouragement meant more than she will ever know.

On behalf of the entire AgingIN team and board, we extend our warmest wishes to Debbie as she enters this next chapter. May retirement bring abundant time with family and friends, plenty of opportunities for simple joys—like casting a line on a peaceful day of fishing—and the deep satisfaction of knowing she has made a lasting difference. She has enriched my life and the lives of countless others through her work, her wisdom, and her heart.

Thank you, Debbie, for everything.