A New Year of Possibilities
Dear Friends and Partners,
Happy New Year! As we welcome 2026, I’m filled with optimism for what’s ahead for older adults, for care teams, and for the leaders who champion quality aging services every day.
Last year marked a turning point for AgingIN. We unified the Center for Innovation, THE GREEN HOUSE® Project, and Pioneer Network under one powerful brand, and in doing so, strengthened our ability to serve you with clarity, innovation, and purpose. As we look to the year ahead, we’re building on that momentum in meaningful ways.
Elevating the Workforce. Elevating Leaders. Elevating Care.
In 2026, our focus sharpens on what matters most: supporting the people who support older adults. From expanded coaching for leaders to enhanced workforce education and wellness initiatives, we’re committed to helping teams navigate today’s challenges with confidence, courage, and compassion.
AgingIN stays grounded in what transforms care: deep partnerships, practical tools, hands-on coaching, and a belief that people thrive when they feel seen and supported. Thanks to our global research collaborations, we’re not waiting years for ideas to trickle down. We bring fresh, evidence-based insights straight into practice so communities can act now.
And if you’re unsure where to begin or simply need a sounding board, please know this: We’re here to help you. Just call us.
Looking Ahead.
January brings a full calendar of opportunities to reconnect, learn, and spark new momentum—and of course, we’re already gearing up for our AgingINnovation 2026 Conference in Denver this August. The curriculum is shaping up beautifully, with powerhouse speakers focused on culture, workforce transformation, and leadership. We’re also thrilled to offer a pre-conference summit centered on wellness and healthy aging that you won’t want to miss!
Together, let’s make 2026 a year of uplift for the workforce, clarity for leaders, and a renewed sense of purpose for the entire field of aging services.
With appreciation and excitement,
Susan Ryan
CEO, AgingIN
Upcoming Learning Opportunities.
WEBINAR: Who Is AgingIN? — Advancing Person-Directed Living
February 5, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. EST
A great way to kick off 2026. Learn how AgingIN supports communities across all care settings. Includes a BONUS Brain Bytes preview of research on healthy aging and brain health.
Learn more and register here.
REIMAGINE AGING SUMMIT: Reach Your Pinnacle of Human-Centered Care
January 21-22, 2026 | Poydras Home, New Orleans, LA
A two-day, in-person symposium for executives and innovators exploring the next frontier of human-centered care. Includes keynotes, design tours, and actionable strategies for person-directed and small-house living.
Learn more and register here.
5-DAY SPRING INTENSIVE: Train the Trainer — Elevating Your Workforce
March 2-6, 2026 | Poydras Home, New Orleans, LA
An immersive educator course equipping leaders to train and sustain person-directed living across AL, MC, skilled nursing, and small-house settings. Participants leave with facilitation skills, coaching support, a complete Educator Toolkit, and a copy of Being Mortal.
Learn more and register here.
The Event of the Year: August 10-13, 2026
The AgingINnovation 2026 Conference in Denver
There are many wonderful conferences in our field, but if you have 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 Wellness.
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.
“Dignity Lives in the Details.”
TIP: Learn and use each team member’s preferred name.
It seems small, but calling people by the name they choose (not what’s on a badge or schedule) has a profound impact on their sense of belonging. A recent study in workplace psychology shows that using someone’s chosen name increases trust, boosts emotional safety, and strengthens teamwork. It takes 10 seconds—and tells your team, “I see you.”
Why Didn’t the Senior Citizen Cross the Road?
Did you know? A recent NIH study titled, “Why didn’t the senior citizen cross the road?” Gait speed in community-dwelling older adults with mobility limitations relative to pedestrian crossing times found that only 1.5% of adults aged 65 and older walked fast enough to safely make it across a typical pedestrian crossing at the pace most crosswalk signals assume. In other words, many older walkers move more slowly than traffic signals expect, which can make something as everyday as crossing the street feel stressful—or even unsafe.
So what does this mean for folks in senior living communities? Even when residents enjoy a supportive living environment, they still have to navigate streets to reach doctor visits, shops, parks, and community events. When crosswalks change before they’ve fully crossed, it can discourage outdoor walking, reduce independence, and increase reliance on transportation or staff support.
What Senior Living Communities Can Do.
- Advocate for longer, safer crosswalk timing near their campus.
- Partner with local planners to design age-friendly walking routes.
- Promote walking clubs and mobility programs that help residents maintain or improve gait speed.
- Educate families and staff about how walking speed changes with age so outings are safer and less rushed.
Creating safer pedestrian environments helps residents stay more active, socially engaged, and confident—which is exactly what every community is aiming for.
Citation: Western MJ, Withall J, Sheppard R, Greaves C, Hillsdon M, Stathi A. Why didn’t the senior citizen cross the road? Gait speed in community-dwelling older adults with mobility limitations relative to pedestrian crossing times. Age Ageing. 2025;54(12):afaf345. doi:10.1093/ageing/afaf345.