AgingINnovation in Action
Across the country, leaders are rethinking how aging services support independence, dignity, and daily life. New approaches are taking shape through national conversations and real-world innovation.
This month highlights where progress is happening and how organizations are putting ideas into practice.
AgingIN on the Road… Advancing Innovation Wherever We Go.
American Society on Aging (ASA)
Atlanta, GA | April 20-23
Susan Ryan presents “Connected Communities: Blueprints for Inclusive Aging & Disability Supports” with Anne Montgomery, Carrie Leljedal, and Joe Angelelli.
On Aging is the nation’s largest multidisciplinary conference on aging and the annual gathering of ASA members. It offers an opportunity to connect, learn, and share expertise with thousands of professionals across aging and related fields.
Innovation happens in conversation; connect with AgingIN at this event. Learn more here.
AgingIN Events …Upcoming Opportunities to Learn and Connect.
Scaling Digital Inclusion for Older Adults: Insights from OATS from AARP Webinar
May 12 | 2:00 pm-4:00 pm EST
Join AgingIN for a webinar featuring OATS from AARP and discover how its Senior Planet program scaled from a community-based effort into a national network helping older adults connect and thrive online.
“Reimagining Care” Symposium
June 16, 10:30 am until June 17, 12:00 pm EST| Midway, Kentucky
The Reimagining Care Models Symposium brings leaders together to explore new approaches to skilled nursing, assisted living, and memory care. The focus is on creating more person-directed communities that support quality of life and workforce sustainability.
Cultural Food Traditions: Honoring Identity Through Dining.
In aging services, we often speak about knowing the whole person. Yet one of the most powerful expressions of identity appears three times a day: food. Meals are never just meals. They carry memory, culture, faith, migration, and belonging. For those who have transitioned into community living, culturally meaningful food can anchor home and history. Person-directed dining moves beyond standardized menus toward intentional inclusion. This is not about a single “ethnic dish” during a heritage month. It is about consistently honoring traditions, religious observances, and culinary histories.
Spring offers a meaningful example, with many traditions observing holidays tied to distinct food practices. For some, these observances are central to identity. For others, it is the flavor of a familiar dish that carries memory. Honoring cultural traditions does not require a full menu overhaul. It begins with curiosity and collaboration. Adjusting meal timing during fasting, preparing familiar dishes authentically, and creating space for storytelling all communicate respect. Culturally familiar food also supports well-being. Recognition improves appetite, increases intake, and sparks conversation. Dining becomes relational.
Leadership plays a critical role. Flexibility, education, and openness to new approaches can expand menus and invite staff to share cultural knowledge. At its best, person-directed dining reflects history, dignity, and home. When cultural food traditions are honored, aging does not diminish identity. Dining becomes a meaningful way to feel seen, respected, and connected.
The Brain Bytes Podcast.
Did you know that March 3 was World Hearing Day? Did you know that our hearing health contributes to our brain health?
Last month, in our Brain Bytes micro-podcast, we reminded people of the many reasons we shouldn’t take our hearing for granted. Hearing loss is one of the leading causes of years lived with disability worldwide, affecting one in three adults over the age of 65. Yet the process often begins earlier than we realize. Brain-based research shows changes can start in our 40s, when the hearing centers of the brain begin to decline.
We often joke about it, saying “huh?” or “what?” more often and laughing that we must be getting older. But hearing loss is not a joke. Hearing is closely linked to brain health. When hearing declines, the brain receives less stimulation, which can lead to social withdrawal and even earlier retirement if communication becomes difficult. Hearing loss is also considered a risk factor for dementia.
Taking care of your hearing is also taking care of your brain, and so we encourage you to check out the following resources and join us at the AgingIN conference to learn more about healthy hearing and your brain.
Here are some resources:
Education & Training.
Strengthening the Role of the Nurse in Elder-Centered Care
Live Virtual Class: June 2 and 4 | 9:00 am-1:00 pm EST
Recent research shows that continuing professional development for nurses in long-term care improves staff competencies, teamwork, and resident outcomes (Aleo et al., 2024). AgingIN’s Role of the Nurse program equips nurses with practical tools to strengthen partnerships with direct care staff, advocate for elders’ dignity and well-being, and address complex clinical issues such as medication management and polypharmacy.
- Two interactive sessions (8 hours total)
- Pricing:
- $750 – up to 6 nurses
- $450 – up to 4 nurses
Virtual Train-the-Trainer Add-On: June 9 | 10:30 am-12:30 pm EST
- Optional add-on for organizations seeking to build internal educators
- Pricing: $350
Citation: Aleo, G., et al. (2024). The effectiveness of continuing professional development in residential long-term care: A systematic review. Nurse Education Today.
Living the Model…Real-World Experiences from GREEN HOUSE® Adopters.
A Community Commitment to Dementia Care at Londonderry Village.
Kudos to the team members at Londonderry Village, a Green House community in Pennsylvania, who recently completed the Penn State Dementia Care Force Training Program. Staff from housekeeping, therapeutic recreation, and nursing all participated in the education, a powerful reminder that dementia care is not the responsibility of one department, but of an entire community.
At Londonderry, they believe that supporting elders living with dementia is a shared commitment. By investing in specialized education and hands-on training, team members strengthen their communication skills, deepen their understanding of unmet needs, and create meaningful moments of connection each day.
At AgingIN, we share that same belief: caring well for elders living with dementia is everyone’s responsibility. Our dementia education approach, Best Life, encourages a shift in mindset, moving away from a focus on loss and toward creating environments where individuals can thrive beyond a diagnosis.
The Best Life approach is grounded in four guiding principles: the power of normal, focus on retained abilities, dignity of risk, and advocacy. When embraced across departments and roles, these principles help communities foster purpose, autonomy, and connection for elders living with dementia.
We applaud Londonderry Village for modeling what community-wide commitment looks like and for reminding us that meaningful culture change begins with learning together.
Learn More About Green House Homes.
AgingIN Focus…Where National Awareness Meets AgingIN’s Work.
Public Health & Community Well-Being.
This April, as National Public Health Week (April 7-13) and World Health Day on April 7 bring attention to population health, many communities are taking a closer look at what it means to support healthy aging. Aging is not only an individual experience. It reflects how well public health systems, local organizations, and community networks work together to create environments where people can continue living with purpose and independence.
Across the country, community-based approaches are showing measurable impact. Access to stable housing, reliable transportation, nutritious food, and opportunities for engagement all shape long-term health outcomes. Programs that bring screenings, fall prevention, and wellness initiatives directly into neighborhoods are helping people stay active and connected in ways that feel both practical and personal.
At the same time, cross-sector partnerships are strengthening these efforts. Hospitals, public health agencies, and community organizations are working together to address challenges such as readmissions, food access, and mobility. These collaborations demonstrate that when systems align, outcomes improve and communities become more responsive to the needs of older adults.
The urgency is clear. By 2030, one in five Americans will be over age 65, making proactive, community-focused strategies essential to sustaining health, independence, and quality of life. AgingIN works alongside organizations to advance these efforts through practical, human-centered solutions that strengthen community health and expand opportunities for meaningful living. Connect with AgingIN to explore approaches that create measurable impact and move communities forward together at inquiries@aginginnovation.org.
Each month, AgingIN Focus will highlight a national recognition or awareness effort. We share why these issues matter to aging services and how person-directed values help move awareness into action.
Elevate Eldercare Podcasts.
New Episodes Now Live: Elevate Eldercare Podcast.
Catch up on the last few weeks of powerful, thought-provoking conversations with host Susan Ryan, AgingIN℠ CEO. Tune in every Wednesday for bold insights, honest dialogue, and fresh perspectives on transforming eldercare through the AgingIN model.
March Podcasts:
Mary Kay Durrant: 3/4/26
AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with MaryCay Durrant, founder of Leading Naturally. In this enlightening discussion, MaryCay shares her journey from corporate leadership to developing nature-inspired practices that help organizations thrive.
Christie Hinrichs: 3/11/26
AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with Christie Hinrichs, president and CEO of Frasier, a Life Plan Community in Boulder, CO, who shares her journey from growing up on a farm in rural Nebraska to pioneering the Green House model at Tabitha, a senior living community in Omaha, NE.
Amy Schectman: 3/18/26
AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with Amy Schectman, CEO of 2Life Communities, to explore how affordable housing, community connection, and supportive services can transform the experience of aging. She shares insights into how innovative housing models are helping older adults thrive while remaining connected to their communities.
Lisa McCracken – 3/25/26
On this episode of Elevate Eldercare, Susan Ryan welcomes Lisa McCracken, from NIC, back to the podcast to unpack where we are heading in 2026, which trends matter most, and how the industry must evolve to meet the needs of tomorrow’s older adults.
Elevate Eldercare Podcast – AgingIN
Innovation in Practice…How Today’s Partners Are Solving Real-World Challenges.
Reimagining Mobility in Senior Living: Supporting Independence and Safety, All While Providing More Time to Care.
In aging services environments, every detail shapes how people experience daily life. Guldmann supports this by delivering mobility and lifting solutions that enhance accessibility, efficiency, and dignity across a range of settings. This approach recognizes that quality extends beyond clinical needs to include independence, comfort, and personal choice.
Immobility remains a persistent challenge, affecting health, engagement, and independence while increasing physical and time demands on teams. Today’s mobility technology goes beyond basic transfers. Person-centered, dynamic solutions meet individuals where they are, supporting safer movement, greater participation in daily life, and more independence. At the same time, these solutions reduce strain on teams and improve workflow, creating more time for meaningful interaction.
This work aligns with AgingIN’s focus on person-directed living and environments that feel like home. In small-house and other human-centered models, spaces must function as both a residence and a workplace. Equipment should be readily available while remaining discreetly integrated. When mobility solutions are thoughtfully designed, individuals move more freely without an institutional feel, and teams maintain an ergonomic, sustainable work environment.
Organizations integrating these approaches are seeing stronger outcomes across both experience and operations. Safer movement, improved ergonomics, and more efficient routines create what matters most: more time for connection.
To learn more, contact Jason at jdo@guldmann.net or visit our website.
State of Change…Advancing Person-Directed Living Across the States.
Illinois embraced culture change in 1999 by bringing together consumers, advocates, and nursing facility representatives who began to have conversations regarding how we can make long-term care better for those who need these services. In 2003, the Illinois Pioneer Coalition (IPC) was founded because of these conversations. Then, in 2005, the IPC became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operated by a dedicated volunteer board from the elder care communities. As advocates for systemic change in long-term care, we promote communication, networking, and learning through our Annual Summit and Regional Coalitions. This year’s Summit will take place on August 5-6 in Springfield, Illinois, with the theme “Compliance with Heart.” Topics will include avoiding common violations, updates on long-term care legislation, and person-directed care plans.
We will also host backyard watch parties across the state, featuring virtual presentations on topics like difficult conversations, trauma-informed care, and building volunteer programs. If you would like further information on the Illinois Pioneer Coalition, please email us at IllinoisPioneer@gmail.com or visit our website.
Interested in joining an existing coalition or starting a coalition in your state? Join us today!
Continue the Conversation.
Progress in aging services takes shape through shared ideas and practical application. Across communities, organizations are continuing to test new approaches and refine what person-directed living looks like in practice.
AgingIN brings these efforts together, creating space for learning, connection, and continued momentum across the field.
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