Welcome to the AgingIN Blog

On Saturday mornings when Leslie Eber was growing up, she rode along with her father on his hospital rounds. He was an oral surgeon, and what stayed with her was the way he paired real skill with a genuine desire to help people. Afterward, the two of them would go for jelly donuts. […]

When an old institutional home was demolished, family members of residents told Eloy van Hal they would miss it. He could not understand the nostalgia. He was fed up with that building for years, with its long wards and tired routines built around staff efficiency rather than the humans living inside it. Still, he came to recognize that the families were really mourning something that had nothing to do with the bricks. […]

The aging services landscape is undergoing profound change, shaped by demographic shifts, workforce shortages, evolving healthcare models, and growing regulatory complexity. In a recent Elevate Eldercare podcast conversation, Otis Woods, former Director of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, offered a clear and deeply experienced perspective on where the field has been and where it must go next. […]

In February 2023, while walking past her favorite airport shop, a small, black card caught the eye of Mary Munoz. In white script on a black square, it read, “And suddenly…it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.” The words cut straight to her soul. After nearly 40 years in healthcare and older adult living finance, she knew it was time to retire, not to escape work but to move toward the work her whole life had been preparing her for. […]

Paul Sharman has a story he likes to tell about his mother. When Paul was five or six years old, riding home in the car, he turned to his mother and announced that he loved everyone in the world. She thought about it for a moment and replied, “Paul, that’s a little ambitious.” […]

It started with a simple question. Anne Rigley, a life enrichment specialist working with older adults in Denver, asked a new client what brought her joy. Her answer was quiet but certain: she used to love singing in a choir. That conversation, shared in a recent episode of the Elevate Eldercare podcast, became the seed of Second Verse Choir, a community choir in the Denver Metro area that is changing what it looks like to live with brain change. […]

Across the country and around the world, dementia care is at a crossroads. Recent headlines, policy debates, and social media discussions have reignited concern about the use of antipsychotic medications, particularly in long-term care settings. These drugs are often framed as tools for “managing behaviors.” The reality points to something deeper. As explored on the Elevate Eldercare podcast, antipsychotics are not solutions. They reflect systemic gaps in how people living with dementia are understood and supported. […]

Few leaders have influenced the conversation around aging and technology the way Tom Kamber has. As the founder of OATS (Older Adults Technology Services) and Senior Planet, he has spent more than two decades working to make technology accessible, practical, and empowering for older adults. […]

Where Technology Meets Humanity In this episode of Elevate Elder Care, Susan Ryan, CEO of AgingIN, sat down with Dr. Mohammad Mahoor, professor of computer science at the University of Denver and founder of Dream Face Technologies, for a thoughtful, forward-looking conversation about the evolution of artificial intelligence in aging services. […]

Sue Paul has spent more than 35 years working with older adults. As an occupational therapist, she has seen how aging, cognitive change, and mobility challenges shape daily life. Early in her career, she developed a deep interest in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, especially when the system offered few meaningful approaches for people living with cognitive decline. […]

In a recent episode of Elevate Eldercare, host and CEO of AgingIN, Susan Ryan, sat down with Beverly Gianna, a long-term care ombudsman whose work centers on one powerful idea: every resident deserves to be heard. […]

In this episode of Brain Bytes, Dr. Kelly Tremblay explores one of the most overlooked and misunderstood aspects of brain wellness: hearing health. Timed with World Hearing Day on March 3, she emphasized that hearing isn’t just about the ears; it is about the brain connection, independence, and long-term cognitive health. Yet despite its importance, hearing is something many people take for granted until it begins to change. […]

Amy Schechtman has spent her career focused on public service, community development, and housing. As President and CEO of 2Life Communities in Massachusetts, she now leads one of the most innovative nonprofit organizations, working to ensure older adults can age with dignity, connection, and stability. […]

Christie Hinrichs’ path into aging services began long before her professional career. She grew up in a small town in Nebraska, where her family spent many weekends visiting older relatives and neighbors. Sometimes they visited family members. Other times, they visited people who had no nearby family and treated them like adopted grandparents. Hinrichs later recognized that these visits helped shape her understanding of loneliness and isolation among older adults. […]

Beginning February 27, Elevate Eldercare and AgingIN will launch a new monthly microcast, Brain Bytes, hosted by neuroscientist, audiologist, educator, and global health advocate Dr. Kelly Tremblay. Designed to deliver clear, practical insights in under 15 minutes, Brain Bytes exists for one reason: to make brain health understandable and actionable for everyone. […]

In a recent podcast chat, Susan Ryan, the CEO of AgingIN, caught up with Joe Jasmon, CEO of American Health Care Manager and co-founder of Elevate Senior Living. Joe opened up about his journey from hospitality gigs at Hyatt to fixing up hospitals and senior communities. He talked about shaking up the middle-market scene, turning senior living into places that feel like home: full of freedom and purpose, and no “senior prison” feel. Drawing from his own grandma’s tough experience with dementia care when he was 16, Joe emphasized designing communities that truly honor people, using the customer-first approach he picked up at Hyatt. […]

In a recent podcast episode, Susan Ryan [CEO of AgingIN] sat down with Michele Holleran [Founder of Holleran Community Engagement Research & Consulting and CEO of DeArment Consulting] to dive deep into the evolving world of senior living. Michele, a trailblazer in the field, shared her extensive journey and insights on brain health, longevity, and holistic well-being. […]

Sometimes the most interesting people who specialize in aging and wellness aren’t the ones who followed a straight path. They’re the ones who zig-zagged their way to that big idea. In a recent conversation, Susan Ryan, CEO of AgingIN, sat down with Dr. Gautam Gulati (MD, MBA, MPH), better known as Dr. G, aka “The Status Quo Agitator.” And that nickname isn’t just branding. Dr. G’s career has been built on challenging systems, questioning assumptions, and pushing the boundaries of what healthcare and wellness can look like. […]

If you’re tuned into the world of senior living or just curious about how we’re rethinking aging in today’s society, you’re in for a treat. The aging services industry is at a turning point. With longer lifespans, shifting expectations, and growing demand for senior housing, leaders must rethink traditional models and embrace innovation. Bob Kramer, founder of the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC) and Nexus Insights, has spent decades shaping this sector. In a recent discussion, Kramer shared his journey, insights, and vision for the future of senior living. […]

Every day, across every corner of aging services, from senior living communities to PACE programs, from skilled nursing centers to small-house homes, care professionals show up with extraordinary heart. They carry the emotional, physical, and human weight of supporting older adults through some of life’s most vulnerable chapters. Their compassion is the backbone of our sector. […]