Elevate Eldercare

In this week's episode, 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. Drawing from her upbringing in North Dakota and a transformative personal awakening, MarCay challenges transactional workplace models and instead looks to ecosystems as a guide for cooperation, resilience, and trust. She introduces her WORK framework — Wake Up, Orient, Reimagine partnering, and Keepnourishing what matters — and the concept of Return on Energy (ROE), encouraging leaders to measure vitality and alignment, not just ROI. Through approaches such as equine-assisted learning, MaryCay helps organizations reduce burnout, strengthen connection, and build sustainable cultures grounded in partnership. More about MaryCay here: https://marycaydurrant.com

Introducing Brain Bytes, a new micro-cast hosted by Kelly Tremblay, PhD, neuroscientist, World Health Organization advisor, NIH grant reviewer, advocate, and professor. Brain Bytes features "byte"-sized nuggets of knowledge aimed at making neuroscience accessible for the senior living world.  In each episode, which will air on the fourth Friday of each month, Dr. Tremblay will share research-backed information related to aging and brain health. This week, she explores the different types of dementia and examines what evidence-based researchtells us about it. While encouraging listeners to take practical steps to support healthy aging, Dr. Tremblay explains that a significant portion of dementia risk may be modifiable. Factors such as education, physical activity, cardiovascular health, hearing and vision care, and social connection all play a role in supporting brain health across the lifespan. The following links accompany today's episode: • https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-and-dementia • https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01296-0/abstract • https://www.thelancet.com/infographics-do/dementia-risk We are grateful to Parker Health for their sponsorship of this micro-cast.

This week on the podcast, AgingIN CEO, Susan Ryan, welcomes Kelly Tremblay, PhD, a neuroscientist, World Health Organization advisor, NIH grant reviewer, advocate, and professor. As a first-generation college student, Kelly's path was shaped by lived experience. Growing up with a father who had multiple sclerosis, she became an early advocate for accessibility and healthcare equity. At the University of Washington, Kelly led research focused on the aging brain and collaborated with the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization to help translate science into global health strategies. In this wide-ranging conversation, Susan and Kelly discuss health literacy and Kelly's desire to bridge the gap between research and real life by making science accessible, practical, and actionable. This goal comes to life in the launch of Brain Bytes, a new monthly micro-cast debuting Friday, Feb. 27, with new episodes dropping on the fourth Friday of each month. Designed to deliver bite-sized, evidence-based insights, Brain Bytes will focus on six key areas of brain health: nutrition, hearing loss, vision loss, mood, cognition, and balance Throughout the episode, Kelly reminds us that knowledge is power—but only if it's accessible. Brain Bytes aims to empower listeners with clear, plain-language information that supports better decisions, stronger advocacy, and healthier aging.

In this episode, AgingIN CEO, Susan Ryan, sits down with Mary Naber, president and CEO of PACE Southeast Michigan, to explore her remarkable leadership journey and the transformative potential of the PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) model of care. Mary shares how her career evolved from respiratory therapy into executive leadership. With degrees in psychology, business, and an MBA from the University of Michigan, Mary blends clinical insight, business acumen, and people-centered leadership. Susan and Mary discuss how Mary's transition to PACE was deeply personal. After navigating the healthcare system during her mother's dementia journey, Mary became committed to improving care for older adults. She found that in the mission of PACE: a model designed to keep older adults living safely in their communities rather than in nursing homes. Mary and Susan discuss the organization's development of the Green House homes at the PACE site in Detroit, Mich. This episode is a powerful look at what's possible when leadership, mission, and innovation align to support healthy aging in community. More about PACE Southeast Michigan here: https://www.pacesemi.org/

This week on the podcast, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan is joined by Susie Singer Carter, a filmmaker, advocate, and caregiver, who shares her deeply personal journey into caregiving—and how it transformed her life, her work, and her mission. Inspired by her mother's 16-year battle with Alzheimer's disease, Susie recounts moving from "caregiver by surprise" to outspoken advocate for systemic reform in long-term care. Her mother, Norma Pecora, a former opera singer and art dealer, wasdiagnosed at age 72. Norma lived with Susie for a year following the death of her husband—an experience that was both profoundly challenging and unexpectedly beautiful. That journey ultimately led to Susie's award-winning documentary, "No Country for Old People," which exposes the harsh realities of institutional long-term care, including chronic understaffing, neglect, and a lack of transparency and accountability. The film has since become a catalyst for national conversation and action. Susie also discusses how her advocacy grew from grief, leading to the creation of the ROAR movement—a growing effort to raise public awareness, empower families, and push for legislative change to protect older adults and other vulnerable people in care settings. This episode is a powerful exploration of love, loss, rage, resilience, and the urgent need to reimagine how we value and care for older people. Watch the film HERE on Amazon Prime.

What if better care actually costs less? And what if technology is the bridge to get us there? In this episode, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan is joined in this week's episodeby Kim Brawley, regional vice president of AgeWell Solvere Living, and Stu Hamilton,CEO and founder of Amba Health and Care, for a timely conversation about how technology—when implemented thoughtfully—can transform senior living.  Against the backdrop of demographic shifts, aging infrastructure, workforce challenges, and rising healthcare costs, the discussion explores how passive sensor technology, remote patient monitoring, and value-based care models can improve resident outcomes, empower caregivers, and strengthen organizational performance. Hamilton and Brawley emphasize that successful technology adoption in aging servicesmust be intuitive, integrated, and designed to support—not replace—caregivers. In addition, they explore the growing opportunity for senior living providers to participate in value-based care, including Medicare-funded remote patient monitoring (RPM) and emerging federal programs.  This conversation makes a compelling case that technology—when aligned with strong values and a clear wellness philosophy—can be a powerful catalyst for cultural change in senior living.  More about Amba here: https://amba.co More about AgeWell Solvere Here: https://www.awsliving.com

In this episode, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with Gautam Gulati, MD, physician, entrepreneur, producer, and "health artist." Also known as "Dr. G," hisbackground makes for a wide-ranging discussion that bridges medicine, storytelling, real estate, and wellness design. He shares his unconventional journey from medical doctor to real estate professional and certified interior designer—and how that path led him to reimagine the home as a powerful driver of health. At the center of the conversation is Dr. G's framework for optimizing well-being through what he calls the seven levers of bioharmony: sleep, movement, nutrition, mindfulness, connection, purpose, and safety. He explains how these levers can either support vitality or contribute to disease, depending on how well our environments and daily lives are designed around them. Dr. G draws from his own personal experience, including his father's Alzheimer's diagnosis and how intentional changes to the home environment dramatically improved his father's quality of life and reduced reliance on medication. The conversation also explores The Well Home, Dr. G's approach to designing spaces that support longevity and well-being. The episode closes with a forward-looking discussion about the future of building design, longevity science, and the potential for homes to function as therapeutic systems. Find out more about Dr. G here: https://www.drgautamgulati.com

In this episode, Joe Jasmon, CEO of American Healthcare Management and co-founder of Elevate Senior Living, joins AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan on the podcast to share the origin story and philosophy behind Elevate, a mid-market senior housing model designed from the ground up around residents—not corporate overhead. Drawing on a career spanning hospitality, healthcare turnarounds, and senior living operations, Jasmon explains how Elevate was born from a simple question: "What would senior living look like if we designed it entirely around personal needs, dignity, and efficiency?" From small-scale neighborhood design to technology-enabled safety and a long-term vision that reaches beyond brick-and-mortar communities, this conversation offers a candid look at what it takes to rethink senior living at scale. As demand grows for affordable, high-quality senior living, Jasmon offers a rare, transparent look at what it takes to challenge entrenched models and design communities that truly serve residents. His insights underscore a powerful theme: when you listen closely to older adults and frontline staff, better systems—and better outcomes—follow.

In this episode, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with longtime senior living leader and consultant Michele Holleran for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, resident voices, and why brain health must become a strategic priority in senior living. A passionate advocate for leadership development, Michele discusses her role in initiatives such as the Larry Minnix Leadership Academy, the LeadingAge Women in Leadership Task Force, and the Senior Living Women's Leadership Retreat, all aimed at cultivating the next generation of mission-driven leaders—especially women. Michele's latest focus: longevity, well-being, and brain health, are the core of her work through de Arment Consulting. She highlights organizations such as Wesley Willows, Sequoia Living, and Berry Communities as examples of providers that are integrating brain health into their culture, programming, and strategic plans. Michelle and Susan explore how senior living communities can position themselves as Blue Zone–style hubs of well-being, not just for residents, but for the broader community. From resident assessments and engagement inventories to nutrition, movement, purpose, and social connection, Michele examines the need for holistic, integrated approaches that meet both current residents and future baby boomers where they are. The episode closes with a clear call to action from Michele: listen to residents, start small if needed, and commit at the leadership and board level to making brain health and well-being core to the future of senior living.

In this episode, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with Bob Kramer to explore a career shaped by purpose, perspective, and a deep commitment to improving the lives of older adults. Kramer reflects on his personal and professional journey—from his early work as a pastor, to leadership roles in government, to founding the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC)—and the values that have guided his work across decades in aging services. Throughout the conversation, Kramer emphasizes the importance of legacy, listening, and being "multilingual" across sectors, disciplines, and viewpoints. He shares how understanding the language of policy, finance, healthcare, and community is essential for leaders seeking to drive meaningful change in senior living and longevity. The discussion examines the evolving senior living landscape, including the growing gap between lifespan and health span, the increasing demand for housing and care, and the urgent need for innovation beyond traditional private-pay models. Kramer introduces concepts such as "next stage living," lifestyle-driven communities, and the rise of active adult products, along with the integration of primary care, prevention, and chronic disease management to support longer, healthier lives. Kramer advocates for greater integration of older adults into the workforce and volunteer efforts, noting their potential to address challenges such as loneliness, caregiving shortages, and community resilience. He calls for a cultural shift that values the contributions of older adults and confronts the ageist assumptions that limit participation. In closing, Kramer offers candid advice for current and emerging leaders: seek out differing perspectives, challenge assumptions, build operational expertise, and remain open to learning across boundaries. While acknowledging the policy, market, and demographic challenges ahead, he remains optimistic—pointing to collaboration, innovation, and perseverance as essential tools for meeting the needs of an aging population.

In our final replay of 2025's most popular conversations, Lisa McCracken, head of research and analytics at the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), sits down with AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan to discuss her organization's work to demystify the financial side of eldercare with data.  In what was a clear-eyed forecast of the year, McCracken examines how high-quality, third-party information can inform the next generation of services and supports for older adults. You can't fix what you can't measure, but far too often, leaders from around the eldercare improvement world are forced to do just that when considering changes to the way we fund, regulate, and develop new care settings. Learn more about NIC and its research: https://www.nic.org/ Learn more about the NIC Academy certification program: https://www.nic.org/professional-education/ And search for "NIC Chats," Lisa's podcast, on the podcast platform of your choice.

This week's replay, one of the most popular episodes of 2025, features a profound conversation between Barry Barkan, visionary eldercare advocate and Pioneer Network co-founder, and AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan. These longtime friends discuss reimagining aging and the transformative potential of community, spirit, and consciousness. Barkan shares his journey from founding the Live Oak Institute to helping launch the Pioneer Network, driven by a belief that aging is not a problem to solve but a gift to elevate. He recounts his efforts to create a regenerative, inclusive community at the Jewish Home in Oakland—an idea that initially faced rejection but ultimately gained momentum and global influence, including a successful expansion into 15 homes in Israel. But this conversation goes beyond history. Barkan offers a deeply reflective vision for a paradigm shift—a movement from a worldview rooted in domination and separation to one grounded in interconnection, kindness, and sufficiency. He challenges listeners to see humanity as one living being, where every person and every creature matters. Together, Ryan and Barkan explore the concept of "Elder Awesome" and moving beyond traditional notions of "elder care." They also discuss the "Tao of Blessings"—a personal path to leave grace in every encounter Barkan offers his vision for communities and care environments rooted in equity, dignity, and accountability.

As we continue to replay the most popular episodes of 2025, this week's features an insightful interview by AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan as she sits down with senior living innovator Andy Carle, consultant and founder of UniversityRetirementCommunities.com. Andy shares his personal journey into eldercare and the bold moves he's made to elevate the field, from founding a 70-community company to creating the first university-level curriculum for senior living executives. Andy also dives into the concept of "nana technology"—his term for tech that supports aging with dignity—and explores the rise of University Retirement Communities (URCs), a model that merges lifelong learning with purposeful aging. He outlines the five essential criteria for certification and shares how URCs foster mutual benefit for both older adults and students through intergenerational connection, shared resources, and collaborative programming. This episode takes a deep dive into what's possible when we stop settling for outdated models and start designing for a future that values older adults as engaged, capable, and vital members of society. More information about URCs here: universityretirementcommunities.com

This week's episode is a replay of one of the most popular of 2025. It features a conversation with policy experts Joe Angelelli and Anne Montgomery as they discuss the EINSTEIN Option (which is now known as Connected Communities), a collaborative effort of eldercare changemakers dedicated to advancing a comprehensive plan to reimagine the entire care delivery system. The late Alex Spanko, who served as AgingIN's director of communications and marketing at the time, moderates a compelling conversation about how this model could create full care continuums in communities around the country, with services and supports that meet elders where they are—instead of forcing them into institutional settings that do not meet their needs. Learn more about Connected Communities: https://www.theconnectedcommunities.com/

This week marks our first of four encore episodes this month – the most popular of 2025. As we close out the year, we are happy to present @AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan's interview with Village to VillageNetwork national director Barbara Sullivan. The Village to Village Network works to create durable webs of support in communities all across the country, organizing volunteers to provide the kind of nuts-and-bolts assistance — transportation, home maintenance, tech support — and social experiences that make thriving in place possible. Sullivan joins Ryan to discuss her journey through eldercare, as well as her vision for making these intentional villages the norm in neighborhoods everywhere. Learn more about the Village to Village Network: https://www.vtvnetwork.org/

This week on Elevate Eldercare is an encore episode with former U.S. Surgeon General and current AgingIN Board Member, Joycelyn Elders, MD. In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, we thought this very special discussion, in which AgingIN's Susan Ryan and the late Alex Spanko (who served as director of communications from 2021 to 2024) engage Dr. Elders in a discussion about her trailblazing life and career. An added motivation for the replay of this episode is that the New York Academy of Medicine recently presented Dr. Elders with the Alma Dea Morani Renaissance Woman Award. With humor and refreshing honesty, Dr. Elders shares her perspectives on racism, sexism, and all the other "isms" that continue to shape the way health care is provided in the United States. As an elder herself, she also provides insights into what she might want out of the U.S. eldercare landscape and how supports and services might fit into her still-busy life as a widely sought-after and admired public health expert. Dr. Elders is renowned for breaking barriers and sparking essential conversations throughout her remarkable career. Appointed in 1993 as the 15th Surgeon General of the United States, the first African American and only the second woman to hold that office, Dr. Elders brought unprecedented visibility to issues ranging from adolescent health and reproductive rights to substance use prevention and health education. TIME magazine named her "1994 Woman of the Year" and "One of the 100 Most Influential Women of the 20th Century."

In this week's episode of Elevate Eldercare, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan welcomes Bob Chapman, CEO of Barry-Wehmiller and a global ambassador for human-centered leadership.  Chapman shares how he transformed a struggling $20 million family business into a thriving $4 billion enterprise by embracing a simple but radical idea: leaders have a profound responsibility for the lives entrusted to them. Drawing on decades of experience across industries—including healthcare, government, education, and business—Ryan and Chapman dive into why empathy, listening, and recognition are not "soft skills," but essential human skills that build stronger organizations and healthier communities. Chapman walks listeners through the pivotal moments that transformed his views of business and leadership, including making business fun, how business shapes lives, and the fact that everyone is someone's precious child.  Learn about the Truly Human Leadership Institute here: https://www.ccoleadership.com/services/develop/leadership-development-training/truly-human-leader-program

In this episode, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan welcomes Steve Nygren, visionary founder of Serenbe, a pioneering biophilic community outside Atlanta that blends sustainability, wellness, and human connection. Beginning in 1991 as an impromptu farm purchase, Serenbe has become a decades-long experiment in how people can live harmoniously with nature—and with each other. Steve shares his story, which includes a transition from a successful hospitality career to a life dedicated to community building and land preservation. Confronted by the threat of urban sprawl, he turned his private sanctuary into a model for regenerative development. Serenbe's design—complete with centralized mailboxes, shared gardens, trampolines, and a wellness hub housing 27 health providers—embodies the idea that thoughtful design can nurture both people and the planet.  Listeners will hear how biophilic design and new urbanism come together at Serenbe to create a thriving "agrihood" that supports intergenerational living. Nygren advocates for environments that foster mobility, creativity, and vitality at every age. Steve and Susan also discuss Serenbe's intergenerational housing models and its innovative wellness hub, which offers integrated medical and holistic care—including what may be the nation's only chemical-free pharmacy. As Serenbe evolves into a think tank for arts, agriculture, and health, Steve invites listeners to reimagine their own neighborhoods and communities.  Find his book, Starting Your Own Backyard: Radical Common Sense Reimagining, here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Start-in-Your-Own-Backyard/Nygren-Steve/9781637747445 Learn more about Serenbe here: https://www.serenbe.com AgingIN Website

In the realm of storytelling in the senior living field, few come close to what Jack York has done in his decades-long career as a tech entrepreneur and now professional storyteller. In this episode of Elevate Eldercare, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan welcomes Jack, founder of iN2L and co-founder of Talegate, whose journey from Silicon Valley to the world of eldercare has inspired an industry-wide shift toward recognizing the power of stories and how they foster meaning and connection. In addition to reflecting on his early struggle as a tech founder, Jack shares the pivotal experiences that shaped his life's work. Through his latest venture, Talegate, Jack describes the Vintage Voices 100 Tour, an initiative that has culminated in recorded interviews of nearly 150 centenarians. Jack also discusses the profound intergenerational potential of this work—how connecting high school students with elders to record and share their stories can deepen empathy, preserve history, and change how society views aging. More about Talegate here: https://talegate4joy.com/

In this inspiring episode, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with Erin Hart and Peter Murphy Lewis, who share how they're transforming perceptions of long-term care through storytelling and authentic human connection. Erin, who has spent 13 years in long-term care and now works with the Ohio Health Care Association, describes how growing up across the street from her grandmother shaped her lifelong dedication to caregiving. Her personal story and professional mission intersect in powerful ways—advocating for caregivers and restoring pride in their work. Peter, whose childhood experiences with his grandparents' caregivers left a lasting impression, brings his background in media and storytelling to the eldercare space. His documentary series, "People Worth Caring About," captures genuine caregiver stories that highlight the dignity, skill, and heart within the profession. In addition to discussing the power of storytelling to move hearts and reshape cultural narratives about aging and care, Erin and Peter highlight how authentic stories can do what data alone cannot—inspire empathy and drive change. Learn more about the docuseries here: https://peopleworthcaringabout.com/home. Please visit our website at : https://aginginnovation.org Thanks to Amba our sponsor: https://www.ambahealth.com/