In this episode of the Glowing Older podcast, host NancyGriffin interviews Erin Thompson, founder of Aspire for More and co-founder of The Mentoring Company. They discuss the importance of leadership in senior living, the challenges of navigating change in the industry, and the critical role of supporting caregivers. Aaron shares insights from his extensive experience in senior living, emphasizing the need for strong leadership to enhance resident experiences and the importance of personal growth for caregivers. The conversation also covers practical advice for families seeking the right senior living community and the emotional complexities involved in caregiving.

About Erin

With over 20 years of experience in the Senior Living Industry, Erin Thompson has built a legacy of turning struggling communities into thriving places to live and work. As a former Executive Director, she led teams to record breaking occupancy, near-perfect survey scores, and award winning workplace cultures—earning her communities the Great Place to Work distinction two years in a row.

Now, as the Founder of The Mentoring Company and Aspire for More with Erin, Erin is on a mission to mentor, motivate, and equip the next generation of senior living leaders. Through her executive coaching, leadership courses, cohort programs, and national leadership community, she helps new and emerging leaders own their story, develop their leadership voice, and create environments where both residents and teams thrive.

She is also the host of the Aspire for More with Erin Podcast, where she shares real-life leadership insights, industry expertise, and conversations with top thought leaders in senior living. Her approach is simple: Great leaders create great communities. When leaders grow, communities flourish, retention improves, and resident experiences are elevated.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership is crucial for creating a positive residentexperience in a senior living community. A strong leader doesn't just operate the community, they shape the environment and culture.
• Staff turnover is a detriment to tech adoption and stops the innovative changes inside of a community.
• Finding the right senior living community requiresunderstanding individual needs. What is most important? Survey scores matter, but they are not the “end all be all.”
• Sometimes being home alone is not the best option. The desire to be in control can override every system of rational thinking.

In this episode of the Glowing Older podcast, host Nancy Griffin interviews Lauren Dunning, Director of the Milken Institute Future of Aging. They discuss the importance of intergenerational connections, the role of the Milken Institute in promoting healthy aging, and the challenges of financial security and loneliness among older adults. Lauren shares insights from recent studies and reports, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and innovative solutions for aging well.

About Laura

Lauren Dunning is a Director for the Milken Institute Future of Aging, where she develops initiatives and strategic partnerships that advance healthy longevity and financial security across the life course. In her role, Dunning leads work on integrated care solutions leveraging technology and oversees the Future of Aging Advisory Board, a group of global leaders from across sectors who provide advisement,expertise, and collaboration to maximize collective impact.

Before joining the Milken Institute, Dunning served in key policy leadership roles for over 10 years at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, where she was most recently the director of government affairs, working with officials at all levels to shape public health policy. She has written and presented on a variety of topics across public health, aging, and health care; held an appointment as an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center; and serves in an advisory capacity to several organizations, including LeadingAge California and theAtria Research Institute.

Dunning earned a JD from Georgetown University LawCenter, a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University. She works at the Milken Institute’s Santa Monica office.

Key Takeaways

• The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank with offices in the US, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East that collaborates across business, philanthropy, government, nonprofit and academia.
• The two domains of social connectedness are socialisolation, which is objectively having few relationships and infrequent social interaction and loneliness, which is the state of perceived isolation or inadequatesocial connections.
• Loneliness is a significant health risk, comparable tosmoking fifteen cigarettes a day and associated with increased risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, anxiety, and depression.
• In a 2023 Gallup study of 142 countries, younger adultsreported greater loneliness levels than adults over 65. The rates of loneliness were 10% higher among people 19 to 29 (27 % reporting they were fairly lonely)than for older adults over 65 (17%).
• Children that participate in mentoring programs with older adults improved their physical and mental health and educational status. Civic engagement among college students increases when paired with older volunteers.
• Intergenerational relationships benefit both younger and older generations by reducing ageism and age discrimination, bridging differences, and identifying shared values.
• Eight in 10 older adults would like to connect across generations and 92 % of Americans believe intergenerational activities can help reduceloneliness across all ages.

In this episode of the Glowing Older podcast, host Nancy Griffin interviews Jeff Weiss, President and CEO of Age of Majority. They discuss the importance of understanding the needs and desires of this demographic, the impact of social media, and the positive aspects of aging. Jeff shares insights from his TEDx talk, emphasizing the potential for happiness and fulfillment in later life, and highlights the need for brands to adapt their messaging and approach to resonate with older consumers.

About Jeff

Jeff is the President and CEO (Chief Evagelist Officer) of Age of Majority, a research-driven marketing consultancy thatbreaks the myths and crushes the stereotypes and stigmas associated with aging. As the last of the Baby Boomers with over 40 years of marketing experience on both the client and agency sides of the business, Jeff has witnessed the dramatic changes of the aging population. In his experience of working for and with major brands including Pepsi, Gillette, Dannon, KitchenAid and Unilever, he understands why corporations are missing the boat on the over 55 crowd and he knows what’s necessary to take advantage of this largest and fastest growing segment in business.

Key Takeaways

• Currently a third of the population in North America is 55 and older. By the year 2100, the percentage of 55+ population will be 42%.
• It is a mistake to view the older adult market as homogeneous. When marketing to older adults, don’t segment by generations. Target by stage not age.
• People have a fear of getting older (FOGO), because of all the pervasive stereotypes in our society that getting older is bad.
• Ninety-five percent of adults 55 and older are on socialmedia platforms. Facebook is the top platform with 85% of users using the platform. Almost three quarters of older adults are on YouTube, 45% are on Instagram, and a third are on Pinterest.
• Brands are enlisting influencers (social media contentcreators) to motivate and engage older adults—63 % of adults 55 and older are following influencers. 60 % on YouTube and over 50 % on Instagram.
• Half of influencers followed by older adults are over 50. Popular topics include food, travel, entertainment, health and wellness.

In this episode of the Glowing Older podcast, host Nancy Griffin interviews Carl Honoré, a global keynote speaker and bestselling author, about the evolving landscape of ageism and the importance of embracing aging. They discuss the positive shifts in societal attitudes towards aging, the significance of intergenerational connections, and the role of mindfulness in living a fulfilling life. Honoré emphasizes the need for active resistance against ageism and the power of language in shaping perceptions. The conversation also touches on the potential of social media and AI in redefining aging and planning for a vibrant future.

About Carl

Carl Honoré is an award-winning writer, broadcaster and speaker. His bestselling books have been published in 35 languages. His second TED Talk is called Why We Should Embrace Ageing As An Adventure. Whether online or in person, Carl's keynotes and workshops are dynamic, inspiring, informative, and full of humor. His audiences range from business leaders, entrepreneurs and marketers to engineers, lawyers, and medical practitioners.

Carl’s latest book, Bolder, explores how we can age better and feel better about ageing. It’s a spirited takedown of ageism. Bolder was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week and a Reader’s Digest Book of the Month

Carl Honoré Links

TED TALK: In praise of ageing

TED TALK : In praise of slowness

Key Takeaways

• Outdated myths, assumptions and stereotypes box you in and limit possibilities. Throw off the shackles of the cult of youth and don’t pine for the past or shrink in horror from the future.
• Research suggests that one of the benefits of aging is that we get better at slowing down and being in the moment. We get better at focusing on one thing at a time and are less prone to multitasking.
• Mixing with different generations fosters understanding. When it comes to taking down the ageist industrial complex, mixing with other generations is at the top of the list.
• Language shapes our perceptions of aging. The soundtrack in your head affects how you age and how you feel about aging. Try to avoid terms like “senior moment” that reinforce negative stereotypes.
• It is important to be polite and civil on social media—especially in this incredibly polarized time. As soon as you get angry, you lose the argument and can turn people off.

• Life planning can help you find the future self that you aspire to be. Start living the “right” life for you instead of stumbling along an autopilot, which is what a lot of us are doing at many stages of our lives.
• We are at an inflection point in history with artificial intelligence. AI can be the ultimate wingman and co-pilot in later life with our database of experience and understanding.

In this episode of the Glowing Older podcast, host NancyGriffin interviews Aurelie Cornett, the Startup Collaboration Director with AgeTech Collaborative™ from AARP®, the world’s largest B2B age-tech ecosystem. They discuss empowering older adults through innovative technology, current trends in smart living and robotics, and the role of AI in enhancing user experiences. The conversation highlights the importance of collaboration in the age-tech ecosystem and ways to engage with the AgeTech Collaborative.

About Aurelie

Aurelie Cornett joined the AARP’s innovations team inDecember of 2021, where she leads Business Development efforts for the AgeTech Collaborative™ from AARP®. Her primary focus is on identifying trends and supporting innovative AgeTech startups by building the largest community of businesses, investors, and testbeds aimed at accelerating technology and introducing modern solutions to the $45 trillion global longevity market to make aging easier for everyone.

Before joining AARP, Aurelie gathered 15+ years of marketing and sales experience for a diverse set of organizations, primarily in tech and innovation. Some of the companies include the Consumer Technology Association where she spent nearly 11 years, collaborating with startups and Fortune 500 companies to build industry ecosystems at the annual tech conference CES. Earlier in her career, she worked in marketing for some of the world’s largest tech companies, including HP and Air France, in her hometown of Paris, France.Key Takeaways

• The AgeTech Collaborative supports AARP’s social mission by focusing on innovation and technology that helps people live longer, happier and healthier lifespans.
• The AgeTech Collaborative’s three-prong approach includes identifying innovative solutions, accelerating vetted startups with an quarterly eight-week virtual program, and fostering collaboration and networking opportunities among startups, investors, and enterprises.
• Age-tech is a holistic term that encompasses varioussolutions for aging, including smart living solutions, robotics and AI to create personalized experiences. The term captures the full spectrum of innovations designed to enhance aging at all diverse stages of life. healthcare, wellness, financial security, and social engagement.
• AARP data shows that between one third and one half of older adults are either using or are interested in using a smart home device and 60% want to live as long as possible, as independently as possible, in the comfortof their home.

In this episode of Glowing Older, host Nancy Griffin interviews Janine Vanderburg, CEO of Encore Roadmap and co-founder of Changing the Narrative. They discuss Janine's journey as an activist against ageism and the importance of addressing workplace age discrimination. Janine shares insights on current trends in ageism, the power of intergenerational connections, and the need for awareness and action against ageism.

About Janine

As CEO of Encore Roadmap, Janine brings over three decades of experience leading social and organizational change initiatives to her current work speaking, writing and consulting with businesses, media and brands on how they can become more age-inclusive, leverage the skills of older workers, and help intergenerational teams succeed.

In 2018, Janine founded Changing the Narrative, a leadingU.S. campaign to end ageism, through which she's trained over 30,000 people across the world in ageism, reframing aging and creating more age-inclusive workplaces, marketing and communications. The former chair of The Encore Network, she now co-chairs its Public Policy Advocacy Committee, and serves on the board of the Center for Workforce Inclusion Labs.

Janine's work has earned numerous awards including Top 25Powerful Women in Business by Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce, Denver Regional Council of Government’s Metro Vision Award and the American Society on Aging’s 2024 Award for Success in Diminishing Ageism.

A lawyer, community organizer and social entrepreneur, whatdrives Janine is the belief that human potential should not be wasted, and that people of all ages, identities and zip codes should have an opportunity to contribute their strengths and talents.

She frequently quotes civil rights leader Grace Lee Boggs:“We are the leaders we’ve been waiting for.”

Key Takeaways

• Encore roadmap educates employers, public and private companies and nonprofits about the strong business case for older workers and intergenerational teams.
• Ageism in the workplace negatively affects the economic security of women. Many women are forced to take Social Security prematurely and lost income that they left the workplace to take care of children and aging parents.
• Intergenerational conversations reduce ageism because they build mutual understanding.
• There is a growing trend of women in their 40s to 70spursuing entrepreneurship.
• Companies are recognizing the value of older workers and intergenerational teams.

In this episode of Glowing Older, host Nancy Griffin interviews Paul Nagle, Executive Director of Stonewall Community Development Corporation. They discuss the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ seniors, including discrimination in housing and the need for innovative community-driven solutions. Paul shares his personal journey as a survivor of AIDS and his activism in creating supportive housing and care systems for LGBTQ older adults. The conversation highlights the importance of resilience, community, and advocacy in addressing the needs of this marginalized population as traditional long-term care systems face collapse.

About Paul

Paul has over 30 years in both nonprofit administration and LGBTQ+ activism and currently serves as the Founding Executive Director of Stonewall Community Development Corporation (Stonewall CDC) since 2015. Before joining Stonewall CDC, Paul was the Executive Director of Cultural Strategies Initiative Inc. (CSI), a program of Demos, established with a major grant from the Rockefeller Cultural Innovation Fund. The mission of this project was to strengthen art’s central role in civic life, to enhance cultural, community, and environmental sustainability.

Before that, as Director of Communications & Cultural Policy for NYC Councilmember Alan Gerson (2002-2010), Paul organized the hard-hit cultural community in District 1 and engaged them in crafting strategies to help preserve and revitalize the arts in Lower Manhattan in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. His community-generated plan, Campuses & Corridors, served as the blueprint for a partnership between the Mayor, the Council Speaker and the Councilmember that was very successful in providing targeted capital and programmatic investments to restore the sector and convince the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation to grant $70 million to small to mid-sized arts organizations.

Paul earned both of his degrees from the Gallatin School at New York University, graduating summa cum laudefrom the bachelor’s program. He earned his masters’ degree at age 49 in 2007. An abridged version of his master’s thesis, Room for Creativity – the Role of Artists’ Live/work Space in the New Economy, was published in The International Journal of the Arts in Society.

Key Takeaways

• Stonewall Community Development Corporation focuses on housing and care for LGBTQ older adults. The organization has successfully placed over 1,400 families in permanent housing.
• Discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in housing isprevalent and often overlooked. Community generated systems of care are essential for LGBTQ seniors.
• The traditional long-term care system is collapsing due to outdated policies and low wages. Building networks of care is crucial for community resilience.