Adverse Effects of Ageism on Physical and Mental Health
2025-07-24 06:00 - 07:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
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Date:
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Start time: 6 AM Pacific | 9 AM Eastern
End time: 7 AM Pacific | 10 AM Eastern
Ageism and racism adversely affect health in multiple ways beyond socioeconomic factors. Internalizing ageist or racist beliefs impairs our immune system and reduces self-efficacy. In addition, many health conditions attributed to aging—such as memory loss, hearing decline and cardiovascular disease—are influenced more strongly by negative ageist stereotypes than by family history, genetics or chronological age. Fortunately, we can dismantle ageist and racist beliefs to profoundly benefit our mental and physical health. This presentation examines how beliefs, expectations and stereotypes influence epigenetic mechanisms, neural activity and immune function, and how we can change our thinking to grow bolder rather than older.
Presenter:
Dr. Helena Popovic, MBBS, is a medical doctor, international speaker, best-selling author, and leading authority on improving brain function. A graduate of the University of Sydney, she empowers people to take charge of their physical and mental health with the philosophy that decisions are more powerful than DNA and education is more powerful than medication.
Drawing on more than 30 years of clinical and personal experience, Dr. Popovic presents a groundbreaking approach to boosting brain performance, managing weight, and achieving lifelong vitality.
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How Men Can Thrive as They Age: Lessons from the Life Transition Group
2025-07-28 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
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Date: Monday, July 28, 2025
Start time: 9 AM Pacific | 12 PM Eastern
End time: 10 AM Pacific | 1 PM Eastern
Many older men today are struggling—with loneliness, declining happiness, and alarming suicide rates among those ages 75 and older. Yet promising new paths are emerging, offering ways for men to age with purpose, health, and connection. At the heart of these approaches is a reimagining of masculinity—expanding the notion of “provider,” embracing emotional openness, and intentionally building strong relationships. A compelling example of this evolution is the Life Transition Group (LTG), a Southern California–based circle of older men who have supported one another for more than 16 years.
This interactive session will be led by Ed Frauenheim, an expert on masculinity and co-author of “Reinventing Masculinity,” and Ron Dresher, co-founder of LTG. Frauenheim’s 2024 Psychology Today article, “Older Men Are Hurting—Here’s How They Can Thrive Instead,” highlighted LTG as a model for male well-being in later life. The session will draw on that article and a workshop Frauenheim facilitated for LTG on “Reinventing Masculinity as We Age,” offering practical insights and inspiration.
Together, Frauenheim and Dresher will explore what it means for men to age well—focusing on community, purpose and redefined masculinity—and how these lessons can be applied more broadly.
Presenters:
Ron Dresher is a semi-retired judge and co-founder of the Life Transition Group. With a legal career rooted in public service, he now focuses on helping older men navigate retirement with intention and vitality. His leadership in LTG reflects a commitment to fostering community, supporting personal growth, and redefining success in later life.
Ed Frauenheim is a writer, speaker and consultant with more than 25 years’ experience dedicated to reinventing masculinity, workplaces, and society for a more connected and compassionate world. He has contributed to outlets such as USA Today, Harvard Business Review, and Fortune. Previously he served as director of content at Great Place to Work, the consultancy behind the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list.
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Bringing Research Interventions to Protect the Most Vulnerable
2025-07-29 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
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Date: Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Start time: 9 AM Pacific | 12 PM Eastern
End time: 10 AM Pacific | 1 PM Eastern
This session will explore how research with community populations can inform the diagnosis and treatment of mental health concerns among older adults. We will detail three underserved mental health needs: depression among homebound older adults; suicidality among victims of elder abuse; and trauma among diverse community-dwelling older adults. We will examine how academic-practice partnerships can help identify needs, design, and deliver psychotherapy interventions tailored to clients’ needs and sustainable in community settings. Recent findings on the effectiveness of community-delivered psychotherapy and exploring the impact of academic-practice partnerships in supporting the mental well-being of vulnerable older adults will be discussed.
Presenters:
Clare Culver is a clinical research assistant at Weill Cornell Medicine, where she contributes to research on depression interventions for individuals affected by elder abuse and crime. Her research interests focus on community-based interventions, trauma-informed care, and improving treatment access, engagement, and retention. Culver is committed to advancing intervention efficacy and implementation research for trauma-exposed populations.
Isabel Rollandi, PhD, is committed to advancing the understanding of mental health through rigorous scientific research, with a focus on depression and anxiety in adults. As research manager and team leader at Weill Cornell Medicine, she has built and led a robust team to execute federally funded studies and coordinate multisite clinical trials. Her expertise includes grant writing, which has successfully secured funding for critical research initiatives, and advanced quantitative data analysis using statistical software. This work has contributed to the production of high-impact manuscripts and presentations that are helping to shape the field of mental health research.
Jo Anne Sirey, PhD, is a professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and an Attending Psychologist at New York–Presbyterian Hospital. Her work focuses on developing community-based mental health interventions for older adults, with an emphasis on improving treatment access and reducing stigma. She leads the NIMH-funded Weill Cornell ALACRITY Center and directs the TRIO program, which delivers mental health services to multilingual older adults across New York City. Sirey has developed and led initiatives such as the PROTECT program for elder abuse victims and SMART-MH for post-disaster mental health care. Her work is widely recognized for its impact on underserved and trauma-exposed populations.
Kathleen Zuke, MPH, is director of the Center for Healthy Aging at the National Council on Aging, where she collaborates with community-based partners nationwide to identify, implement, and sustain evidence-based programs that support older adults in managing chronic conditions, preventing falls, and addressing behavioral health needs. Her work focuses on empowering individuals and communities to better manage chronic conditions. Zuke’s passion for aging services was inspired by her upbringing with eight loving grandparents and her experience as a caregiver for her grandfather.
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Learning Lab: Challenging Ableism in Ageism Work
2025-08-12 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Date:Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Start time: 10 AM Pacific | 1 PM EasternEnd time: 11 AM Pacific | 2 PM Eastern
American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters will be available for this virtual event.
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As we work to dismantle ageism, are we unintentionally reinforcing ableism? In this interactive Learning Lab, we’ll explore how the aging services field often promotes an ideal of “healthy,” “active,” and “independent” aging—narratives that can marginalize older adults who have disabilities and reinforce ableist norms. In this interactive and guided conversation, we’ll examine the complex intersection of ageism and ableism, uncover the ways these biases show up in policies, language, media, and even well-meaning campaigns, and reflect on how to shift our advocacy to be more inclusive of all older adults—especially those living with disabilities. Let’s rethink what it means to age well—and who is included in that vision.
Participants will:

Hear from thought leaders and peers working at the intersection of ageism and ableism
Reflect on common assumptions about aging and ability
Engage in dialogue and practice reframing narratives toward interdependence and equityPresenters:

Colleen Arnold, CEO, Marin Aging and Disability Institute
Alison Barkoff, associate professor and program director at the Hirsh Health Law and Policy Program, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University
Eli Gelardin, director, San Francisco Office on Disability and Accessibility
Tracey Gendron, executive director, Virginia Center on Aging

This event is made possible in part by the generous support of Next50.

Keys to Age-Inclusion: Collaboration & Belonging
2025-10-09 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
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Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025
Start time: 12 PM Pacific | 3 PM Eastern
End time: 1 PM Pacific | 4 PM Eastern
How we view aging affects how we invest in our communities and make policy, which means we need to hold a more realistic view of what aging looks like across varied life experiences. In this practical discussion about solutions to ageism, we highlight how we need to collaborate across sectors and broaden our understanding of aging to encompass the diverse realities of growing older in America.
Age-inclusion is the best way forward, and the best way to move beyond ageism is via belonging and collaboration. In an era of rapidly shifting resources and changing demographics, we must forge new partnerships and widen our networks. We have to build something better. Join our panelists to learn how we might build age-friendly systems through their experiences collaborating and building services that work for all.
Participants will:

Hear from thought leaders working on cross-sector collaboration and implementing inclusion initiatives
Reflect on the possibilities for age-inclusive systems
Learn about resources and tips for addressing ageism
Join the conversation about where the age-friendly movement is heading

Presenters:

Megan Wolfe, JD,Senior Policy Development Manager, Trust for America’s Health
Jess Maurer,Executive Director, Maine Council on Aging
Laura Poskin,Executive Director, Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh
Fayron Epps, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN, Professor | Karen & Ronald Herrmann Distinguished Chair in Caregiving Research & Fellow, Betty Irene Moore Fellowship Program for Nurse Leaders and Innovators, UT Austin
Emily Greenfield, PhD, GSA, Professor | Director of the Hub for Aging Collaboration, Rutgers School of Social Work

Moderated by Patrice L. Dickerson, ASA Senior Equity Strategy Director
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On Aging Institute Summit
2025-10-28 08:30 - 16:00 (America/Denver) | Anschutz Health Sciences Building, Elliman Conference Center, 1890 N. Revere Ct., Aurora, CO, 80045, United States
Colorado’s population is changing faster than its systems. Are we building the infrastructure everyone needs—or just hoping it works out?
Healthcare systems, energy grids, financial services, technology platforms, workforce pipelines—they’re all being reshaped by demographic change. But right now, they’re being reshaped in silos.
What if they weren’t?
The On Aging Institute Summit brings together leaders from across sectors who recognize that how we age isn’t someone else’s problem to solve. It’s the shared context in which every industry will operate for the next three decades.

This Isn’t Another Aging Event
If you work in aging services, you know the current system is fragmented and under-resourced. This summit is your chance to connect with decision-makers from healthcare, tech, finance, and energy who need to understand what you’ve learned about designing for all ages.
If you work outside traditional aging services, your industry is already being disrupted by demographic change—whether you see it yet or not. This summit connects you with the people who understand the infrastructure, policy, and lived experience challenges your customers and employees are navigating.
Either way, you’ll leave with:

Strategic relationships across sectors that typically don’t talk to each other
Insights on applying Colorado’s Multisector Plan on Aging to your work
Concrete partnership opportunities identified during structured networking
A clear understanding of where your organization fits in Colorado’s changing landscape
Direct engagement with policy leaders shaping the state’s response to demographic change

Who Should Attend
This summit is designed for executives, directors, and senior strategists from:
Healthcare & Bioscience – designing prevention, access, and care delivery models
Information Technology – building platforms people across generations actually use
Energy & Infrastructure – ensuring affordability and climate resilience
Financial Services – protecting retirement security and preventing fraud
Aerospace & Manufacturing – adapting workforce and product strategies
Tourism & Hospitality – capturing Colorado’s multigenerational travel market
Policy & Advocacy – coordinating across jurisdictions and sectors
Community Organizations – delivering services in the real world

What Makes This Different
Most aging events talk about cross-sector collaboration. This summit is structured to create it.
Throughout the day, you’ll engage in facilitated dialogue designed to surface partnership opportunities, identify shared challenges, and build the relationships that make coordination possible. The Colorado Multisector Plan on Aging provides a framework for these discussions, helping guide participants toward actionable strategies for cross-sector alignment and long-term impact.
Following lunch, the afternoon focuses on collective advocacy and systems change. You’ll hear from state policymakers and leaders and explore how collaborative networks can serve as a unified voice in advancing policies that address structural inequities and improve how all Coloradans experience aging.
This is your chance to be in the room when those partnerships form.

The Opportunity Cost of Not Attending
Colorado is at an inflection point. The Multisector Plan on Aging has been released. Policy windows are opening. Funding is being allocated.
The question isn’t whether your industry will be affected by aging. It already is.
The question is whether you’ll help shape the response—or react to what others build.
Right now, decisions are being made about healthcare access, technology adoption, infrastructure investment, workforce development, and consumer engagement. Those decisions will either create an integrated system that works—or perpetuate the fragmentation that’s failing everyone.
The leaders who show up to this summit will be the ones forming the partnerships, influencing the policy, and building the solutions.

Event Details
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM MDT
Location: CU Anschutz Elliman Conference Center, 1890 N. Revere Ct., Aurora, CO 80045
Registration includes:

Full-day access to all sessions
Structured networking with curated cross-sector introductions
Lunch and refreshments
Facilitated discussion on Colorado Multisector Plan on Aging
Follow-up connection to On Aging Institute programming

Questions?
Contact Julia Burrowes, Associate Director, On Aging Institute at institute@asaging.org

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Exhibitor Information Call — On Aging 2026
2026-01-27 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
3-4 PM Eastern | 12–1 PM Pacific
Interested in exhibiting at On Aging 2026?
Join the ASA Exhibits team for an informational exhibitor call on Tuesday, January 27.
During this session, we’ll walk through what’s new for On Aging 2026, outline exhibit and sponsorship opportunities, and share ways to maximize your presence and ROI at the conference. We’ll also have a live Q&E to address any specific questions you may have about exhibiting.
This call is ideal for organizations exploring booth options, sponsorship add-ons, or ways to engage meaningfully with our attendees.
Questions? Contact us at exhibit@asaging.org.
We look forward to connecting with you!
—The ASA Exhibits Team
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Invisible Consequences: How Federal Policy Shapes Economic Security for Older Adults
2026-01-28 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
2–3 PM Eastern | 11–12 AM Pacific
Format:
Live Workshop
Price:
There is no cost to attend this event.
Certificates & Credits:
Continuing Education credits are not available for this course.
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Description:
Explore how legislative changes—especially the Older Americans Act, the Big Beautiful Bill and Social Security adjustments—affect older adults even when they are not the intended policy targets. Discuss how eligibility rules, documentation requirements and reporting burdens create barriers to benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP, housing and caregiver assistance. Examine how policy shifts influence housing stability, consumer debt (including mortgages and student loans) and caregiving supports, all of which shape real-world access to basic security.
Proposed policy solutions include—simplifying eligibility and documentation across aging-related programs, expanding automatic enrollment for means-tested benefits, and funding the Older Americans Act at levels that sustain caregiving and housing stability.
Projected fiscal impact: These reforms would require moderate federal and state administrative modernization investments (estimated $2–$4 billion) but could yield long-term savings of 5%–10% in benefit administration and healthcare costs by reducing duplication, fraud and delayed access to preventive services.
Presenters:
Orion Bell, MBA, is president and CEO at the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, having joined Benjamin Rose in 2019 with more than 30 years’ leadership experience in not-for-profit management. Prior to Benjamin Rose, he served as president and CEO at CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions, the largest of Indiana’s 16 Area Agencies on Aging, overseeing a staff of 240 and an operating budget of $27 million. Bell is an active member of ASA’s Economic Security Advisory Council.
Robert “Bob” Blancato is national coordinator of the bipartisan 3,000-member Elder Justice Coalition, and president of Matz, Blancato and Associates, executive director of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs, and national coordinator of the Defeat Malnutrition Today coalition. He has testified numerous times before House and Senate committees, served 17 years as a staffer in Congress, having been appointed by President Clinton to be executive director of the 1995 White House Conference on Aging, one of four he participated in. He serves as second vice chair of the AARP board and on the AARP Foundation board, as well as on the board of the National Hispanic Council on Aging.
Judith Kozlowski is an independent elder justice consultant and a senior fellow at the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement. She was a subject matter expert with the DOJ Elder Justice Initiative for more than 10 years, and prior to that, senior advisor to the HHS Assistant Secretary for Aging and at the ACL, where she helped develop national policy initiatives concerning elder abuse and financial exploitation. Kozlowski helped establish the Office for the Financial Protection of Older Americans at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She co-chairs ASA’s Economic Security Advisory Council.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the policy design process and unintended effects on aging populations, caregivers and households carrying long-term debt.
Analyze real-world case studies of eligibility exclusion in Medicaid, SNAP and housing programs.
Identify advocacy strategies to reduce administrative and procedural inequalities and to strengthen the caregiving and housing safety net.

Who should attend this session:

National, state and local aging advocates
Public policy staff at nonprofits, associations and foundations
Government relations and policy analysts focused on aging, health or economic security
Think tank and research teams
Government and public-sector administrators

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Thank you to our partners:

This course is made possible in part by the generous support of Next50.

Virtual Student Summit
2026-03-06 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Date & Time:
Fridays in March 2026: March 6, 13, 20, and 27
1–2:30 PM Eastern I 10–11:30 AM Pacific each day
Format:
Live Summit
Available On Demand (April 10, 2026–December 18, 2026)
Price:
Students: Free
Non-Student: $50
Certificates & Credits:
Continuing Education credits are not available for this summit. We will offer a Certificate of Attendance.
A yearly ASA membership is $275 for individuals and $100 for retired professionals & students. ASA also offers Organizational Membership. Learn more about membership here.
*This summit is non-refundable.
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Description:
ASA is bringing students together from across the country for an exciting new virtual summit designed to spark careers in aging. Across 4 weeks, you will explore diverse career paths, build practical job search skills, and connect with peers and professionals who share your passion for making a difference.
Topics for each week:
Week 1: Exploring Careers in Aging—Hear from professionals across disciplines and learn about the wide range of opportunities in the field.
Week 2: Career Development and Job Search Skills—Gain practical tools for resumes, interviewing, LinkedIn, and understanding how AI shapes today’s job market.
Week 3: Networking and Mentorship—Learn how to build connections, find mentors, and use professional networks to advance your career.
Week 4: Student Showcase and Reflection—Share your work, reflect on what you’ve learned, and celebrate your next steps in the aging sector.
The Virtual Student Summit is free for students. All participants will also receive a certificate of completion to recognize their engagement and learning. This is your chance to discover opportunities you may not have considered, learn how to stand out in today’s job market, and start building the professional network that will support your journey.
Learning Objectives:

Develop and apply career skills including advanced job search strategies, effective interviewing, and persuasive self-marketing.
Gain a comprehensive understanding of diverse and nontraditional careers in the aging field.
Build a professional network by engaging with experts and peers beyond their own institution.

Who should attend this summit:

Undergraduate students
Graduate students
Anyone desiring to learn more about careers in aging

Presenters:
Title: Alyssa Aguirre, LCSW-S, assistant director of Dementia Care Transformation, The University of Texas Dell Medical School
Alyssa Aguirre, LCSW-S, is a recognized leader in aging with more than 15 years of experience spanning dementia care research, private practice, and clinical social work. She serves as assistant director of Dementia Care Transformation at Dell Medical School, where she leads grant-funded research on technology, family caregiving, and interprofessional practice. She also provides counseling to individuals living with neurodegenerative conditions and their family caregivers, integrating clinical work with research, teaching, and systems-level leadership. (Week 1)

Title: Cassandra Cantave Burton, interim director of Thought Leadership and senior research advisor, AARP

Cassandra Cantave Burton is a dynamic advocate, dedicated researcher, and visionary leader in the nonprofit sector. As the Consumer Insights manager at AARP, she brings her expertise to the forefront of aging issues, providing strategic guidance and evidence-based insights on topics affecting older adults. She also serves as interim director of Thought Leadership, where she advances AARP’s wealth disparities strategy through rigorous research, strategic storytelling, and high-impact partnerships. Previously, Burton served as the interim senior manager for the people with disabilities audience, playing a pivotal role in drafting the National People with Disabilities strategic plan. (Week 3)

Title: Erin Cantrell, director of the DiNitto Career Center and Alumni Relations, University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work
Erin Cantrell, brings a holistic approach to career development, partnering with students and alumni to explore possibilities, discover strengths, and forge meaningful professional paths in social work. Before joining the DiNitto Career Center, she gained extensive experience in nonprofit administration, project management, and strategic planning through executive support roles at organizations such as the Mellon Foundation, Columbia University Medical Center, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. (Week 2)

Title: Leanne Clark-Shirley, PhD, president & CEO, American Society on Aging
Leanne Clark-Shirley, PhD, is a social gerontologist with nearly 20 years of experience working in aging-related nonprofit, consulting and academic environments. Before joining ASA, she was AARP’s senior evaluation advisor, responsible for strategic planning, building internal evaluation research capacity, and applying impact measurement expertise at departmental and enterprise levels. Prior to that, she led the Aging and Disability research practice at IMPAQ International, a think tank and policy research firm. Clark-Shirley is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, teaches courses on policy and aging and regularly mentors students interested in non-academic careers in aging. She received her doctorate in Gerontology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. (Week 4)

Title: Chloe Elderkin, dual bachelor’s and master’s student, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology; graduate intern, Poppy Cares
Chloe Elderkin is a gerontology professional with experience in care coordination, dementia-focused programming, and student leadership, including serving as philanthropy chair for the USC Student Gerontology Association. She has a particular focus on LGBTQ+ aging and is involved in community engagement and advocacy volunteer work with the Los Angeles LGBT Center. (Week 3)

Title: Arielle Galinsky, CEO & co-founder of The Legacy Project, Inc. | JD/MPP student , Yale Law & Harvard Kennedy
Arielle Galinsky co-founded The Legacy Project, a national nonprofit that connects college students and older adults in their communities through mutual storytelling, uplifting and documenting life stories. Galinsky, an MPP/JD candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School and Yale Law School, is committed to advancing aging policy reform at state and national levels. She also serves as a UN youth representative with Generations United, a CoGen Impact fellow with CoGenerate, and co-founder of Changemakers in Aging, which is dedicated to supporting young adults interested in pursuing a path in gerontology. (Week 1)

Title: Aaron Hagedorn, PhD, instructional associate professor of Gerontology, USC Leonard Davis
Aaron Hagedorn, PhD, teaches courses in policy, integrating sciences, technology and internship. He has published research on healthy life expectancy and health and well-being among older adults. (Week 3)

Title: Suzanne LaFollette-Black, retired associate state director, AARP
Suzanne LaFollette-Black has been a gerontologist for more than 40 years. She has worked in the aging network as a nonprofit nursing home administrator, Area Agency on Aging director, executive director of Moore County Department of Aging, AARP Georgia State director, AARP NC associate State director of Advocacy and Community Outreach and aging network volunteer. LaFollette-Black is originally from Window Rock, AZ (Navajo Indian reservation). (Week 2)

Title: Ricky Patterson, career development counselor, University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)
Ricky Patterson combines his academic roots in public health and student development to specialize in bridging the gap between academic study and professional practice for students entering the health and human services sectors. Patterson’s work is driven by a steadfast commitment to seeing the next wave of healthcare and service professionals succeed and thrive in their communities. (Week 2)

Title: Karen A. Roberto, PhD, University distinguished professor, executive director, Institute for Society, Culture and Environment, and senior fellow, Center for Gerontology, Virginia Tech
Karen Roberto, PhD, is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Gerontological Society of America, and the National Council on Family Relations. She has received several awards and honors including Visiting Scholar at Shu-Te University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the Gerontological Society of America Behavioral and Social Sciences Distinguished Mentorship Award and the Gary Andrews Visiting Fellow Award from the Australian Association for Gerontology. Her research focuses on health and social support in late life and includes studies of the health of rural older women, family relationships and dementia caregiving, and elder abuse. (Week 3)

Title: Jen Rivera, MS, vice president of Community Growth and Stewardship, American Society on Aging
Jen Rivera, MS, develops effective strategies to enhance member satisfaction, advance programmatic initiatives, and shape the intellectual direction of the organization, in collaboration with the education and membership team. With more than 10 years’ experience helping organizations rethink their membership models to deliver a consistent return on investment for their members, she has developed a deep understanding of building and sustaining relationships with stakeholders and implementing growth strategies for organizations. (Week 4)

Title: Graham D. Rowles, PhD, professor emeritus, University of Kentucky
Graham D. Rowles, PhD, researches environmental gerontology, focusing on the lived experience of place and its relationship to health and well-being, aging/environment theory, relocation and migration, housing options for older adults, and long-term care. His applied focus has included leading the Kentucky Elder Readiness Initiative (KERI), editing the Journal of Applied Gerontology, and serving as president of the Southern Gerontological Society. (Week 1)

Title: April Young, MSW, senior managing director of Strategic Initiatives, ADvancing States
April Young, MSW, leads the Caregiving Team at ADvancing States, providing technical assistance to states on stakeholder engagement, the direct care workforce, and enabling technology. She oversees the Enabling Technology Engagement Network (ETEN), bringing together policymakers, vendors, and health plans to expand access to technology solutions for older adults and people with disabilities and support sustainable adoption. Previously, April served as a policy advisor on HCBS programs at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. (Week 1)

Thank you to the planning committee:

Anna Hardy Finger, LCSW-S, Clinical Assistant Professor, GRACE Program Co-Director, The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work
Chloe Elderkin, Undergraduate Student, The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
Cynthia R. Hancock, Ph.D., FAGHE, FSGS, Director, Gerontology Program; Teaching Professor, Sociology, University of North Carolina Charlotte
Norman Jackson,Ph.D, MS, Undergraduate GERO Program Coordinator, San Diego State University School of Social Work
Sarah Swords, LCSW-S, former Clinical Associate Professor and GRACE Program Director, University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work
Tina M. K. Newsham, Ph.D., F-AGHE, Professor and Gerontology Program Coordinator, School of Health and Applied Human Sciences at the University of North Carolina Wilmington
Tracey Gendron, Ph.D., FGSA, Interim Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs, College of Health Professions, Virginia Commonwealth University

Register Now

This summit is made possible in part by the generous support of Next50 and Matz, Blancato and Associates.

Know Before You Go: On Aging 2026
2026-04-09 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-04-14 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
1–2 PM Eastern | 10–1 AM Pacific
Format:
Live Webinar
Price:
There is no cost to attend this event.
Certificates & Credits:
Continuing Education credits are not available for this webinar.
Register Now
Description:
Get ready to make the most of your On Aging 2026 experience! Join us for this one-hour Know Before You Go webinar designed to help you feel confident, informed, and fully prepared before you arrive.
During this session, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to navigate the conference with ease, from understanding the overall schedule and agenda to selecting sessions, planning your days, and accessing key resources. We’ll also share practical tips to help you maximize your learning, networking, and engagement throughout the event.
This webinar will cover:

Overview of the On Aging 2026 schedule and agenda

How to navigate sessions, tracks, and the conference platform/app

Tips for building your personalized schedule

Ways to enhance your overall conference experience

How to claim Continuing Education (CE) credits

Live Q&A to answer your questions

Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a returning participant, this session will ensure you’re fully prepared to get the most value from your time at On Aging 2026.
