We all have people who helped shape our careers and inspired us to be where we are today. At this year’s conference, we invite you to celebrate them. When you pick up your badge, add the name of someone who created a ripple in your life and spark new conversations. Ask fellow attendees, “Who created a ripple for you?” and discover the stories of impact that connect us all.

Sunday, November 2 | 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Exhibit Hall Concourse

Kick off #LeadingAge25 with fresh seafood, bold Boston energy, and a high-spirited musical performance that’ll have you moving from the first note. This harbor-inspired lunch is your chance to badge up, connect with colleagues, and dive into the rhythm of the week ahead. With the waterfront as our muse, it’s time to get in the groove and make some waves.

Over half a million people are homeless and many of them are older adults. Unfortunately, socks are the least-donated item. LeadingAge plans to sock it to this problem in Boston. Bring a pair of socks [preferably Red in support of our host city] to donate and place them in our giant bin when you arrive. Help us meet our goal of 5,000 pairs of socks for people in need.

Step off the gangway and into The Landing—your first stop and favorite hangout. Inspired by the city’s vibrant harbor culture, this lounge is equal parts welcome port and social hub. Drop anchor here throughout the conference to relax, recharge, and reconnect—because every great journey begins at the dock.

What are you grateful for? Gratitude has the power to transform lives and create ripples of impact. At LeadingAge 2025, we invite attendees to participate in a collaborative art experience that reveals and amplifies messages of appreciation from residents and clients.

Sunday, November 2 | 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Join us for an intergenerational bike ride along the Boston waterfront with LeadingAge attendees, students, and older adults. We’ll end our ride at UMass Boston Campus for a screening of Cycling Without Age, celebrating the power of movement and connection. Proceeds support the purchase of a new trishaw to bring the joy of biking to more older adults.

Sunday, November 2 | 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Join us for a screening of Familiar Touch, a poignant debut feature by Sarah Friedland that explores aging, caregiving, and dementia with honesty and warmth. The story follows Ruth, an octogenarian adjusting to life in assisted living, portrayed by Kathleen Chalfant in an award-winning performance. Both tender and unexpectedly joyful, the film redefines what it means to grow older.

Filmed at Villa Gardens, a Front Porch community, the production engaged residents and staff as collaborators—on screen and behind the scenes—blurring the line between fiction and real life. Stay for a post-film discussion with the filmmakers and cast. Learn more at familiartouchfilm.com.