Shona Omand-Smith

Commissioning Lead
Specialist Resource Solutions (SRS)
Aberdeen, SCOTLAND, UK
  • 8-F. International Perspectives: Using Technology to Transform Care Delivery

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

    8-F. International Perspectives: Using Technology to Transform Care Delivery

    The Digital Support Hub model helps Scottish aged care organizations provide scalable, person-centered care to older adults by blending digital tools with human interaction. This session will explore how the Hub uses a simple, one-button computer and regular welfare calls to engage with older adults living in the community, address gaps in traditional care delivery, tailor care to individual needs, and reduce reliance on in-person services. Presenters will outline strategies for using the Hub model to address workforce shortages, improve staff retention, and empower caregivers and care recipients. You’ll take home practical steps for using a Digital Support Hub to reduce hospitalizations, support transitions to independent living, and preserve autonomy all while achieving significant cost savings.

Sharon Orlopp

Foundation Board Chair
Sun Health Communites
Surprise, AZ, USA
  • 33-G. Engaging, Strengthening, and Compensating Board Members

    • Tuesday, November 04, 2025

    8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

    33-G. Engaging, Strengthening, and Compensating Board Members

    Creating a high-performing nonprofit board of directors entails more than simply selecting individuals to serve. Organizations must also strive to enhance the impact of board members once they are recruited. This session will examine the holistic Board Lifecycle Program implemented by Sun Health Communities in Surprise, AZ. Presenters will describe program features, including strategic recruitment aligned with effective board engagement, an onboarding process designed to help new board members contribute and thrive, and a board rotation policy that encourages fresh perspectives while maintaining institutional knowledge. The Board Lifecycle Program also features board compensation to boost recruitment, raise expectations, and enhance engagement. Get ready to access practical tools that will help you develop a high-impact board.

Carole Osero-Ageng’o

Global Initiatives Lead & Africa Regional Representative
Center for Global South Initiatives in Development
  • 112-D. International Perspectives: Challenges, Innovations, and Global Lessons

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

    112-D. International Perspectives: Challenges, Innovations, and Global Lessons

    As one of our youngest and fastest-aging continents, Africa has much to teach the world about providing inclusive, rights-based aged care characterized by resilience, strong community traditions, and limited resources. During this session, advocates and practitioners will explore the evolving landscape of aging and caregiving in Africa, including rural caregiving, community-based care, gender-based violence, legal and financial gaps, and elder-led advocacy networks. You’ll engage in a dynamic conversation about the current state of aged care in Africa, the African Union’s mission to integrate aging into law and policy, and the continent’s vision for the future. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover what your region can learn from Africa’s unique approach to aged care.

Hillary Owen

Principal, Studio Practice Leader
HKS, Inc.
Chicago, IL, USA
  • 35-H. Breaking Barriers: The Journey of Women to C-Suite Success

    • Tuesday, November 04, 2025

    3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

    35-H. Breaking Barriers: The Journey of Women to C-Suite Success

    During this must-attend session, women executives in aging services will discuss their professional journeys, challenges, and career-defining moments. Chief executive officers, chief operating officers, and vice presidents will share their stories of perseverance and innovation, offering lessons to help other women leaders navigate career transitions, overcome obstacles, and build resilience. Discover the leadership qualities that fueled their success and gain practical strategies for finding mentors, building professional networks, and cultivating confidence. Whether you’re an emerging leader, a mid-career professional, or a seasoned executive, you’ll leave this session with actionable insights to guide your career journey and create work environments that empower and support the advancement of women leaders.

Corri Page

Public Policy Manager
National Church Residences
Columbus, OH, USA
  • 25-J. Bridging the Digital Divide to Unlock Residents’ Public Benefits

    • Wednesday, November 05, 2025

    8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

    25-J. Bridging the Digital Divide to Unlock Residents’ Public Benefits

    Gaps in digital literacy and technology access can create economic barriers for affordable housing residents as they navigate public benefits enrollment services that are transitioning to digital platforms. This session will explore how National Church Residences has helped over 3,000 older adults access more than $11 million in public benefits through its Benefits Enrollment Center. You’ll learn how to make benefits enrollment processes more inclusive and accessible to all residents through interventions that provide alternative enrollment methods or offer digital literacy support. Don’t miss this opportunity to ensure that residents of your housing community receive the benefits they’re entitled to, regardless of their technology proficiency or access to digital tools.

Frankie Pane

President
Transforming Age
Bellevue, WA, USA
  • 126-B. Innovative Designs for Active Adult and Independent Living Communities

    • Sunday, November 02, 2025

    2:45 – 3:45 p.m.

    126-B. Innovative Designs for Active Adult and Independent Living Communities

    The next generation of senior living residents will seek aesthetically pleasing homes and apartments that support their independence, adapt to their evolving needs, and preserve their dignity. This session will explore innovative designs for active-adult and independent living that will help you meet the preferences of current and future consumers. Presenters will draw on insights from design, marketing, sales, and therapy experts to help you envision life plan community homes and apartments that quickly adapt to residents’ needs, balance safety and autonomy, and maintain a non-institutional feel. They’ll also examine the latest in-home technology, including voice-activated controls, automated lighting, and fall detection sensors. Discover how to design your community’s dwellings to support aging and choice while discreetly addressing residents’ changing needs.

JinHwa Paradowicz

Principal
Perkins Eastman Architects PC
Chicago, IL, USA
  • 133-G. Integrating Intergenerational Principles into Your Projects

    • Tuesday, November 04, 2025

    8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

    133-G. Integrating Intergenerational Principles into Your Projects

    Intergenerational connections can enhance both the design and operation of senior living environments. This session will offer practical strategies to help you create meaningful and sustainable multigenerational environments that give owners, developers, and designers a competitive edge in today’s evolving market. Presenters will share a roadmap developed by the Joint Intergenerational Task Force convened by SAGE, AIA Design for Aging, and the Center for Health Design. They will unveil the task force’s new findings, case studies, and actionable strategies. You’ll gain valuable insights into the challenges you may encounter as you integrate intergenerational principles into your projects and operations. You’ll also gain strategies that can lead to successful outcomes.

Kevin Parries

Executive Director
Carolina Village
Hendersonville, NC, USA
  • 27-A. Leading in a Crisis: Lessons from Hurricane Helene

    • Sunday, November 02, 2025

    1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

    27-A. Leading in a Crisis: Lessons from Hurricane Helene

    On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene brought unprecedented challenges to western North Carolina as it destroyed homes, caused severe flooding, and left thousands without electricity, cell service, or water. During this session, a panel of CEOs from three senior living organizations in the storm’s path will reflect on their experiences during and after the storm and share the essential leadership lessons they learned. Listen as they recount how they supported one another, how they adapted or rewrote their emergency plans in real-time to address the storm’s catastrophic impacts, and how assistance from other LeadingAge members helped them navigate the crisis. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the critical role leaders play in guiding their organizations through natural disasters.

Susie Parsons

Associate, Interior Designer
Rice Fergus Miller Architecture & Planning
Bremerton, WA, USA
  • 23-H. Inclusiveu00a0by Design: Addressing Isolation and Loneliness in Senior Living

    • Tuesday, November 04, 2025

    3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

    23-H. Inclusiveu00a0by Design: Addressing Isolation and Loneliness in Senior Living

    The serious health risks associated with loneliness among individuals living alone are well-documented. However, less is known about addressing isolation that persists even when people reside in a community with their peers. This session will explore the difference between genuine human connection and mere physical proximity. Presenters will identify ways in which isolation and loneliness can persist within communities and examine the additional challenges that LGBTQ+ older adults face when accessing care, shelter, and community support. You’ll discover new opportunities to promote inclusion and connection among older adults and team members, ranging from small cultural shifts to more significant changes in the design of the built environment.

Nick Patel

President
ThriveWell Tech
Frederick, MD, USA
  • 1-A. Smart Living Showcase: Bringing Technology to Senior Living

    • Sunday, November 02, 2025

    1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

    1-A. Smart Living Showcase: Bringing Technology to Senior Living

    Imagine owning a television that uses artificial intelligence to provide social connection. You might want eyeglasses that provide real-time captions of your conversations, or a scale that assesses your risk of falling. These and other technology solutions are displayed in a Smart Living Showcase, developed by Asbury Communities in collaboration with the AgeTech Collaborativeu2122 from AARP. Attend this session for an eye-opening overview of how the showcase is helping Asbury investigate emerging technologies and understand older adults’ preferences and readiness to embrace technology. Presenters will guide you through the showcase’s collection, offer tips for implementing technology solutions in senior living, and discuss the impact of technology innovation on market perception and sales.

Benazir Patil

CEO
Society of Community Health Oriented Operations Links
New Delhi, India
  • 88-A. International Perspectives: Creating Individual Care Plans for Community-Dwelling Adults

    • Sunday, November 02, 2025

    1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

    88-A. International Perspectives: Creating Individual Care Plans for Community-Dwelling Adults

    In 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty, tackle inequalities, and protect the environment. This session will highlight how a community-based organization in western India is striving to achieve one UN goal, which calls for “good health and well-being.” Presenters will showcase the Vriddha Mitra program, which helps older adults live safely and independently at home, regardless of age, income, or ability level. You’ll learn about a tool that “community officers” in the program use to assess participants’ needs and develop tailored individual care plans to guide caregiving strategies. Discover how community officers provide this assistance while offering warmth, empathy, and genuine friendship that enrich the lives of older people.

Jackie Patterson

Director, Interior Design
Lenhardt Rodgers Architecture + Interiors
Fort Washington, PA, United States
  • 129-D. The Built Environment: A Tool for Preventing Falls

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

    129-D. The Built Environment: A Tool for Preventing Falls

    Senior living providers have an obligation to protect residents and staff from falls while helping them maintain their autonomy and enhancing their quality of life. This session will explore essential, yet often overlooked, tools to help you meet that obligation: the buildings where residents and team members live and work. Presenters will demonstrate how simple modifications to existing structures or new construction in your skilled nursing, transitional care, assisted living, and memory care settings can prevent falls and improve outcomes for residents and staff. Join this session to pinpoint specific elements of your organization’s built environment that can help you prevent, detect, and protect against falls and their adverse outcomes.