Tag: roundtable

Recently on Varsity’s podcast, Roundtable Talk, we sat down with Dr. Robyn Stone, a nationally recognized expert in aging policy and long-term care. As Senior Vice President of Research at LeadingAge and Co-Director of the LeadingAge LTSS Center, she has spent decades bridging the gap between policy, research, and real-world solutions to improve aging services.

Derek and Dr. Stone discussed the workforce crisis in long-term care, the challenges of educating consumers about aging services, and the role of technology in supporting caregivers. She also reflects on her decades in the field, offering insights on how change happens—slowly, but steadily. 

The conversation was filled with fresh perspectives. Below are just a few of them. 

YOU’VE SAID THAT SENIOR LIVING IS OFTEN AN “ACCIDENTAL CAREER”—A FIELD PEOPLE DON’T SEEK OUT BUT END UP LOVING. HOW CAN WE CHANGE THAT?

I’m actually an exception because I always knew I wanted to work with older adults. But over the years, I found that most people in aging services fell into these jobs by accident. Once they started, they realized they loved it. 

One of my primary focuses has been shifting this from an accidental profession to one that people intentionally pursue. We’ve made some strides, but we still struggle. If you look at the challenges in recruiting nurses, social workers, and even geriatric specialists, it’s clear that aging services is still undervalued. I think that’s tied to fundamental ageism in this country.

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST GAPS IN EDUCATING CONSUMERS ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE?

There’s still so much misunderstanding. People don’t grasp what long-term services and supports (LTSS) actually are. It’s about helping people function independently for as long as possible, but it intersects with medical care because these individuals also have chronic conditions, acute episodes, and post-acute needs. 

Housing is also critical—if you don’t have a home that allows for mobility, your quality of life suffers. Most people still think Medicare pays for long-term care, which isn’t true. We’ve spent decades trying to educate people, but the reality is that most don’t think about it until they’re in crisis.

WHAT STRATEGIES DO YOU THINK ARE MOST EFFECTIVE FOR RETAINING WORKERS IN AGING SERVICES?

The best recruitment strategy is retention. If you retain staff, you don’t have to recruit as much. Retention is about creating a healthy workplace culture with both monetary and non-monetary investments. Higher wages matter—we still have 40% of this workforce on some form of public assistance, which is unacceptable. 

But it’s also about training, strong supervisory support, and career pathways. Not every aide wants to become an RN, but they might want to specialize in geriatric care, behavioral health, or medication management. High-performing organizations are figuring out ways to create these pathways, which leads to better retention and lower turnover.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED IN YOUR CAREER THAT YOU WISH YOU COULD TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

Change takes a long time. It’s a journey, not a destination. When I started in the federal government in the early ’70s, I was filled with hopes and dreams about making the world a better place. Over time, I’ve learned that progress is incremental. But you have to keep your eye on the prize. It’s easy to get discouraged in policy and advocacy work, but if you focus on long-term goals and stay committed, real change does happen—even if it takes longer than you’d like.

Want to hear more from Dr. Stone? Check out the full episode of Roundtable Talk for more fresh perspectives. Watch new episodes of Roundtable Talk on the Varsity website and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.

Brian Parman is the Director of The Point and Pavilion at CC Young in Dallas. In that role, he curates and develops a robust and expanding calendar of activities, programs, and events designed to nurture and enrich the lives of both CC Young residents and the Dallas community.

Recently on Varsity’s weekly Roundtable, Brian shared how The Point leverages its senior enrichment center to engage the broader community and create connections that can lead to future residents.

THE POWER OF “BLUE SKY THINKING”

Encouraging big ideas and pushing boundaries has led to creative programs, including a TV studio, lifelong learning initiatives, and engagement across all levels of care.

EXPANDING BEYOND RESIDENTS

The Point membership program started as a small amenity and evolved into a thriving community resource, bringing in non-residents who often transition into full-time residents.

INNOVATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

COVID accelerated CC Young’s embrace of tech, from a fully equipped TV studio to digital tools like Canva, Touchtown, and QR codes to improve communication and accessibility.

ENRICHING LIVES THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Collaborations with nonprofits, colleges, and local experts have expanded programming, from art and writing contests to wellness and music therapy.

A DYNAMIC APPROACH TO ENGAGEMENT

Monthly themed planning, live-streamed events, and a mix of in-person and virtual experiences ensure that CC Young remains adaptable, inclusive, and future-focused.

Varsity’s Roundtable is a weekly virtual gathering of senior living marketers and leaders from across the nation. For updates about future weekly Roundtable gatherings, submit your name and email address here. 

Dr. David Katz is one of the most influential voices in preventive medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle medicine. As the founding director of the Yale Prevention Research Center, a past president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and a prolific author, Dr. Katz has spent his career challenging conventional wisdom on aging and health.

On a recent episode of Varsity’s podcast, Roundtable Talk, he shared his thoughts on the pitfalls of “anti-aging,” the power of lifestyle choices, and how we can reshape our relationship with aging and vitality. Here are some of the key takeaways from our conversation.

OUR SOCIETY PROMOTES ‘ANTI-AGING’—WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS MISGUIDED?

Aging is a biological process. It’s like being anti-breathing—it just doesn’t make sense. Everything ages: rocks, the Earth, the universe. What bothers me most about the “anti-aging” movement is that it invites us to perpetually compare ourselves to a younger version of ourselves.

I’m 62. I practice what I preach—I eat optimally, I work out every day, and I’m extremely fit. But I don’t have the same muscle mass or strength I did at 42 or 22. That’s just reality. The goal shouldn’t be to fight aging, but to optimize vitality at every stage of life.

HOW DOES THE PACE OF CHANGE IN OUR SOCIETY IMPACT HOW WE VIEW OLDER ADULTS?

The world you grew up in gets left behind, and that happens faster now than ever before. My parents, who are 85, are vital and active, but they feel like roadkill on the information superhighway.

When they were kids, there were no televisions. Now, we have devices in our pockets that let us instantly connect with anyone in the world. The speed of technological advancement makes older generations feel obsolete. We’ve gone from a time when older people were venerated for their wisdom to a culture that increasingly views them as out of touch.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO REFRAME AGING AS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE?

We need to celebrate what aging gives us, not just what it takes away. Yes, physical capabilities change, but you gain something just as valuable—wisdom, experience, perspective.

In many cultures, elders are venerated. But in America, we glorify youth while failing to honor the trade-off. Imagine if we had a magazine dedicated to the reflections and stories of older adults, just like People Magazine does for celebrities. We celebrate youthful beauty, but we don’t celebrate the beauty of experience and wisdom in the same way.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO AS YOU AGE?

I was looking forward to peace—to being able to fully enjoy the bond I have with my wife, to spending more time outdoors, with my dogs and my horses. But life doesn’t always work out as planned.

I unexpectedly became an entrepreneur, founding Diet ID, which was recently acquired. Now, I’m still deeply involved in making diet quality a vital sign, like blood pressure.

That said, I do look forward to a time when I can truly unplug—to go “off the grid” for a weekend (or longer), to not be shackled to my phone, to fully be with the people I love. That’s what I aspire to.

Want to hear more from Dr. Katz? Check out the full episode of Roundtable Talk for more fresh perspectives. Watch new episodes of Roundtable Talk on the Varsity website and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.

Recently on Varsity’s Roundtable we recently welcomed Marvell Adams, Jr. of the Longevity and Inclusion Alliance Fellows Program for an insightful discussion about equity in aging. 

Marvell, a leader with over 20 years of experience in aging services, has held roles ranging from CEO to nursing home administrator. His mission? To address systemic disparities and create equitable housing, support, and services for older adults. 

Here are some fresh perspectives from that conversation. 

INTERGENERATIONAL DYNAMICS ARE EVOLVING

The conversation explored the growing complexities at the intersection of inclusion and longevity. As people live longer, intergenerational dynamics are evolving, with older adults and their families supporting one another in unique ways—whether through caregiving, helping with grandchildren, or fostering community connections. However, much of this sense of community has been lost.

DEMOGRAPHICS ARE ALSO EVOLVING

In the next 15 years, the population of older adults will grow from 56 million to over 80 million—a nearly 50% increase, according to census data. More than half of this growth will come from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), whose numbers will double by 2040. Similarly, the number of older adults identifying as LGBTQ+ is projected to grow significantly, though these figures are likely underreported due to historical gaps in data collection.

SENIOR LIVING SYSTEMS NEED TO EVOLVE TOO

This shift reveals a critical challenge: the systems serving older adults weren’t designed with such diverse populations in mind. While not a critique of their foundations, it highlights the need to adapt and evolve these systems to ensure they are inclusive and capable of meeting the needs of a changing, more diverse aging population.

MEET POPULATIONS WHERE THEY ARE

Marvell highlighted Keswick, a skilled nursing community in Baltimore, as an example of mission-driven outreach. They’ve invested heavily in a PACE program in West Baltimore, serving a population different from their typical clientele. Marvell emphasized that if people don’t come to you, part of the mission may involve going to them—through services like at-home care or community-based programs—demonstrating that outreach has no limits when rooted in purpose.

Varsity’s Roundtable is a weekly virtual gathering of senior living marketers and leaders from across the nation. For updates about future weekly Roundtable gatherings, submit your name and email address here. 

As the Senior Director of Lifelong University Engagement at Mirabella at Arizona State University, Lindsey Beagley works at the intersection of higher education and senior living. Mirabella at Arizona State University is a retirement community on ASU’s Tempe campus, offering residents full access to the university’s resources, including classes, cultural events, and facilities. 

Lindsey joined us on an episode of Varsity’s podcast, Roundtable Talk, where Derek and Lindsey talked about lifelong learning, intergenerational connections, life in the Peace Corps and what she’s looking forward to as she ages.

Here are some fresh perspectives from that conversation: 

WHAT MAKES MIRABELLA AT ARIZONA STATE A “UNIVERSITY RETIREMENT COMMUNITY”?

Mirabella at ASU is the first certified university-based retirement community in the country. It’s a continuing care retirement community (CCRC)—mostly independent living, but also offering assisted living, memory support, and skilled nursing. What makes it different is its location right on campus and the deep integration with ASU.

We have three full-time staff dedicated to connecting residents with campus life—helping them enroll in classes, get involved in mentoring, or find whatever opportunities match their interests. They have full student ID cards, meaning they can access any campus facility. And students come into Mirabella all the time—using spaces for club meetings, performances, and study sessions. It’s a true living laboratory for intergenerational engagement.

HOW DO TRADITIONAL STUDENTS REACT TO HAVING OLDER CLASSMATES?

At first, most students assume that older adults in their classes must be faculty or observers. When they realize they’re fellow students, it forces them to rethink what learning looks like beyond the traditional college years.

For many young students, college is a transaction—”I need to get my degree and get a job.” They’re externally motivated. But then they see someone in their 70s or 80s taking a class purely for the love of learning, and it’s eye-opening. It shifts their mindset—they start to think, “Maybe learning isn’t just something I do now. Maybe I’ll come back to this one day.”

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES THAT WANT TO PARTNER WITH UNIVERSITIES?

Flip the paradigm. Don’t just approach a university and say, “What can you do for us?” Instead, ask, “What do your students need?”

You might be surprised. Universities often need mentors, guest speakers, or judges for competitions, but it’s hard to ask working professionals to volunteer their time. Meanwhile, a senior living community is full of people with decades of experience who are looking for meaningful ways to contribute.

This is a huge untapped resource. Older adults don’t just want engagement for their own sake—they want to be needed. That’s the key to meaningful intergenerational partnerships.

Want to hear more from Lindsey? Check out the full episode of Roundtable Talk for more fresh perspectives. Watch new episodes of Roundtable Talk on the Varsity website and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.

Recently on Varsity’s weekly Roundtable we were joined by Susan Dolton, corporate director of sales at Goodwin Living for an insightful discussion on solving waitlist challenges in senior living.

Susan shared how Goodwin Living’s Early Advantage and Ready List programs are tackling a 900+ person waitlist, providing faster access to life care agreements and higher levels of living while generating revenue and streamlining sales team efficiency. 

Here’s are some highlights from that conversation: 

FIXING THE WAITLIST BOTTLENECK

Goodwin Living faced a major challenge: a waitlist of over 900 people but only 70-80 apartments opening each year. The process of matching available units with ready residents was slow and inefficient, often requiring up to 40 calls per unit. A new system was needed to streamline move-ins.

A BROKEN MOVE-IN TO MOVE-UP PROGRAM

The Move-in to Move-up program, designed to fill smaller apartments, was misused by wealthier residents as a way to jump the line for larger units. This left those in need of affordable one-bedrooms without options and created inefficiencies that increased costs and disrupted community-building.

INTRODUCING EARLY ADVANTAGE

To create a fairer and more efficient waitlist system, Goodwin Living launched Early Advantage. This program allows members to secure a life care contract while still living at home, giving them guaranteed access to Goodwin Living communities when the time comes and priority for higher levels of care.

A CAP TO MAINTAIN BALANCE

Early Advantage membership was capped at 100 households to balance demand and ease concerns from current residents. Financial and medical qualifications were required, ensuring a sustainable, well-managed program that didn’t compromise available care services.

STRONGER THAN EXPECTED DEMAND

Early Advantage exceeded expectations, with 179 letters of intent submitted for just 100 spots. The high demand validated the program’s value, and as those who didn’t make the cut shift to the Ready List, Goodwin Living is seeing increased engagement from Priority Club members rethinking their timelines.

Varsity’s Roundtable is a weekly virtual gathering of senior living marketers and leaders from across the nation. For updates about future weekly Roundtable gatherings, submit your name and email address here. 

Our guest on a recent weekly Roundtable was Ellen Goodwin from Artifcts, a company that helps to uncover the stories behind seniors’ most cherished belongings. 

By documenting the memories tied to beloved physical objects, it ensures those stories are preserved for generations to come. In her presentation, Ellen shared how preserving memories and making connections through tangible items can enrich the lives of seniors, families, and caregivers.

Here are some highlights from that conversation. 

THE ARTIFCTS MISSION

Ellen explained the heart of their mission: where ‘stuff’ and stories meet. Their focus is on helping people at all life stages (with a particular emphasis on seniors) to pass down not just belongings but also the meaning and stories behind them. They realized there were plenty of apps for cataloging possessions and books and apps for writing life stories, but nothing brought the two together

STORIES CAN GET LOST

The truth is, the status quo isn’t kind to stories. Stories are what connect us, yet they often get lost as we declutter, organize, or downsize. Photo albums or phone metadata can’t speak for us, and cabinets full of keepsakes don’t tell their tales. Instead, we inherit these things, hold onto them, and often don’t know their significance. Artifcts is tackling this issue—not to add a burden, but to turn these objects into meaningful connections, preserving their stories in a way that brings people closer.

BUILDING INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTIONS

Preserving the stories behind items bridges generations and creates meaningful connections. Ellen shared how a woman who used Artifcts with her granddaughter found her move to assisted living much easier. Similarly, Ellen’s daughter uses Atifcts with her grandmother, who has dementia, to break down conversational barriers during visits.

The process also fosters understanding, helping younger generations see seniors as vibrant individuals, sparking connections and breaking down boundaries.

Varsity’s Roundtable is a weekly virtual gathering of senior living marketers and leaders from across the nation. For updates about future weekly Roundtable gatherings, submit your name and email address here. 

Diane Harris is a former editor-in-chief of Money Magazine and a former deputy editor of Newsweek. She’s an award winning journalist, a well-traveled speaker and an expert in personal finance and financial wellness. She also recently wrote an article for the New York Times about solo agers and planning for retirement when you’re on your own.   

On a recent episode of Varsity podcast, Roundtable Talk, Derek and Diane talked about solo aging (and the classic mistake that many solo agers make when choosing a proxy), financial longevity, how retirees can plan for healthcare costs and easing into retirement by keeping a hand in the workforce, not your whole body. 

Here are some fresh perspectives from that conversation: 

WHAT ADVICE FROM EXPERTS SOLO AGING STOOD OUT TO YOU?

It was a fascinating topic. I was really surprised to learn how large a population solo-agers are. What was most valuable in terms of advice was that solo-agers face the same issues as everyone else, but without someone to rely on, they need different solutions. 

The experts stressed to me that solo-agers have to approach planning with an extra layer of intentionality and urgency. That phrase really stuck with me. It’s not that the issues are different—it’s that different circumstances may dictate different solutions.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE UNEXPECTED BENEFITS OF SOLO AGING?

I’m so glad you asked that. A recent AARP study found that when solo-agers were asked about their experience, the top three responses were all positive—independence, satisfaction, and happiness. And the number one benefit? Freedom.

There’s a great advantage to not having to run your decisions by someone else. If you want to travel, you can. You don’t have to compromise. You don’t need permission. There’s a lot of joy in having the freedom to shape your life exactly the way you want.

WHAT STRATEGIES CAN LATE SAVERS USE TO MAXIMIZE THEIR RETIREMENT FUNDS?

Wherever you are, there are steps you can take. The number one regret people have is not saving sooner or saving enough. But even if you got a late start, you can catch up.

If you have a workplace retirement plan with a match, make sure you’re contributing enough to get the full match—it’s free money. If you’re over 50, take advantage of catch-up contributions. And if you’re between 60 and 63, starting next year there’s going to be an even larger catch-up contribution available.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

Be bolder. Every time I’ve taken a big risk, it’s rewarded me. If I could go back, I’d tell myself to take that year abroad, to move to a different part of the country, to not be so bound by golden handcuffs. I’d remind myself that richness in life isn’t just about money—it’s about experiences.

Want to hear more from Diane? Check out the full episode of Roundtable Talk for more fresh perspectives. Watch new episodes of Roundtable Talk on the Varsity website and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.

Katie Griffith and Bright Solutions work hard to empower senior living communities to unlock the full potential of their technology. Katie was also a recent guest on Varsity’s weekly Roundtable, where she shared some ideas for holiday tech gifts for residents and their loved ones.

Here are some highlights from that conversation. 

GIFT GUIDES CAN SHOW OFF A COMMUNITY’S COMMITMENT TO TECH

Communities are encouraged to consider creating a tech gift guide as a fun and engaging way to connect with residents and their loved ones during the holidays. Beyond being helpful, the guide provides an opportunity to highlight the community’s tech-friendly environment and show that it’s prepared to support modern devices. 

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A GIFT GUIDE

If creating a tech gift guide for loved ones and residents, it’s helpful to focus on practical, popular devices that residents can easily adopt and enjoy. Katie emphasized the importance of compiling a thoughtful list, which might include categories like streaming devices (such as Roku or Fire Sticks), iPads, smartphones, and smart home gadgets like thermostats or voice assistants (Alexa, Google Hub, or Apple devices). Wearable health trackers, including Fitbits and Apple Watches, also make great additions for those interested in fitness and health monitoring.

HELP RESIDENTS GET ACQUAINTED WITH NEW DEVICES

Katie suggested hosting events shortly after Christmas to help residents get acquainted with their new gadgets. These gatherings can combine social time with tech assistance, inviting residents to bring their devices while enjoying snacks and coffee. Having tech staff available to answer questions and provide hands-on support ensures a smooth integration of these tools into daily life.

Varsity’s Roundtable is a weekly virtual gathering of senior living marketers and leaders from across the nation. For updates about future weekly Roundtable gatherings, submit your name and email address here. 

Some of you may know Mo Rocca from The Daily Show while others know him as a correspondent on CBS Sunday Morning. Mo is also the author of Roctogenarians, a new book that tells the inspiring stories of people who followed their dreams and achieved success later in life. People like Laura Ingalls Wilder, who published her first “Little House” book at 65 and Samuel Whittemore, who fought in the American Revolutionary War at 78. 

Mo sat down to talk with us on an episode of Varsity’s podcast, Roundtable Talk, to discuss how a casual conversation with Chance the Rapper changed Mo’s perspective on aging, the key to longevity, presidential history and what makes 1888 such a great year to be born in. 

During his chat with Roundtable Talk host Derek Dunham, Mo shared some fresh perspectives. Here’s a few: 

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO AS YOU AGE?

I’m looking forward to caring less about what other people think of me. That’s one of the connections among the people in this book—they’re very unfettered. They felt very free to act and to go for it because they weren’t hamstrung by the opinions of other people. 

A lot of young people, in figuring out who they are, to use modern parlance, crowdsource their decisions—seeing what works, what gets a good response, what gets likes on social media. But people at the other end of life aren’t doing that. They’re much more sure of who they are.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT RETIREMENT?

I don’t expect to ever retire. But certainly things will evolve, and what will that look like? All I can say is that I’m driven to make things interesting to people who didn’t expect to be interested in them. That, to me, is very, very satisfying. 

If I say, “I’m going to do a project, a book, a slideshow, a talk about one-term 19th-century presidents”—and there are a lot of those guys, you know, stuffed between Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt, a lot of facial hair, usually from Ohio—I love that someone might say, “Really?” And then by the end of it, they’re into it.

DID ANY STORIES IN ROCTOGENERIANS PARTICULARLY SURPRISE YOU?

I knew vaguely that there were older people on the front lines )of the civil rights movement). What I didn’t know was the story of Mary Church Terrell, who was 86 when she led sit-ins at Washington, D.C., lunch counters in the 1950s to fight segregation. Part of what I found so powerful about her story is that someone of that age wasn’t fighting for a better world for themselves—at best, she would enjoy that world for a couple of years. And indeed, she died at 90 shortly after the Supreme Court conferred victory on her side.

YOU WRITE THAT WHEN SOMETHING ENDS, SOMETHING ELSE MUST BEGIN. HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THIS IN YOUR OWN LIFE?

A very dramatic example—I’m not sure it quite fits, but I’ll call it my late-in-life triumph—is that my husband and I are now fathers to a baby girl. We’re first-time fathers. So, let’s just say my life as someone without children has ended, and, boy, what a great thing to begin.

Want to hear more from Mo? Check out the full episode of Roundtable Talk for more fresh perspectives. Watch new episodes of Roundtable Talk on the Varsity website and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.