Sue Paul, an occupational therapist with more than 35 years of experience, joins AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan to share her journey reimagining dementia care through the lens of brain health.

Reflecting on a time when Alzheimer's care was often institutional and limiting, Sue, who is senior director of well being and brain health for Asbury Communities, developed a more proactive, person-centered framework focused on prevention, dignity, and understanding the trajectory of cognitive change.

Her work has evolved into a strong emphasis on lifestyle-based interventions—movement, cognitive engagement, stress management, and social connection—as powerful tools to support and even improve brain health. At Asbury, Sue brought this philosophy to life through the Rosborough Wellness and Brain Health Center, an innovative space featuring everything from a rock-climbing wall to a boxing studio and tech lab, all designed to make brain health visible, engaging, and stigma-free for more than 380 residents.

Central to her approach is the Kinnections program with compelling results showing that 90 percent of participants maintaining or improving cognitive function and half of those with mild cognitive impairment returning to normal cognition. Sue is also leading a shift in language and mindset, encouraging providers to move away from "memory care" toward a more holistic concept of "neuro health."

Beyond campus walls, Sue is expanding her impact through SeniorScapes, a dementia-friendly park model in Frederick, Md., designed to promote outdoor activity, cognitive engagement, and social connection.

In this week's episode of Elevate Eldercare, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with Beverly Gianna, who recently became a long-term care ombudsman after a three-decade career with the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, now known as New Orleans & Company.

Having earned at least three master's degrees—one from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology— Beverly has become a passionate advocate for nursing home residents. Her fascinating story takes listeners through personal caregiving experiences and a deepening interest in aging, ultimately leading her to ombudsman work.

In today's episode, she champions the rights, dignity, and voices of residents—ensuring they are heard, respected, and empowered. Among the many valuable lessons Beverly has learned along her journey: listening is one of the most powerful tools in advocacy. As she notes, advocacy starts with listening—helping residents articulate their needs, preferences, and goals.

In this episode of Brain Bytes, host Kelly Tremblay, PhD, neuroscientist and hearing and brain health expert, explores the powerful—and often overlooked—connection between hearing and the brain.

In recognition of World Hearing Day on March 3, Dr. Kelly sheds light on why hearing health is critical to overall well-being, especially for older adults.

Hearing loss is one of the leading causes of years lived with disability worldwide, affecting one in three adults over 65. But, as Dr. Kelly explains, it's not simply an inevitable part of aging—lifestyle factors, environmental exposure, and even certain medical treatments can play a significant role.

This episode illuminates why hearing loss is closely linked to brain health and cognitive decline, how untreated hearing loss can contribute to social isolation and increased dementia risk, and how to recognize early signs of hearing loss.

Dr. Kelly examines how hearing is not just about the ears, it's a brain function, and why early detection and intervention can significantly improve quality of life, communication, and cognitive health.

Following are link to resources referred to in the episode:

• Hearing Loss Association of America: https://www.hearingloss.org/
• WHO Deafness and Hearing Loss Q&A: https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/deafness-and-hearing-loss-safe-listening
• Ask an Audiologist: https://www.audiology.org/consumers-and-patients/
• AgingIN Annual Conference: https://aginginnovation.org/events/annual-conference/
  
  

We are grateful to Parker Health for their sponsorship of this micro podcast.

In this week's episode, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with industry leader Lisa McCracken to explore how data, innovation, and bold thinking are reshaping the future of eldercare.

With more than 26 years of experience spanning Holleran, Ziegler, and now the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care, Lisa shares how research and analytics can drive access, affordability, and meaningful choice for older adults.

From the growing urgency of serving the "forgotten middle" to the promise (and noise) of AI, this conversation offers a candid, forward-looking view of where the sector is headed—and what it will take to get there.

In addition, with an overwhelming number of tech solutions entering the market, Lisa notes that NIC is working to evaluate and vet tools—especially through partnerships that help providers make smarter decisions.

The future of eldercare will require innovation, partnerships, and a willingness to challenge traditional models—especially to meet the needs of a rapidly aging population.

More about NIC here: https://www.nic.org

In this week's episode, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with Christie Hinrichs, president and CEO of Frasier, a life plan community in Boulder, Colo., who shares her journey from growing up on a farm in rural Nebraska to pioneering the Green House model at Tabitha, a senior living community in Omaha, Neb.

Throughout their conversation, Christie reflects on the experiences that shaped her commitment to older adults—from childhood visits with "adopted grandparents" to her early work in hospice social work.

Now leading Frasier, Christie describes a thriving community that offers a range of services where residents drive programming and engagement—so much so that the community has an 800-person waitlist. She shares why curiosity, respect, and accountability are core to building vibrant elder communities.

As board chair of LeadingAge, Christie also addresses the urgent workforce crisis in aging services and calls for greater collaboration across organizations and states to meet the needs of a rapidly aging population.

As Ryan points out, this is a conversation about intentional community, collective responsibility, and the courage to reimage what aging can look like when we truly listen.


For more information about Frasier:

• Vimeo channel: https://vimeo.com/frasierlpc
• Website: https://www.frasiermeadows.org

In this week's episode, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with MaryCay Durrant, founder of Leading Naturally. In this enlightening discussion, MaryCay shares her journey from corporate leadership to developing nature-inspired practices that help organizations thrive.

Drawing from her upbringing in North Dakota and a transformative personal awakening, MarCay challenges transactional workplace models and instead looks to ecosystems as a guide for cooperation, resilience, and trust.

She introduces her WORK framework — Wake Up, Orient, Reimagine partnering, and Keepnourishing what matters — and the concept of Return on Energy (ROE), encouraging leaders to measure vitality and alignment, not just ROI.

Through approaches such as equine-assisted learning, MaryCay helps organizations reduce burnout, strengthen connection, and build sustainable cultures grounded in partnership.

More about MaryCay here: https://marycaydurrant.com

Introducing Brain Bytes, a new micro-cast hosted by Kelly Tremblay, PhD, neuroscientist, World Health Organization advisor, NIH grant reviewer, advocate, and professor. Brain Bytes features "byte"-sized nuggets of knowledge aimed at making neuroscience accessible for the senior living world.

In each episode, which will air on the fourth Friday of each month, Dr. Tremblay will share research-backed information related to aging and brain health. This week, she explores the different types of dementia and examines what evidence-based researchtells us about it.

While encouraging listeners to take practical steps to support healthy aging, Dr. Tremblay explains that a significant portion of dementia risk may be modifiable. Factors such as education, physical activity, cardiovascular health, hearing and vision care, and social connection all play a role in supporting brain health across the lifespan.

The following links accompany today's episode:

We are grateful to Parker Health for their sponsorship of this micro-cast.