Elevate Eldercare Podcast

Susan Ryan welcomes three trailblazers in the eldercare culture change movement to this week’s episode: Joanne Rader, Charlene Boyd, and Rose Marie Fagan. Each guest has a distinct and storied history within the culture change movement, and each has taken an interesting and unique journey built on their pioneering experiences.

Joanne Rader recounts her shift from rehab nursing to transforming geriatric mental health—moving away from restraints and toward truly personcentered care. Charlene Boyd shares how she led organizational change in longterm care settings, dismantling outdated practices to put residents first. Rose Marie Fagan reflects on her journey from teaching to eldercare advocacy, culminating in the formation of the national Pioneer Network.

Together, they explore past challenges, celebrate hardwon successes, and cast a vision for continued communitydriven reform.

Collectively, they recount the wins they have accomplished along the in transforming eldercare and improving quality, including the following: eliminating restraints and realityorientation protocols transforms quality of life; perspective shifts that views elders as full participants, not passive recipients in their care; the creation of grassroots forums and persistent advocacy that gave birth to the Pioneer Network and a national movement; and change that now demands risktaking, intergenerational partnerships, and amplifying elders’ voices.

In addition, they discuss their work in making “good trouble” that champions bold, disruptive ideas that advance personcentered care.

Their call to action is to join them at the Center for Innovation conference this Aug. 11 to 14 in St. Louis, Mo. Don’t miss the preconference session featuring Boyd, Rader, and Fagan, as well as many other pioneers who continue to mobilize the culturechange movement: https://cfi2025.org/.

In this episode of Elevate Eldercare, Susan Ryan welcomes Mario Rubano, a passionate advocate for older adults. Mario shares his remarkable journey from a childhood steeped in intergenerational connection to a career that spans music therapy, public health, and systems change in aging services.

In his role as Regional Program Manager at OATS (Older Adults Technology Services) from AARP, Mario is focused on transforming how older adults engage with technology. OATS now has more than 500 partner sites in 37 states through its Senior Planet programming, which seeks to empower older adults to achieve meaningful change in areas like financial security, social connection, creative expression, health, and civic engagement.

In addition to diving into the operations and scale of OATs, Mario shares his vision for a future where older adults are not only tech-savvy but leaders in shaping how technology is used to promote connection, health, and purpose.

He closes with a call to action: explore Senior Planet programs, take a free class, and spread the word about OATS's mission to close the digital divide.

For more information:

OATS from AARP: https://oats.org/

Senior Planet Licensing: https://oats.org/licensing/

Tech Resources for Caregivers: https://seniorplanet.org/caregiving/

The 2025 Center for Innovation Conference registration has launched! And in today’s episode, Susan Ryan talks with Joan Divine and Marla DeVries about what’s in store for this auspicious event, scheduled for August 11 to 14 in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Hosted by The Green House Project and Pioneer Network, this event marks a significant gathering for those committed to transforming eldercare.​

In addition to a discussion about the theme of “Mobilize the Movement,” some episode highlights include the following:

Link to conference website : CFI2025.org

Link to conference agenda: https://cfi2025.org/program/

Link to conference registration: https://cfi2025.org/sign-up/

In this week’s episode, Susan Ryan sits down with Dr. Carol McKinley, president and CEO of Simpson, a senior living community in Bala Cynwyd, Pa. 

Carol shares her journey of more than 35 years in eldercare, and how early interactions with her grandmother and father's ministry work inspired her career in social work and geriatrics. 

In addition to emphasizing the importance of listening to older adults and integrating their needs into care plans, Carol discussed future advancements in home-based technology to support aging in place and reducing workforce strain. 

Carol urged embracing technology and innovation to enhance caregiving, and Simpson’s use of the innovative Amba program to monitor residents' wellness and improve care efficiency.

Find more details about Simpson here: 

Simpson Senior | Senior Living in Pennsylvania | Senior Living Community

Inspiration comes in many forms, but in the field of aging services it appears that it most often comes from one’s own experience with a loved one. Case in point: Jennifer Baker, policy director at the Moving Forward Nursing Home Quality Coalition, whose motivation to work in eldercare comes from early exposure to her great aunt and grandmother, both of whom had Alzheimer's disease.

Susan Ryan sits down with Baker for today’s episode to discuss her career journey,which included a pivotal fellowship that enabled her to live in an Alzheimer's home in South Africa. This, she says, shifted her perspective from viewing patients as victims to valuing their personhood.

Baker also highlights her work on the University of Nevada, Reno Sanford Center for Aging, including launching an AmeriCorps VISTA project and a walking program for people living with dementia.

In discussing the challenges of federal funding cuts and the impact on programs and services for older adults and people with disabilities, Baker reflects on the importance of advocating for programs that support community living and the potential consequences of premature nursing home placements.

For more information about the Moving Forward Coalition: https://movingforwardcoalition.org/