Elevate Eldercare Center for Innovation

With each year that passes, Pride celebrations become more and more mainstream — but in our current political and social climate, LGBTQ+ people of all ages continue to face demonization and stigmatization, a reality that is sometimes magnified for elders.
Today in the United States, about half of older LGBTQ+ adults live in states where they can legally face housing discrimination simply for being who they are.
Sydney Kopp-Richardson, director of SAGE’s National LGBTQ+ Housing Initiative, joins the podcast to discuss her work to build affirming, dignified communities where LGBTQ+ elders can live together in safety, support, and joy. Kopp-Richardson reminds us that while we have a long road ahead toward achieving true equality, we all can continue leading with love — and fighting for what we know is right for people of all ages.
Learn more about the SAGE National LGBTQ+ Housing Initiative: https://www.sageusa.org/what-we-do/national-lgbt-housing-initiative-2/
Save the date for our annual conference, coming November 11-13: https://thegreenhouseproject.org/2024-conference/

Just about everyone who works in the eldercare space has heard about the negative effects of ageism in our society, but we can’t truly fight age-based discrimination until we look inward — even within our own sector.
Jordan Evans, co-founder of Art Against Ageism, joins the podcast to discuss his experiences as a younger person in the eldercare landscape, and his strategies for encouraging everyone to embrace their age — and make the sector welcoming to young, old, and everyone in between.
Learn more about Art Against Ageism: https://artagainstageism.org/
Save the date for our annual conference, coming November 11-13: https://thegreenhouseproject.org/2024-conference/

Steve Nygren, visionary founder of the Serenbe community outside of Atlanta, returns to the podcast to discuss his vision for intentional communities where elders can age well — but not because they’re designed exclusively for older adults, but for people of all ages to stay active, stay connected, and stay engaged with day-to-day life.
If you missed Steve’s first appearance on the podcast, check out episode 87, “The Serenbe Story of Biophilic Living,” to learn more about his background as a visionary developer and the tenets of biophilia.
Learn more about Serenbe: https://www.serenbe.com/
Save the date for our annual conference, coming November 11-13: https://thegreenhouseproject.org/2024-conference/

nequities in eldercare affect not just the quality of services but the physical spaces themselves: Far too many operators, policymakers, and investors believe that people receiving Medicaid-funded services simply deserve lower-quality, older, more institutional buildings to call home.
Kia Weatherspoon, the founder and president of Determined by Design, is determined to change those perceptions. Her firm provides high-quality, inclusive, and thoughtful interior design services to developers of affordable senior living projects and other new infrastructure.
Inspired by her esxperiences visiting a brother in prison and serving in the armed forces, Weatherspoon has dedicated her career to building welcoming, meaningful, and dignified spaces for everyone to call home.
Learn more about Determined by Design: https://www.determinedbydesign.com/
Save the date for our annual conference, coming November 11-13: https://thegreenhouseproject.org/2024-conference/

As the proportion of older Americans grows, so too will the ranks of “solo agers” – people navigating the aging process without children or other relatives. And for elders who need extra assistance in making major decisions around housing and finances, solo aging may lead to legal guardianship and outcomes that don’t align with their values, preferences, or best interests.
Kimberly George, CEO of the New York-based Project Guardianship, joins the podcast to discuss her organization’s mission: building more dignified, person-directed alternatives to guardianship that ensure elders’ true wishes are honored at every step of the aging journey.
Learn more about Project Guardianship: https://projectguardianship.org/
Learn more about supported decision-making: https://acl.gov/programs/consumer-control/supported-decision-making-program
Save the date for our annual conference, coming November 11-13: https://thegreenhouseproject.org/2024-conference/

In honor of National Nurses’ Week, we’re sitting down with Dr. Donna Fick – director of the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence at Penn State University – and three of her Ph.D. student-researchers, Thakshila Dasanayake, Olivia Rubio, and Nahida Akter.
While their backgrounds and upbringing couldn’t be more different, these nursing leaders are bound by a desire to improve the lives of elders through groundbreaking research. By building on a growing evidence base for person-directed care and other more dignified and empowering interventions, Fick and her students are blazing a trail for the next generation of caregivers and elders.
Learn more about the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence: https://www.nursing.psu.edu/cgne/
Save the date for our annual conference, coming November 11-13: https://thegreenhouseproject.org/2024-conference/