Professor Emerita Connie Corley, PhD, talks about the evolution of the positive aging movement and how embracing change, conscious awareness, and perspective are keys to aging well.

About Connie

Connie Corley, MSW, MA, PhD has a long history in the fields of gerontology/geriatrics as a graduate of University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She co-created the doctoral concentration in Creative Longevity and Wisdom in the School of Leadership Studies at Fielding Graduate University and is Professor Emerita at California State University, Los Angeles as well as Fielding.

A Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and Academy of Gerontology in Higher Education, she has engaged in multiple programs as a mentor and leader in curriculum development and co-founded and directed a lifelong learning program in Los Angeles for over 10 years. Recent work involves creativity in later life (emerging from a national study of Holocaust survivors) and intergenerational/intercultural mutual mentoring. Her website for coaching and podcast archives is https://conniecorleyphd.org/.

• Key Takeaways
  The field of positive aging emerged from positive psychology looking at is ways in which humans can live life more fully.
• Conscious aging means doing an internal audit, examining experiences, and gaining greater awareness. Becoming aware means living in the moment, mindfully.
• “Gerotranscendence” is spending time in reflection and having perspective to step back and look at the larger dimensions of life. It is an act of consciousness to step aside from worrying and ruminating and become aware of those negative thoughts.
• Do more of nothing. It is a gift of growing older to have fewer professional commitments.
• The four different dimensions the 4A Plus Model of positive aging are Wellness, Affiliation, Attitude and Awareness.

Lynn Casteel Harper explores the myths and metaphors surrounding dementia and aging in her debut book. Discover why this work has been chosen as a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice.

About Lynn

Lynn Casteel Harper is an essayist, minister, and chaplain. Her debut book, On Vanishing: Mortality, Dementia, and What It Means to Disappear (Catapult, 2020), was named a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice and a Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle selection for 2021. On Vanishing appeared on the Gold Foundation’s 2021 Reading List for Compassionate Clinicians.

Lynn’s essays and interviews have appeared in Kenyon Review Online, Salon, The Paris Review, North American Review, The Christian Science Monitor, NPR’s Think, The Sun Magazine, and elsewhere. She is a Barbara Deming Memorial Fund grant recipient and the winner of the 2017 Orison Anthology Award in Nonfiction.

A graduate of Wake Forest University Divinity School and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s chaplain residency program, Lynn has served as the Minister of Older Adults at The Riverside Church in the City of New York and as a nursing home chaplain. Lynn lives and writes in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where she is the pastor of Olivet Congregational Church UCC.

Key Takeaways

• On Vanishing: Mortality, Dementia, and What It Means to Disappear explores why those of us who don't have dementia are vanishing from those who do, and why dementia brings up so much fear and dread.
• The larger culture and educational system assume people living with dementia are not only diminished in capacity, but in their essential selves. Their humanity fades away.
• We internalize the idea that to be loved, we need to approach perfection. Releasing that allows for more fun and creativity.

Vida Roozen is the Chief Operating Officer at The Smarter Service, a technology concierge provider for older adults and senior living communities. Learn why this startup was recognized by Wired magazine as one of the best tech services for older adults.

About Vida

Vida Roozen has a 23-year career in consumer technology and the home appliance sector. Before joining The Smarter Service, she held Senior Vice President positions at BDS Solutions, a sales and marketing solutions provider, and at Creative Channel Services, a strategic retail marketing company. Notably, she also led Omnicom’s Women’s Leadership chapter for California. ‘

Vida's decision to join The Smarter Service was deeply personal, fueled by experiences supporting aging parents with technology challenges. In her role, she saw a clear market gap and seized the opportunity not only to assist individuals but also to revolutionize the understanding of older adults within the tech and healthcare industries.

Key Takeaways

• People use technology on their own terms. It is highly personalized. The Smarter Service helps clients build confidence using their devices, fixes things when they're not working and suggests tools that will help them realize their goals.
• Older adults often use smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and wearables to stay connected to their families in other locations. Shared calendars help generations communicate real time.
• Not keeping up with software updates and using outdated devices can be challenging for older adults. Smartphones are often gifted by family members and platforms may no longer be supported.
• Technologies that hold the most promise to improve the lives of older adults include advancements in telemedicine and diagnostic tools like wearables and smart home devices so people can monitor their health and recognize problems before they become bigger problems.
• Start discussions with older adults about their vision for the future. Encourage them to think about where and how they want to live as they age, what kind of support they might need, and what hobbies or activities they hope to pursue. This process is helpful for identifying the role technology can play in helping older adults realize their goals.