What is your role at Aging Wisdom?
Director of Creative Engagement
What made you want to work in the field of aging?
Dementia is in my family – I’ve lost two grandparents to dementia and now my mother is living with it. When my paternal grandmother died in 2007, I began volunteering with Alzheimer’s organizations. My maternal grandfather died from the disease in 2014 – the summer after my first year of graduate school where I was first introduced to the idea of “creative aging” and started volunteering with the Frye Art Museum. It married two loves for me – older adults and art. That year was full of “what if’s” thinking about my grandparents’ care and engagement. I knew we could do better as a family, community and country in taking care of older adults.
How has your job changed in the time you’ve worked at Aging Wisdom?
I’ve been with Aging Wisdom since September 2o22, and Creative Engagement is growing fast! We’ve added new members to the team and are always researching new and exciting ways to engage with older adults for the biggest impact on their well-being.
What do you love about your job?
I love our team. The Creative Engagement Specialists are incredibly warm, empathic, creative people. They collaborate and support each other. I couldn’t ask for a better team to manage! I also love the culture at Aging Wisdom – there is so much support for us as individuals, new ideas, research, and change so we can be sure we are doing our best work with the most up to date information.
Tell us about a professional success story that you’re proud of.
Annie Hafermann (Director of Learning Innovation) and I created a 3-part professional development series for the Creative Engagement team in 2023 that is evidence-based and increases our impact on our clients’ quality of life. It is focused on themes of purpose, art and nature, and validation.
I’m also incredibly proud of our Equity Team. We formed in July 2023 and have made many changes – big and small – within Aging Wisdom to widen our inclusivity, as well as increased equity-based trainings for all staff – including one training created in-house by Salem, Seton, and Veronica presented in June 2024 on using language thoughtfully to reduce harm.
What motivates you?
Reading the Creative Engagement Specialists’ visit summaries daily. They make such a difference in clients’ lives – reducing isolation, increasing smiles & laughs, and just making each person’s day a little bit better.
