After his exciting virtual keynote in 2020, Dr. Rediger is back by popular demand with a new keynote address in person that will challenge us to think differently about how we view aging, health, and vitality. The latest research reveals that our lifestyle choices can dramatically affect the outcomes of our mental and physical illnesses. This is increasingly relevant in today’s healthcare system, in which demand for providers is high and doctors have ever less time to spend with patients. The good news is that there's a huge amount that individuals can do to educate themselves on their own health needs and advocate both on their own behalf and on behalf of their loved ones. We can also make use of new tools and technology to take our health and well-being to a new level. These tools, in conjunction with lifestyle choices, provide an entirely new level of possibilities for health and well-being, and can also significantly change the trajectory of our illnesses, leading to improved outcomes for longevity, independence, and overall quality of life.

Jeffrey Rediger, MD, MDiv, is a physician, best-selling author, and popular speaker. He is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and the Medical Director of McLean SE Adult Psychiatry and Community Affairs at McLean Hospital. A licensed physician and board-certified psychiatrist, he also has a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. His research with remarkable individuals who have recovered from incurable illnesses has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Oz Shows, among others. He has been nominated for the National Bravewell Leadership Award, and has received numerous awards related to leadership and patient care. His best-selling book, Cured: Strengthen Your Immune System and Heal Your Life, is available at Amazon, local bookshops, and in multiple languages. 

Currently there are 6.5 million Americans over the age of 65 living with dementia. That number is expected to grow to 12.7 million by 2050. Cognitive impairment is the leading cause of loss of independence for adults worldwide. Dr. Laura Gitlin is an expert on home and communitybased interventions for adults diagnosed with dementia and their caregivers. She works to find solutions for families that focus on and support people’s strengths. Her research also focuses on supporting caregivers in the management of challenging behaviors by providing education and strategies for management. Dr. Gitlin will share her insights from her research on programs that can help provide support and resources to those affected by cognitive impairments later in life so that individuals can live a longer, more fulfilling, and independent lives.

Laura N. Gitlin, PhD, is an applied research sociologist, a distinguished professor, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Drexel University, and the inaugural Executive Director of its AgeWell Collaboratory. The AgeWell Collaboratory oversees Drexel’s AgeFriendly University international designation, and partners with over 80 community-based organizations serving racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse communities involving older adults and families. Her research focuses on developing, evaluating, and implementing novel home and community-based interventions that seek to improve quality of life indicators for older adults and/or their family members. She applies a social-ecological and health equity lens as well as person-centered and directed approaches to support individuals/families within their living contexts using nonpharmacological, behavioral, cognitive, and environmental strategies. Her interventions have resulted in improving physical and psychosocial outcomes, reducing mortality and health care savings. Some of her interventions are being implemented globally and in agencies throughout the USA. She is a well-funded researcher with continuous research and training grant funding from federal agencies and private foundations for over 35 years. She and her teams have received numerous awards for their innovation and interventions. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans age 65 or older is projected to grow by almost 50 percent from 2016 to 2030. An average American child who is 10 years old today has a 50% chance of living to 100 or beyond. In Wisconsin, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that there will be a 36 percent increase in residents over the age of 60 from 2012-2030. It is imperative that communities and states respond by ensuring that resources are available to serve this rapidly aging population. The common thread among Age-Friendly communities and states is having local leaders believe that the places where we live should be more livable, and better able to support people of all ages, and commit to improving the quality of life for the very young, the very old, and everyone in between. Bill Armbruster is a Senior Advisor and manages the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. Bill will share with us how communities (towns, cities, counties, and states) are engaging and mobilizing in ways that create "real change" that results in longer independence and all-around well-being for aging adults, as they go through the age-friendly process. 

Bill Armbruster, Senior Advisor, AARP Livable Communities, manages the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, which is a program within AARP Livable Communities. 

He has been with AARP since 2000, joining as an associate state director for AARP New York. In that role he served the upstate and western region of the Empire State and was responsible for the development, implementation and assessment for community outreach programming. That body of work included livable and age-friendly communities initiatives, partner development and grassroots volunteer organizing for a 30-county region both near and far from his Rochester home base. 

Since 2016, Bill has been traveling frequently and far to communities, conferences and meetings nationwide as a speaker and facilitator for the AARP Livable Communities initiative. In addition to his work at AARP, Bill has extensive experience in corporate wellness programs, occupational rehabilitation and ergonomics, pain treatment and physical therapy.