October 2, 2024

6TH ANNUAL STATEWIDE CONFERENCE: EXPANDING THE POSSIBILITIES

Over 100 attendees from across California, as well as representatives from two Washington DC area villages, joined our 6th Annual Statewide Conference held at the West Health Institute in La Jolla, CA. We had a great time connecting, sharing insights, engaging over various topics, and ultimately strengthening our movement to advance the cause of better aging across the state.

The conference was a significant undertaking for our small but committed team at VMC. Reflecting on the event’s success, we are overjoyed with the attendance, participation by so many villages, and our sponsors for their support. This means a great deal to us and to OUR MOVEMENT!

Below are some conference highlights and links to a few PowerPoint presentations. We will be sharing videos of select sessions over the coming month.
If you haven’t already, please fill out the conference evaluation form. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us create great conference experiences!
A big team from Pasadena Village attended and had an inspiring time! Read about their conference take-aways here.

Be sure to visit our Conference Facebook Photo Album & tag you and your village!

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:

Thought leaders in aging presented topics that helped strengthen and sustain our community-based infrastructure of villages, prioritizing the health, independence, and social connectedness of older adults.

Intersection of Healthcare and Social Care

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ashwin Kotwal, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine in Geriatrics at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. Dr. Kotwal focused on understanding and enhancing social connections of older adults to improve their quality of life and health. VIEW PRESENTATION

Confronting Ageism in Care

Led by Professor Norman Jackson, Ph.D., San Diego State University, School of Social Work, this thought-provoking session explored the pervasive issue of ageism in care and its far-reaching consequences. It also challenged us to think about ageism in the external environment as well as internally within ourselves. VIEW PRESENTATION

Creating Connections between Villages and the Healthcare Ecosystem

West Health Institute researchers Amy R Stuck, PhD, RN, Senior Director, Value-based Acute Care and Chris Crowley, PhD, Director, Strategy, Senior Health Systems Engineer discussed the potential for villages to connect with the healthcare ecosystem to promote better mental and physical health outcomes for older adults. VIEW PRESENTATION

State of Villages: Charting Our Course Together

Carolyn Ross, VMC’s Co-Executive Director, gave an inspiring and informative update on the current state and future direction of our village movement. She shared results from our statewide village survey, updates on new villages launched via our Village Incubator, and information on the soon-to-launch Village Accelerator aimed at making our existing villages stronger and more sustainable. VIEW PRESENTATION

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

Culturally Affirming Care in our Diverse Communities

California’s over-60 population will grow & diversify rapidly, with people of color comprising 47% of this age group. Villages are uniquely positioned to provide culturally affirming care tailored to the ethnic, cultural & linguistic needs of the community. This dynamic panel explored caregiving practices, customs, and cultural approaches across California’s diverse communities.

Moderated by Joe Garbanzos, President, AARP California
Carlene Davis, Co-Founder, Sistahs Aging with Grace & Elegance
Fumi Liang, Board Chair & Co-Founder, Care Connections Network Village
William Sandoval, Senior Community Supervisor, Huntington Beach Senior Center

National Master Plan on Aging

Leza Coleman. Legislative Director, CA Commission on Aging and Erick Larson, Executive Director, Village of Sonoma Valley led an interactive session where 100 conference attendees got out their phones to ensure Villages are recognized in the National Plan for Aging. Governments do not fund programs they don’t know about. VIEW PRESENTATION

World Café: Bridging Social Care and Health Care

This collaborative discussion and idea-sharing brought insights on reducing isolation, encouraging reciprocal interactions and strengthening mental, physical & social health in our communities.

Session Leader: Laura Peck, Organization Development Consultant and VMC Board member

Beyond the Presentations: Networking and Social Engagement

It wasn’t all speakers and presentations though. There were numerous opportunities for interaction and engagement:

Many attendees enjoyed a wonderful cocktail reception overlooking the Pacific Ocean, providing an excellent opportunity to meet new fellow villagers and deepen connections with familiar faces.