2019 Summit Wrap-up

Our 2019 ATX Aging & Innovation Summit was our third and largest Summit, aSummit 2019 photo gathering of 180+ people who were there to learn about aging-related innovation in Austin with a spotlight on equity, diversity and intergenerational community engagement. From the comments we heard at the Summit and via an online evaluation, the audience got what it wanted. In fact, 100 percent of our evaluation respondents said that the Summit was relevant/helpful or very relevant/helpful for our community. Many also commented about the need for affordability as we develop innovative solutions. As one attendee put it, “If you have money, taking care of yourself while aging is much easier.” This is a perfect reminder for those who are passionate about aging-related innovation. We must work to make it accessible to ALL older adults.

“Social inequities across the life course impact healthy aging.”

Dr. Jewel Mullen, our keynote speaker, opened the Summit with her presentation, “Assuring Optimal Health for All Older Adults in Austin,” and shared insight from her professional roles as associate dean for health equity at Dell MediSummit 2019 photocal School and director of health equity at Ascension Seton. Her slides included the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation definition of health equity: “Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. This requires removing obstacles to health such as poverty, discrimination and their consequences, including powerlessness and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments and health care.” We’re hopeful that this is something we can achieve here in Austin – for all generations.

Expertise, encouragement and collaboration

Dan Bullock, longtime Austin writer, speaker and leadership consultant, moderated a panel of new-to-Austin businesses that are launching products or services in the aging space. Dan wrote about what he learned during the presentation in a post on his blog, The Mosey Project. I don’t think Dan will mind if I share it with you. Summit 2019 photo

Our venue (Junior League of Austin Community Impact Center) was large enough this year to accommodate afternoon break-out sessions that included tracks for innovators, business leaders and consumers (older adults). Presentations covered the impact of women entrepreneurs in the aging space, new ideas in housing design, results of the Aging Services Council’s recent five-county needs assessment of individuals over age 60, advice for consumers and businesses in the longevity economy, the latest information about CBD and emergency preparedness for those aging in place.

Our closing session featured representatives from Ford Mobility and the City:One Austin Challenge. The City:One Austin Challenge engages residents and decision-makers to envision, design and deploy new mobility solutions, through a five-phase process. The project’s focus is on how to make it easier for East Austin community members to access healthy living.

Here’s a link to event photos taken by our excellent photographer, Deborah Reinhard. You may download any that you like. When prompted for your email address at login, feel free to use ours – [email protected].

And finally, one more round of applause for our wonderful speakers and sponsors!

Our speakers:

Suzanne Adatto, Honor
Edward Arsenault, ReServe, Inc.
Hannah Barron, Austin Transportation Department | Smart Mobility
Jean Anne Booth, UnaliWear
Dan Bullock, The Mosey Project 
Julie Ferguson, CBA, LLC
Ryan Frederick, SmartLiving360.com
Arnold Garcia, AustinUP Board
Jennifer Hammer, Silvernest
Katie Herbek, City Solutions, Ford Motor Company
Emmie Knox, Aging Services Council and Assisting Hands Home Care
Jewel Mullen, MD, MPH, MPA, Dell Medical School and Ascension Seton
Heather Potts, Mature Market Consultant
Kerry Rupp, True Wealth Ventures
Rose M. Saenz, LVN, CALM, LNFA, MBA, RevealSol 
Lisa Sepulveda, Austin-Travis County EMS
Amy Sweet Fichter, Tapestry San Marcos
Tabitha Taylor, City of Austin Age-friendly Austin Program
Amy Temperley, Aging is Cool
Tina Tran, AARP
Amanda Villarreal, Arthritis Foundation Central Texas

Our sponsors:Summit 2019 sponsorsOur exhibitors: AGE of Central Texas, Aging2.0 Austin, Area Agency on Aging – Capital Area, Arthritis Foundation, Austin-Travis County EMS, Austin Public Health (Age-friendly Austin), Bird, Capital City Village, CapTel Outreach, Dignity Memorial, E4 Youth, Eric Stimmel Insurance Medicare Plans, Oasis Senior Advisors Austin/Central Texas, Meals on Wheels Central Texas, The Pavilion at Great Hills Assisted Living & Memory Care, Power for Parkinson’s, Theora Care and U.S. Census Bureau