This week on the Art of Aging, host Rev. Beth Long-Higgins welcomes Erin Maruzzella, Founder and Managing Partner of Healthspan Business Partners. Erin shares her journey from speech therapy to systems thinking in healthcare and technology. She discusses the critical intersections of aging, digital access, and AI, emphasizing the importance of upstream problem-solving and inclusive design. Erin also explores the digital divide, highlighting how technology can both connect and exclude older adults, and warns about the potential risks of AI, stressing the need for careful, ethical implementation. Her key message is that aging is a lifelong process, and communities should focus on supporting transitions and creating systems that serve people of all ages. Through personal stories and professional insights, she advocates for age-positive perspectives, cross-sector collaboration, thoughtful innovation that considers long-term societal impacts, and so much more.

Highlights from this week’s conversation include:

• Erin’s Journey into the Aging Space (1:29)
• Systems Thinking and Aging (5:01)
• Smart Cities and Age-Friendly Communities (8:48)
• Upstreamist Thinking in Aging (13:58)
• AI and Downstream Implications (16:16)
• AI in Combating Loneliness and Grief (21:21)
• Language, Ageism, and AI (25:24)
• Reverse Engineering in Aging (30:04)
• Personal Reflections on Aging (37:10)
• Final Thoughts and Takeaways (41:45)

Abundant Aging is a podcast series presented by United Church Homes. These shows offer ideas, information, and inspiration on how to improve our lives as we grow older. To learn more and to subscribe to the show, visit abundantagingpodcast.com.