Innovations In Care For The Aging Population
Attend the only all-day executive event designed to help health and human services organizations fill the growing gap in care to support healthy aging and longevity among older adults with complex needs.
The 2025 OPEN MINDS Aging In Place Summit will feature innovative ideas for better data collection in community and home-based settings, health equity, social determinants of health for the aging population, privacy/scams and aging, emerging tech tools, complexity of Medicaid coverage, and the shortage of health care workers for in home services.
The event is designed to help health and human services organizations fill the growing gap in care to support healthy aging and longevity among older adults with complex needs.
Summit Chairs:
Steve Hornberger, MSW
Subject Matter Expert,
OPEN MINDS
Michelle Matter
Subject Matter Expert,
OPEN MINDS
Data-Informed Approaches To Challenges Faced By Aging Services Providers
As the aging population continues to surge, its faced with increasingly complex challenges, from housing instability and economic insecurity to access to care and social isolation. Tracking and analyzing the right data can serve as a powerful tool to inform provider organizations and guide responses for improved outcomes. This session will explore how data dashboards, community-informed research, and insights from lived experience are shaping policy and practice for older adults.Â
Denny Chan, J.D.
Denny joined Justice in Aging in 2014 and is responsible for leading and developing Justice in Aging’s Strategic Initiative on Advancing Equity. Denny and his team work across all program areas to ensure that Justice in Aging’s advocacy eliminates barriers and inequities for older adults experiencing systemic discrimination.
The son of working-class Chinese immigrant parents, Denny has worked significantly on non-discrimination in health care, language access, and issues of aging and equity for low-income older adults and brings these experiences to his advocacy. He is affiliate faculty for the Shriver Center on Poverty Law and was appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to serve on California’s Civil Rights Council. Denny is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine School of Law. He received his BA from the University of Michigan.
Denny is based in Sacramento, California. He is a public radio junkie and in his spare time enjoys going to restaurants in search of the next hidden gem.
State Bar Admission: California
Ross Lallian
Ross Lallian joined the California Department of Aging (CDA) in December 2022 as Chief of Research in the Division of Policy, Research, and Equity. In this position, Ross plays a critical role in advancing the Master Plan for Aging, including leading the California Aging and Disability Research Partnership, the Data Dashboard for Aging, and many other efforts. Prior to joining CDA, he was the Health Workforce Development Research and Evaluation Chief at the Department of Health Care Access and Information where he led research to understand health workforce disparities, health equity issues, and health workforce data needs. Ross has also conducted pension related research, including understanding how pensions impact state and local economies. Ross holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and a Master of Science degree in accounting from California State University, Sacramento.
Carly Roman-Woo, Ph.D.
Carly Roman-Woo, PhD, joined Archstone Foundation as a Program Officer in 2023. As a 2020-2021 intern at the Foundation, Dr. Roman-Woo worked closely with grantees, grant applicants, and program staff to promote new funding opportunities, disseminate communication materials, and implement special projects, such as Catchafire’s skills-based volunteering platform. In her role as a Program Officer, Carly leads work within the Foundation’s equitable, coordinated care portfolio, with a focus on advancing equity in aging through the organization’s JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) principles. She supports grantees and partners in strengthening care systems for older adults and caregivers, with an emphasis on technology, strategic collaboration, and care coordination across health and social services. She also manages the Catchafire partnership and helps guide the Foundation’s capacity building program, supporting organizations to enhance their effectiveness and long-term sustainability.
Dr. Roman-Woo received her PhD from the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology in 2021 and her BA in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016. Her doctoral research, supported by the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship, focused on understanding intergenerational connections and how they benefit older adults. With a background in positive psychology, Dr. Roman-Woo aims to illuminate positive aspects of aging and the ways older adults can meaningfully contribute to others, a concept known as generativity. She is committed to bridging the gaps between research and practice to facilitate development and implementation of evidence-based programs benefiting older adults and those who support them.
Dr. Roman-Woo is a leader in intergenerational programming as a three-time chapter founder and current Advisory Council member of GlamourGals, a national nonprofit organization in which students provide free makeovers and manicures to senior living residents. Prior to joining Archstone Foundation, Dr. Roman-Woo served as Innovation Manager at the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF), where she developed partnerships and managed programs to support the health and well-being of entertainment industry members. In this role, she collaborated with partners to implement and evaluate innovative programs, including Senior Planet’s licensing program to provide technology classes for older adults, and Passing The Torch, MPTF’s intergenerational career mentorship program to increase diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry.
Ensuring Engagement & Improving Access For Seniors Through The Latest Tech & AIÂ
Technology and AI are transforming the way health care is delivered, and it’s no exception for older adults who face unique barriers to access and engagement. This session will explore how leading organizations are leveraging technology–from remote monitoring tools to personalized digital and telehealth platforms, to enhance care access, reduce disparities, and drive senior engagement at scale. Presenters will share their real-world case studies, ROI insights, and strategic framework to help leaders evaluate, implement and scale these technology innovations. Attendees will gain a forward-looking understanding of how tech and AI can power the next generation of senior care while ensuring a human-centered experience.
Heather Alder
Heather Alder is the Senior Vice President of Payer Partnerships at Talkspace, where she leads efforts to deliver accessible, high-quality mental health care through innovative partnerships with health plans nationwide. With deep experience across the behavioral health landscape—from supporting clients through EAPs to building national networks for commercial and Medicare members—Heather has spent her career advancing mental health access and value. Prior to Talkspace, she managed behavioral health contracting at a regional Blue Cross Blue Shield plan. Her work is grounded in a commitment to collaboration, member-centricity, and equitable access to care.
Cole Samaroo, MBA
After serving in the Marine Corps as a Logistics Officer, Cole was eager to serve in a new way. Cole lost his Grandfather to Parkinson’s Disease in 2022, and saw that many burdens quickly shifted to his grandma’s shoulders – many of these same burdens centered around technology. Cole became enthused with the idea of supporting older adults through technology education and has never looked back. Cole is a lifelong learner and volunteer with the VA, which has shaped his perspective on Digital Health and patient education related to veterans.
Collaborations Between Health Plans & Aging Provider Organizations
For this growing sector, effective partnerships between health plans and aging service providers are becoming essential to improve care coordination, enhance outcomes, manage costs and drive value-based care for older adults. This session will bring together health plans and organizations serving older adults to explore innovative models of collaboration. Panelists will highlight best practices, discuss common challenges, and share examples that demonstrate the value of aligning incentives, sharing data, and integrating services across the continuum of care. Join them to gain practical insights into building sustainable partnerships that support aging in place and increased access to care.
Scott Tarde
Scott Tarde is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, as well as a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly Administrator. Scott has been the CEO of the George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers, Inc.® since 2015 and prior to that, he served as a volunteer member of the Glenner Centers’ Board of Directors (2013-2015).
Scott has an extensive operational background in multi-site management of skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities.
The original Town Square®, immersive reminiscence therapy design concept for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and GLENNERCARE™, the virtual support service for individuals with ADRD, are both the innovations of Scott J. Tarde, L.N.H.A.
Scott is a past President of the San Diego Health Care Association, past Vice-Chair for Region V of the California Association of Health Facilities and Vice-Chair of the San Diego Senior Alliance. Scott graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Psychology.
Karen Shulte
Karen Schulte is President of SCAN Group’s Medicare Division, leading the expansion of SCAN’s Medicare business and overseeing SCAN Health Plan’s performance in existing markets.
Prior to her role as president, Karen served in various leadership roles within the organization from 2006 to 2016. She then went on to hold the seat as Chief Operating Officer of CareMore and Aspire Health, an Elevance Affiliate, where she provided national leadership over market and management services operations for a $1.5B care delivery affiliate of Elevance’s Diversified Business Group.
Since returning to SCAN in 2021 to serve as Senior Vice President of Network Management, overseeing SCAN’s provider network and ensuring consistent, high-quality performance, Schulte has been instrumental in SCAN’s growth efforts, supporting the expansion of SCAN Health Plan into three new states and additional markets within California; leading the onboarding of new network partners; and launching Embrace, SCAN’s Institutional Special Needs Plan (ISNP).
Karen holds a master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of Southern California. She serves as an Independent Board Member of Sitka Health, a virtual specialty network that expands access for PCPs and patients. She also supports her local YMCA Health Strategies Task Force, which targets health disparities and identifies opportunities to positively impact the health and well-being of the community.
Scott Kaiser
Scott A. Kaiser, MD, is the CEO of Determined Health, a company he co-founded with a vision for a new approach to community care—one that starts with human connection, first. Kaiser is a board-certified family physician and geriatrician with executive leadership experience focused on the improvement of aging services, geriatric care, and population health. Engaged in clinical care, teaching, community outreach, advocacy, and research, Kaiser is the Director of Geriatric Cognitive Health at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, an adjunct faculty member of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, and serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations. He is determined to solve healthcare’s greatest challenges and create healthy communities that support us all in living well and aging well.
Kaiser completed his undergraduate studies at Vassar College with a degree in Science, Technology, and Society, and received his medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He went on to train within the Lawrence Family Medicine Residency, the Harvard Geriatric Medicine Fellowship, and the UCLA Health Services Research Fellowship.
The Issue Of Workforce Shortages In Direct Care: Strategies & Solutions
The need for direct care positions is exceeding what providers are able to manage, therefore reaching a crisis point and threatening the sustainability and quality of care for aging populations. In this session, industry leaders will discuss innovative workforce development models, including recruitment pipelines, training programs, retention strategies, and policy levers that support long-term solutions. Attendees will gain insights into scalable practices, cross-sector collaborations, and technology-enhancing staffing solutions that help organizations stabilize their workforce, reduce turnover, and maintain high-quality care delivery in an increasingly competitive labor market.
Lezlie Hicks-Oliver, NHA, RCHE, LVN
Lezlie Hicks is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator and healthcare executive with over a decade of leadership in skilled nursing and senior care operations. She currently serves as Manager of Aging in Place programs at Foothill AIDS Project, where she designs and implements innovative initiatives that empower older adults to remain safely and independently in their homes. Lezlie is recognized for blending strategic vision with compassionate leadership to enhance care delivery, streamline operations, and build community partnerships.
Throughout her career, Lezlie has led large-scale teams, navigated regulatory challenges, and pioneered specialized care programs—including fall risk prevention, on-site dialysis, and short-term rehabilitation units. Her expertise spans across Medicare/managed care optimization, workforce development, and crisis response, including effective COVID-19 containment strategies.
A champion for aging with dignity, Lezlie brings a passionate voice to conversations about equity, accessibility, and the future of elder care in community-based settings.