Coming Out as an Older Adult: Finding Individual and Collective Agency in How We Age
“We [older adults] represent a population that is part of this large crowd of people which has never existed before — people who have the bonus of longevity, along with the opportunity and responsibility that comes with it.” — Jennie Chin Hansen
Enjoy listening to the conversation, and please share! You may find our podcast by searching for “At Home, On Air” on your preferred listening platform.
Thank you to everyone who attended the live interview and discussion on October 23, 2025! The recording of this conversation has been published as an At Home, On Air podcast episode.
Thank You to Our Featured Guest Speaker:
Jennie Chin Hansen | Immediate past CEO of the American Geriatrics Society, Former President of AARP, Former Executive Director of On Lok, Community Advocate
Thank You to Our Podcast Host:
Susanne Stadler | At Home With Growing Older
Episode Description:
On our podcast – At Home, On Air – we welcome Jennie Chin Hansen, the immediate past CEO of the American Geriatrics Society, former President of AARP, previous Executive Director of On Lok, and a longtime community advocate.
In this forward-looking conversation, Jennie draws from her lifelong career in the field of aging as well as her own personal aging journey. She discusses the strength that comes with older age — why living with agency while experiencing the normal changes of aging is essential to our wellbeing.
Jennie challenges us to rethink interdependence: how can we nourish our connections across generations and build “new muscles” by working alongside younger people, acknowledging our differences rather than avoiding them?
She speaks to the responsibility that comes with being an older adult — to share our resources and take care of those who come behind us, to be soldiers of caretaking and the collective good, keeping the flow going for generations to come.
This is a conversation that will shift how you see your own aging journey — and inspire you to build the intergenerational connections our world desperately needs.
More About Jennie:
Jennie Chin Hansen is the immediate past CEO of the American Geriatrics Society and former president of the 38-million-member AARP, where she served during the development of the Affordable Care Act.
Her primary career includes nearly 25 years providing integrated, comprehensive medical and community-based care for nursing home eligible older persons in San Francisco. This groundbreaking service delivery system became the prototype for the 1997 federal law establishing the Program of All Inclusive Care to the Elderly (PACE), which now operates in California and 30 other states.
Jennie’s recognitions include the American Society on Aging’s Hall of Fame Award, the National Council on Aging’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and being named one of the national 50 Influencers in Aging by PBS’ Next Avenue. She currently serves on the board of HelpAge USA and is an Advisory Member at the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging.
Season Topic:
People and Places That Build Community: Creating a Home Away From Home
This season of At Home, On Air, we will engage community builders and place-makers to highlight the vital role everyday spaces play in keeping us healthy and connected — from the neighborhood café and the front porch, to local parks and places of worship. These so-called “third spaces” are essential for community and individual well-being across all stages of life.
Our conversations will explore how inclusive design, thoughtful program offerings and mixed uses can make community spaces welcoming to people of all ages and abilities. We will also examine how activism and advocacy are sparking new models of community through affordable housing projects, grassroots organizing, and initiatives that prioritize connection across generations.
Now more than ever, as our population ages, such gathering places are essential. Join us as we discover the people and places that build communities where everyone — regardless of age or ability — can feel At Home With Growing Older.
Support Our Work:
Support our work by subscribing to our At Home, On Air podcast wherever you listen to podcasts, by sharing episodes with those you know who may benefit from these free online resources, or by making a donation to At Home With Growing Older. Thank you for being a part of our learning community!