The best advice on moving and downsizing doesn't always come from the experts. Sometimes it comes from the people who have actually done it. That idea has powered the Real-Life Stories of Moving and Downsizing event for four years running, and the 2026 edition, held at the headquarters of JK Moving Services, proved it once again.
Organized by the Loudoun Senior Interest Network (LSIN), the Northern Virginia Senior Resource Network (NVSRN) and host JK Moving Services, the event brought together a variety of senior living professionals and consumers interested in connecting on transitions. The format is simple: skip the slide deck and let real people tell their real stories.

Honoring the pioneers
The afternoon opened by recognizing the board members of LSIN and NVSRN, the pioneers who launched this event and have kept it growing year after year. Their networks connect hundreds of professionals serving older adults across Northern Virginia, and this event has become one of the ways they turn those connections into shared learning.
JK Moving President David Cox then welcomed guests with the company's origin story. Chuck Kuhn started the business in 1982, at just 16 years old, working out of the basement of his parents' home. More than four decades later, JK has become the largest independent moving company in North America, with over half a million moves completed and a long list of industry and corporate awards recognizing its people and service.

Two moves, two stories
Steve Gurney of the Positive Aging Community moderated a panel featuring two people who recently made the move to senior living, each by a very different road.

Jim Oakes: a caregiver's transition
Jim Oakes spent his career in health technology. His move began with his wife Peggy's journey with dementia. Learning to talk about it and ask for help, he said, "took some doing and it took some time." Once Peggy moved into memory care, Jim knew he didn't want to stay in their Round Hill home alone, and he began the work of downsizing.
He chose Arbor Terrace, an independent living community of about 80 residents. Jim compares senior living to cruising: some people love the 3,000-passenger ships, others prefer a small sailboat. His community sits in the middle, and that hits his sweet spot. On his first nights, residents sat down beside him at dinner and introduced themselves. Many had walked the same road with a spouse. When Peggy passed away, he found himself surrounded by a support community that "didn't let me go through that alone."
A friend once described Arbor Terrace to him as "a fraternity house for seniors," and Jim thinks there's something to that. "It's what you make of it," he said.

James Vandeputte: moving in his 60s
James Vandeputte took a different path: he moved to Goodwin House in his 60s, well before most people consider it. He joined the community's priority list in 2018, which let him try on the idea without being locked in. Open house events, getting to know the staff and hearing residents' experiences won him over one step at a time. (Read more in his Beacon story, "I'm Young in My Senior Living Community".)
Four years in, he has no regrets. "It was the best decision I ever made," James said. "I've never been happier in my whole life."
Asked how it feels to live among people older than him, he offered a line the room loved: "I always felt that old people were young people who aged." And to those who worry about age-segregated living, he said his world has only grown: "My life has expanded so much. It has not contracted at all."

Lessons in letting go
The conversation kept circling back to the hardest part of any move: the stuff. The panelists' advice, drawn from their own experience and from audience questions, included:

• Try a "pay what you want" garage sale. Jim skipped eBay and put everything out with no price tags, asking buyers to pay what they thought it was worth, with proceeds going to charity. His goal was clearing space, not raising money, and it worked. (One shopper couldn't handle the concept, asked his price five times, and walked away when he finally named one.)
• Break it into stages. James recommended taking a mental inventory, then a physical one, and tackling manageable pieces rather than everything at once.
• Notice how you actually live. Jim realized he and Peggy had been living in less than half of their house, which made clearing the other half much easier.
• Make the kids decide now. Jim's one firm rule: his children had to say yes or no to the family "treasures." "I might want it someday" wasn't an answer, so undecided items went to donation.
• Skip the storage unit. Jim rented one after moving and soon realized he was paying to store things he didn't want. "Once it's gone, I don't miss it," he said.
• Digitize the photos. Jim spent years scanning family photographs, where most of the real memories live.
• Plan ahead. "If you can prepare and plan, you'll thank yourself later," James said. Planning gave him confidence and helped him sleep at night.

Both admitted they still moved with too much. Jim has given away some 500 books and still has a crowded office. "I think books multiply in a dark room," he joked.
When an audience member asked whether they missed anything, James mentioned his collection of contemporary American ceramics from the 1980s, including works by artists shown at the Renwick Gallery, which he sold. He chose to "put them back out in the universe," with just a little regret. Jim's regrets run the other way: "I really haven't regretted anything I've gotten rid of. I have regretted some of the things I've hung onto." James added a tip for younger buyers: he now wishes he'd furnished his home from auction houses. A rosewood dining set he bought for $1,000 in 2003 sold at auction for $125.
Another attendee, touring communities herself, asked how they chose. James's search began with a close friend who already lived at Goodwin House, then came down to a good gut feeling. Jim brought a checklist to every tour, but in the end Arbor Terrace simply "felt right." His best indicator: watch how staff and residents treat each other.
A third attendee worried that selling her home would give her grown children on the West Coast no reason to visit. Jim's reply drew laughs: "I have a newsflash for you. They don't want it." He shipped the items his kids wanted to his son in Texas and let go of keeping their rooms. Steve added a tip from move managers: before moving anything, walk through the house with your phone and narrate a video tour, so the memories are preserved for good. James framed it his own way: life isn't one long journey but a series of destinations, and this is simply one more stop.
Steve closed the panel with a reminder for professionals and families alike: a move to senior living doesn't have to be permanent. He has interviewed several people who left life plan communities with large entry fees and got nearly all of their money back. Like a first apartment, he said, it's a decision you can change.

Packing like a pro with Johnny Harris
The second half of the program turned hands-on. JK Moving's Johnny Harris has been with the company for 38 years and was one of Chuck Kuhn's first employees. In the early days, the team moved houses by day and office buildings by night, then strung hammocks in the back of the truck and slept there. Today, the training house where JK teaches all of its residential movers is named in Johnny's honor.
With audience volunteers, Johnny demonstrated how the pros protect furniture and fragile items:

• Padding a chair: Wrap moving blankets tight from left to right, then secure them with oversized exercise rubber bands running from the legs to the back. Tag each piece with the room it came from so movers can place it at the destination without asking.
• Taping a box: Three strips down the middle and one on each side. No need to tape it a dozen times.
• Packing china: Start with paper in the bottom, wrap each plate in layers of paper, and stand plates on edge rather than laying them flat. "Everything stands up," Johnny said. Plates, like people, are stronger standing than lying down.
• Lids and tops: Pack them separately, and mark the box so the unpacker knows exactly where each piece is.
• Fill the empty spaces: Tuck small figurines and trinkets into lidded containers or bowls instead of packing air. "You're paying for empty stuff going into a box," he pointed out.
• Use a big, heavy-duty box for fragiles. It surprised many in the room, but a well-packed large box is sturdier than many small ones. Johnny said he has dropped one without breaking anything inside. Just never mix books in with breakables.

Johnny also showed a clever trick: taping old empty tape rolls together to create a cradle that holds crystal stems securely. For a family's most treasured pieces, such as a mother's or grandmother's vase, he asks the owner for five minutes to watch him wrap it, so they can see it's handled with care.
Attendees also asked about specialty items like adjustable beds, Pelotons and treadmills. A JK representative explained that the company coordinates a third-party specialist who disassembles the item on moving day and reassembles it at the new home, usually the same day or the next.

Looking ahead to 2027
The event wrapped with thanks to NVSRN, LSIN and JK Moving, and raffle prizes courtesy of JK.  Attendees then stayed to network and tour Johnny's training house.

As Jim put it, whatever age you are in your head is probably the age you'll stay, "and I don't see any particular reason to start feeling like or acting like I'm old."
Learn more

• JK Moving Services senior moving
• Loudoun Senior Interest Network (LSIN)
• Northern Virginia Senior Resource Network (NVSRN)
• Video: Jim Oakes, Finding Community and Purpose in the Next Chapter
• Video: James Vandeputte, Why I Chose a Senior Living Community in My 60s
• The Beacon: I'm Young in My Senior Living Community

On September 16 at 11:30 a.m., community leaders, nonprofit innovators, students, and senior living professionals gathered at the Leesburg Fire House Co. #1 (215 Loudoun St SW, Leesburg, VA) for the 2nd Annual Intergenerational Summit. The event was produced in partnership with Sencura Home Care, the Loudoun Senior Interest Network (LSIN), the Northern Virginia Senior Resource Network (NVSRN), and the Positive Aging Community/Beacon Newspapers, with support from a long list of sponsors including A Family Tie, Arbor Terrace of Herndon, Bristol Hospice, Capital Caring Health, Caring Considerations, Dignity Memorial, Empower Mobility, Encompass, Heritage Hall Leesburg, Interstate Moving, Relocation and Logistics, JSSA, Karter Schools, Lay to Rest, Next Day Access, Organizing Mentors, Pathways in Aging, Personic Health, Relief Transportation, White Glove Solution, and Waltonwood at Ashburn.

Steve Gurney, founder of the Positive Aging Community, opened the event by thanking the sponsors who made it possible and framing the day's purpose: to inspire those working in senior living and aging services to think beyond serving older adults in isolation, and instead to build integrated, intergenerational programs. "There is so much value in connecting the generations," Gurney told the room. "It eliminates the age stigmas that are out there... it should be integrated communities, integrated programs, you name it."
What followed was a showcase of programs spanning government agencies, private businesses, nonprofits, senior living communities, and — most strikingly — a duo of student innovators still in high school and college.

Government Leading the Way: Fairfax County's Intergenerational Workshops
Allegra Joffe of the Fairfax County Area Agency on Aging opened the panel by explaining what an Area Agency on Aging does and how family caregivers — a category many people don't realize they fall into — can access free support services. Since 2022, her office has run intergenerational workshops that bring children and older family members together for shared activities like dance, drama, art, and martial arts, with sessions recorded so families can revisit them later. Her key message to attendees: almost any activity can be reframed and advertised as something a whole family can do together, at whatever mobility or skill level participants have.

Blending Cognitive Care Across the Lifespan
Dr. Olivia Odeh, co-founder of Diverse Cognitive and a partner with Waverly Manor Cognitive Centers, spoke about an unusual model that treats cognitive health — whether dementia, autism, or intellectual disabilities — as a lifespan-wide issue rather than something siloed by age. Grounded in applied behavior analysis and Montessori methods, her work challenges the stigma that neurodiverse individuals, young or old, are unaware or disengaged. She traced her passion for the work back to childhood visits to assisted living facilities with her mother, and later to caring for her own grandmother with dementia. Her call to action was simple: connection doesn't require a grand initiative or a big budget — it starts with showing up and looking someone in the eye.

From Nonprofit Founder to National Expansion: HerraLink
One of the summit's most anticipated updates came from Isabella Solano, who founded HerraLink as a high school senior to connect volunteers with older adults in senior communities. In the year since she last spoke at the summit, HerraLink has been acquired by Goodwin Living, grown to roughly 1,200 volunteers, and now partners with 100 universities and high schools serving 15 senior communities across the DMV. Solano introduced her ambassador program, which trains student volunteers to lead programming independently, and brought three current ambassadors on stage to share what the experience has meant to them — including a story about residents asking whether a volunteer's wedding could be rescheduled so she wouldn't miss her Saturday trivia shift. Solano closed with an announcement that HerraLink is preparing to expand nationwide.

Student Innovators Take the Stage
Two young speakers drew some of the day's most emotional responses.
Lakshmi Katrapati, a computer science student at George Mason University, described how a neighbor's $30,000 scam loss — triggered by a celebrity deepfake — pushed her to start giving presentations to older adults about AI-generated scams. Citing FTC figures that put AI scam losses in 2026 at roughly $200 billion, with about $82 billion targeting seniors, Katrapati has since expanded her presentations from local senior centers to Fairfax, Loudoun, and beyond.
Meghana Nannapaneni, a junior at Chantilly High School, presented Sage, a web-based application she built after winning the Fairfax County Public Schools Shark Tank Technology Challenge. Sage pairs older adults with a conversational AI companion that surfaces health concerns from everyday conversation, turns spoken memories into written life-story chapters, offers cognitive brain games, and gives family caregivers a dashboard of health cards and cognitive trend data. Nannapaneni traced the idea back to years of volunteering in senior living communities alongside her mother, who works in geriatric care, and to noticing firsthand how memory loss shows up in small, repeated moments. Sage is currently free and available at sage4health.com.

Established Organizations Show What's Possible at Scale
Steve Cone of Capital Caring Health, marking the organization's 50th year in 2027, shared that Capital Caring was the first hospice in the nation to care for terminally ill children and remains the largest children's hospice organization in the country. He highlighted the organization's volunteer-run "Elf Squad" and its robotic pet program, which he said transforms the daily experience of dementia patients roughly 95% of the time — moving them from confusion or agitation to calm and joy. Over five years, Capital Caring has distributed 5,000 of the robotic pets at no required cost.
Sarah Malaby of Chesterbrook Residences, a senior living community built through a multi-congregation partnership to serve all income levels, described a long-running slate of intergenerational partnerships with local schools, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, internships, and holiday events. Her advice to attendees: keep opening doors, even when some events don't draw a crowd. "Anything you might have liked 10, 15, 20 years ago, you probably like now and will like another version of it in another 30 years," she said.

From the Floor: Real Estate, Special Education, and What Comes Next
Catherine Javier-Wong, owner of Isigen Montessori Care, introduced herself from the audience after registering the night before, describing how she applies Montessori practices across the full lifespan — connecting schools with assisted living communities.
​During an open Q&A, several attendees added their own intergenerational stories. A senior real estate specialist shared how converting a home's unfinished basement into a full intergenerational living suite — complete with kitchen and bath — helped a Centerville property sell for a million dollars, nearly double the original estimate, to a genuinely multigenerational family. A representative from Loudoun County Public Schools' special education advisory committee described an in-progress transition center for graduating students with disabilities, and asked local businesses to consider partnership opportunities for workplace readiness training.
​
Looking Ahead
Gurney closed the summit by asking attendees to carry the momentum back to their own organizations — and to think about outreach to local schools and preschools for next year's event. "Nobody's doing this stuff, folks," he said. "We're in kind of frontier town, so we'll make it up as we go along."
Plans for a third annual summit are already underway.

Presenter Contacts:

The Beacon is bringing back its signature 50+Expos this fall, marking the 27th year of the free, in-person events that draw thousands of older adults and their families across the DMV region.
This year's Expos will take place at two locations:

• Springfield Town Center, Springfield, Virginia — Sunday, October 18, 2026, from noon to 4 p.m.
• Silver Spring Civic Building, Silver Spring, Maryland — Sunday, November 8, 2026, from noon to 4 p.m.

What to ExpectAttendees at both events can browse dozens of exhibitor booths from local businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits covering housing options, home remodeling, home care, financial planning, insurance, healthcare, fitness, travel, and other senior resources. Parking is free at both venues.
The Springfield event will also feature "Venture into Volunteering," a partnership between the Beacon and the Fairfax County Area Agency on Aging showcasing more than 35 agencies and nonprofits with volunteer opportunities for older adults.
At the Silver Spring Expo, attendees can catch a keynote conversation with Kojo Nnamdi, the acclaimed journalist and host of WAMU's "Young at Heart" podcast.
Health Screenings and VaccinesBoth Expos will offer free health screenings, including blood pressure, glaucoma, blood glucose, and cholesterol testing. A range of vaccines will also be available, including the latest COVID-19 and RSV shots, regular and high-dose flu vaccines, and Shingrix, pneumonia, and tetanus vaccines. Attendees are encouraged to bring their Medicare and/or insurance cards.
SponsorsThe 2026 Expos are supported by a roster of local sponsors. Gold Sponsors include AARP Virginia and WAMU 88.5. Silver Sponsors are Giant Pharmacy and Johns Hopkins Health Plans. Bronze Sponsors include United Healthcare, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Cogir West End Alexandria Senior Living, the Fairfax County Department of Family Services, The Harbor at Quantico Creek, Montgomery County Recreation, and Montgomery County Aging & Disability Services, along with Torregrossa Insurance. Additional sponsors are still welcome.
Those interested in exhibiting, sponsoring, or volunteering can call (301) 949-9766, email [email protected], or visit www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/50expos.
A Year of Change for the BeaconThe Expos arrive during a year of transition for the Beacon. In January 2026, founders Stuart and Judy Rosenthal sold Beacon Newspapers, Inc. to longtime executive vice president Gordon Hasenei. Under Hasenei's leadership, the company now works in coordination with the Positive Aging Community and Sourcebook, led by founder Steve Gurney — with both organizations retaining their distinct brands while collaborating on shared initiatives across the Mid-Atlantic region.
January also brought the debut of a new edition of the paper, the Northern Virginia Beacon, now distributed throughout Northern Virginia.
For more than 35 years, the Beacon has served as a leading voice for the 50+ community in the Washington, D.C. metro area, and this fall's Expos continue that mission — connecting older adults and their families with resources, entertainment, and community.

The Senior Safety and Support Symposium at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Reston on July 20th highlighted the growing problem of scams targeting older adults. Melissa Smarr and Christine Reedy from Fairfax County Consumer Affairs delivered a comprehensive presentation showing just how common many different types of scams have become—and how important it is to know the warning signs.

The Scale of the Threat
One of the biggest takeaways from the presentation was just how widespread fraud is. According to the Federal Trade Commission, about 11% of adults become victims of scams each year, which is more than 25 million people, resulting in an estimated $50 billion in losses. The presenters also shared that there are around 80 different scams actively affecting Fairfax County residents at any given time. What's particularly sobering is that this number excludes many victims who never report what happened due to embarrassment or fear, meaning the real numbers are likely much higher.

Common Scams Targeting Our Community
The presentation covered several of the most common scams currently targeting older adults. Impersonation scams continue to be one of the biggest threats, where scammers impersonate government officials, family members, celebrities, or other trusted individuals. One example the presenters discussed was a fake toll violation text message that looked incredibly realistic, complete with official-looking court seals and QR codes. It's easy to see why so many people fall for these tactics.

Romance scams were another major topic. The presenters shared a particularly heartbreaking story of a widow who lost $263,000 after developing a relationship with someone online who turned out to be a scammer. The scammers in these cases take their time to build trust and target people who may be lonely or vulnerable.
Other scams discussed included fake job opportunities, cryptocurrency investment scams, Medicare fraud, tech support scams, and a newer threat known as the "digital arrest" scam, where callers threaten victims with arrest for supposedly missing jury duty.

Recognizing the Warning Signs
Throughout the presentation, the speakers emphasized that recognizing the warning signs is one of the best ways to avoid becoming a victim. Some of the biggest red flags include:

• Unexpected phone calls, texts, or emails that ask for personal information
• Pressure that creates a sense of urgency
• Demands for secrecy
• Requests for unusual forms of payment such as gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency

The speakers also reminded attendees that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Protection Strategies That Work
A key message from the presentation was the phrase "Pause, Question, Protect." Before responding to any unexpected request, it's important to take a moment to pause, question why the person is contacting you, and protect your personal information.
There are many other practical ways to protect yourself as well:

• Call trusted phone numbers independently or let unknown calls go to voicemail
• Never share passwords through email or text
• Use strong, unique passwords for each account
• Enable multi-factor authentication
• Freeze your credit cards if you believe your personal information has been compromised

​Resources for Victims
​Residents facing fraud have several avenues for assistance:
Fairfax County Police Department operates a dedicated Financial Crimes Unit (five detectives) investigating identity theft, check fraud, embezzlement, and other financial crimes. Complaints can be filed online at their website, though the process takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour.
Fairfax County Consumer Affairs, where Reedy works, offers free consumer specialist assistance and accepts complaints. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Virginia Attorney General's Office provides support for consumers throughout the state outside of Fairfax County jurisdiction.
Federal Trade Commission operates as the nation's consumer protection agency, pursuing legal action against fraudulent companies and providing free educational materials.

The takeaway is clear: scams are sophisticated and widespread, but awareness and caution can make a real difference in keeping yourself and your loved ones safe.

​State initiative expands support for rural and underserved communities seeking Village connectionsVirginia's innovative approach to tackling social isolation among older adults has earned a second year of state funding, signaling growing recognition that peer-led communities—known as Villages—offer a powerful solution to a serious public health crisis.
The Aging Well with Virginia Villages (AWVV) program, which received continued funding from the Virginia General Assembly, is doubling down on its mission to increase older Virginians' access to Village services and connections. The initiative, managed by the Virginia Villages Collective and fiscally sponsored by the Washington Area Villages Exchange, represents the nation's first statewide effort of its kind and is being designed as a replicable model for other states.
How Villages Fill a Critical GapSocial isolation among older adults poses documented health risks comparable to smoking, according to public health research. Unlike traditional reactive interventions like nursing homes or assisted living facilities, Villages operate at the front end of the care continuum, providing practical support and meaningful connections when they're most needed to help people remain independent.
"Villages promote peer-to-peer connections and offer a variety of social engagement opportunities," explains the program framework. "They also provide practical non-medical services to foster independence, such as transportation, minor home repairs and tech support, and serve as a trusted source for information and referrals."
These volunteer-driven networks range from social clubs to comprehensive support systems, but all share a common goal: helping older adults age in community rather than in institutions.
Year One Results Paint a Promising PictureThe numbers from Virginia's existing Villages tell a compelling story. In 2025 alone, the state's 11 Villages logged:

• 191,088 volunteer-driven miles for grocery shopping, medical appointments, and errands
• 52,687 volunteer hours, valued at nearly $2 million
• 14,000+ attendees at social, wellness, and cultural events

These metrics translate to meaningful everyday support and genuine connection for thousands of older Virginians. With second-year funding, the program aims to dramatically expand these numbers by both strengthening existing Villages and helping launch new ones in underserved regions.
Building Capacity, Starting New VillagesThe AWVV program has pursued two complementary strategies in its first year.
Capacity building targeted existing Villages with small grants supporting social programming, education series, health and wellness initiatives, volunteer training, and outreach. Eleven Villages benefited from this investment.
Village development took aim at communities lacking Village infrastructure. The program conducted targeted outreach to identify groups interested in starting a Village and provided structured training, mentoring, and resources to planning groups. The results: six planning groups are currently underway in Albemarle, Bedford, Clarke, Culpeper/Madison/Orange, and Louisa counties, plus the City of Roanoke. Four additional groups are forming.
Measuring Success, Building a BlueprintAn independent evaluation team has been documenting the program's effectiveness through data collection and participant interviews. In the second year, evaluators plan to develop detailed case studies following planning groups from their initial planning stages through Village launch—creating a replicable blueprint for other jurisdictions interested in expanding the Village model.
"By continuing to build the capacity of existing Villages and starting new Villages, the Aging Well with Virginia Villages program aims to make Village connections and services available in many more communities across the Commonwealth," the program statement notes.
As Virginia's Villages network continues to expand, the message is clear: when older adults have access to community, connection, and practical support, the results benefit individual health, public health, and the broader fabric of community life.

About the Organizations
The Virginia Villages Collective (VVC) is an informal collaboration promoting the Village model's benefits and supporting Village development and growth throughout the state.
The Washington Area Villages Exchange (WAVE), the largest and oldest regional Villages association in the country, serves 81 Villages across Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

• 96% of senior living organizations report staffing shortages; the field remains 130,000 workers short of pre-pandemic levels, even as 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day.
• At Goodwin Living, 40% of 1,400+ team members are immigrants; among direct caregivers in some units, that figure reaches 90%.
• Current immigration policy offers virtually no visa pathway for non-degreed caregiving roles like certified nursing assistants.
• Goodwin Living's resident-driven Citizenship Program has issued 242 grants to fund the U.S. Citizenship Exam Fee and helped produce 128 new U.S. citizens.
• Practical steps any organization can take: send handwritten letters to legislators, connect employees to pro bono legal resources, and build a workforce tracker organized by immigration status and country of origin.

​
The numbers alone tell a stark story. Twenty-five percent of active U.S. physicians are international medical graduates. Sixteen percent of nurses were educated abroad. Ninety-six percent of senior living organizations report staffing shortages. And the field remains 130,000 workers short of pre-pandemic levels — even as 10,000 Americans turn 65 every single day.
Those were among the statistics that opened a recent Northern Virginia Senior Resource Network forum hosted at Goodwin House Bailey's Crossroads, where senior living operators, home care providers, and community members gathered to confront one of the most pressing challenges facing the industry: how to sustain a workforce that depends heavily on immigrant labor in an era of sweeping immigration restriction.

A Wall Everywhere
Forum moderator Steve Gurney of Positive Aging walked attendees through a policy landscape that has erected barriers well beyond the southern border. The H-1B visa — the primary pathway for physicians — requires a bachelor's degree, carries a $100,000 employer sponsorship fee, is capped at 85,000 annually, and filled by lottery from a pool of roughly 400,000 applicants. For non-degreed roles like certified nursing assistants, there is effectively no temporary visa pathway unless the worker comes from Canada or Mexico. Refugee admissions have been sharply curtailed, and immigration visas have been paused for nationals of 75 countries.
"It's not just the wall in Mexico," Gurney noted. "There's a wall everywhere."
Solutions raised by policy experts included exempting healthcare workers from H-1B caps and lotteries, reinstating a temporary visa category for nurses, lifting per-country visa caps to speed green card processing, and expanding visa waivers for clinicians willing to serve underserved areas.

The Human Reality
For Brittany DiSciullo, Vice President of Human Resources at Goodwin Living, the policy environment is anything but abstract. The organization employs more than 1,400 team members from over 65 countries, about 40 percent of whom are immigrants. Among direct caregivers in some healthcare teams, that figure reaches 90 percent.
"If you remove immigrants from our workforce, you can effectively remove 90 percent of our caregivers," DiSciullo said.
Following the 2024 presidential election, Goodwin Living moved quickly. The organization hosted "Know Your Rights" seminars with immigration attorney James Montana, built a confidential workforce tracker organized by country of origin and immigration status, and began monitoring the federal E-Verify status change report — a 2025 tool that flags employees whose work authorization has been revoked even when their documents appear current. It was through that report that Goodwin Living learned it had to part ways with four Haitian team members last year.
"They weren't just losing their job at Goodwin Living. They were losing their right to work in the United States," DiSciullo said.
Jim Lindsay of ACC Family home care described a similar landscape for smaller organizations. With roughly 150 employees — 85 percent immigrants — ACC Family must rigorously verify documentation while lacking the resources to sponsor workers for citizenship. In Alexandria, where Lindsay serves on the Commission on Aging, the local response has centered on basic needs: feeding programs for families afraid to access public services, and free legal referrals.

The Mother of the Citizenship Program
One of the forum's most resonant voices belonged not to a professional, but to a resident. Rita Siebenaler, a retired clinical social worker who lives at Goodwin House Bailey's Crossroads, is credited as the driving force behind Goodwin Living's Citizenship Program.
Siebenaler recalled her outrage when the citizenship application fee jumped overnight from $325 to $725. She approached administration, was initially turned down, returned with a formal proposal arguing the program would improve recruitment and retention — and was proven right on both counts. A quiet announcement went out, and within two weeks residents raised $40,000. To date, 242 grants have been issued covering citizenship applications, green card renewals, and DACA renewals, resulting in 128 new U.S. citizens among Goodwin Living's workforce.
"This isn't a political issue, it's a human issue," she said.

Choosing to Go Public
Goodwin Living also made a deliberate decision to step into the national spotlight — appearing in major media, visiting Capitol Hill, and standing visibly alongside immigrant employees at a moment when that visibility carried real risk. Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer Lindsay Hutter described a careful vetting process for every media request, and deeply personal conversations with team members about whether they were comfortable being photographed knowing ICE could potentially come to their workplace and even go to their children's schools.
"We never had a single team member back away," Hutter said. "The heroes are the team members who said, 'I can. I've got the support, I've got the courage, I trust Goodwin Living.'"
The organization has worked closely with LeadingAge and the American Business Immigration Coalition to advocate for healthcare workforce carve-outs in immigration policy, and has organized its residents — among the most reliable voting blocs in the country — to testify before lawmakers. Siebenaler was in the House gallery when Representative Ayanna Pressley's bipartisan legislation on Temporary Protected Status for Haitians passed.
​
What Any Organization Can Do
Panelists were emphatic that meaningful action isn't reserved for large organizations. Jim urged every attendee to send handwritten letters — not emails or petitions — to their congressional representatives, explaining that personal correspondence cuts through mass advocacy noise and often lands directly on a legislator's desk.
Siebenaler pointed to three Northern Virginia organizations offering pro bono immigration legal assistance: Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services, and Just Neighbors. Hutter highlighted a model for smaller operators: pooling modest contributions from multiple senior living businesses to fund additional nursing faculty at Northern Virginia Community College.
"Are we going to choose to meet the moment?" Hutter asked in closing. "We invite you on the journey."

Join us for 2026 Mid-Atlantic Chapter Conference November 8 - 9, 2026 Falls Church Marriott Fairview Park 3111 Fairview Park Drive | Falls Church, Virginia 22042
Connect and meet 150-200 Aging Life Care Managers and other related professionals, whose clients are your target market as we gather to imagine…innovate…and inform. If your company has products or services designed to improve the quality of life for seniors or those with disabilities and their families, join us for a great Sponsor Opportunity! All sponsors will receive recognition in the Mid-Atlantic Newsletter, Facebook and Website.
SPONSOR/EXHIBITOR PACKAGESAll sponsors and exhibitors will have good visibility with close proximity to meeting rooms and conference registration area. All breaks will be hosted in the exhibit area to encourage good traffic and networking. Exhibit space is assigned by committee members onsite based on sponsorship level and date registrations/payments are received so we encourage EARLY sign ups! NOTE: Continuing education units are only available to attendees registered as conference attendees (not exhibitors/sponsors).
Space Assignment:
Exhibiting space is limited and assigned by staff depending upon your date of confirmation and sponsorship level. Completed applications and payment are due in full no later than Monday, September 28, 2026. Applications for exhibit space are subject to approval of the program committee and must include a description of the products/services to be exhibited. If application is not approved, the payment will be returned in full. Sponsorships will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t wait, sign up today!

Rooted in Care, Radiant in Hope: Seeking to Empower Caregivers with Knowledge, Hope, and Community
For 40 years, the Northern Virginia Dementia Caregiver Conference has educated, empowered, and uplifted thousands of caregivers and professionals. Your sponsorship makes a difference!
The 40th Annual Northern Virginia Dementia Caregiver Conference offers five meaningful sponsorship levels designed to fit every budget and impact goal. Each level provides valuable visibility, recognition, and opportunities to connect with a dedicated community of caregivers and professionals.
PLATINUM – $10,000 • Speaking Opportunity • Premier Logo Placement • Full Page Recognition • On-Stage Mention*
GOLD – $5,000 • Logo on Invitation & Swag Bag • Blog Post on NVDCC • Logo in Program*
SILVER – $2,500 • Logo & URL Link • Sponsor Highlight • Post-Conference Ad • On-Stage Mention*
BRONZE – $1,000 • Logo on NVDCC.org • Swag Bag Insert*
SUPPORTER – $500 • Name in Program • Exhibit Table
*Plus the other incentives from the remaining lower levels
Why Sponsor? You’ll Reach and Support: • 200+ Attendees • Expert Education Sessions • Family & Professional Caregivers • 40 Years of Regional Impact
Partner With Us. Honor the Legacy. Shape the Future of Care.
Contact: [email protected] • www.nvdcc.org
To become a sponsor, visit: https://nvdcc2026.eventbrite.com
Your support directly fuels education, hope, and community for dementia caregivers across Northern Virginia. Join us in celebrating 40 years of making a lasting difference—become a sponsor today!

In the award-winning independent drama Familiar Touch, writer and director Sarah Friedland delivers a sensitive and deeply empathetic exploration of what it means to age with dignity amid cognitive change. The film, often described as a "coming-of-old-age" story, centers on Ruth, an octogenarian retired cook portrayed with extraordinary nuance by Kathleen Chalfant.
Familiar Touch follows Ruth as she transitions into assisted living, grappling with shifting memories, desires, and her evolving relationships with herself, her caregivers, and her family. What begins as small, puzzling disruptions in her familiar routines—preparing breakfast in her cozy kitchen—gradually reveals the quiet challenges of cognitive decline. Rather than relying on melodrama or sensationalism, Friedland's approach is intimate and grounded, allowing viewers to experience Ruth's world through her perspective, where fragments of the past intermingle with the present in poignant, sometimes joyful ways.
Chalfant's performance has been widely praised as superb and astonishing, bringing a regal yet vulnerable humanity to Ruth. Critics have highlighted how she conveys the terror of losing one's recognized life alongside intermittent moments of rediscovery and grace. The film avoids stereotypes about dementia, instead offering a precise, funny, and moving depiction of adaptation, resilience, and the enduring power of human connection. Supporting roles, including those by Carolyn Michelle Smith, Andy McQueen, and H. Jon Benjamin, add layers to the caregiving dynamics and family ties.
Since its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival in 2024, Familiar Touch has garnered significant acclaim, winning the Lion of the Future (Luigi De Laurentiis Award for Best Debut Film), Orizzonti Best Director for Friedland, and Best Actress for Chalfant. It also earned nominations and wins at the Independent Spirit Awards, including recognition for Friedland as Someone to Watch. Released theatrically in the U.S. in June 2025 by Music Box Films, the film has been celebrated for its emotional heft, authenticity, and rare empathy toward older adults facing memory loss.
As the U.S. population ages—with nearly one in four citizens over 65 and projections showing the National Capital Region nearing 25% older adults by 2030—stories like Ruth's resonate more urgently than ever. Familiar Touch invites audiences of all ages to reflect on how society supports evolving identities, combats ageism, and honors the full humanity of those navigating later life.
A special opportunity to engage with the film and its themes comes soon in the National Capital Region. Goodwin Living, a faith-based nonprofit senior living and healthcare organization, is partnering with Virginia Theological Seminary to host an exclusive screening of Familiar Touch on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, from 2:00 to 5:30 PM ET at the Lettie Pate Evans Room, Virginia Theological Seminary (3630 Bishop Walker Circle, Alexandria, VA 22304). The event will feature a panel discussion on the film and combating ageism, moderated by The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Dean of Virginia Theological Seminary. Panelists include Trish D’Antonio, Executive Director of the National Center to Reframe Aging; Sarah Friedland, director of Familiar Touch; and Rob Liebreich, President & CEO of Goodwin Living. A light reception will follow.
This timely event underscores the film's message of empathy and understanding, bringing together community leaders, elected officials, and advocates for older adults. Media and attendees can RSVP via the event page

AARP Virginia invites local eligible nonprofit organizations and governments to apply for the 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant program, now through March 4, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. AARP Community Challenge grants fund quick-action projects that help communities become more livable by improving public places, transportation, housing, digital connections, and more.​

Now in its tenth year, AARP will double its investment, awarding over $8 million in grants as part of its nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for all residents, especially those age 50 and older.

“Through the Community Challenge grant program, AARP Virginia works closely with local residents, advocates and policymakers to improve the quality of life for people of all ages, especially Virginians 50 and older,” said AARP Virginia State Director Jim Dau. “We look forward to the opportunity this year to provide increased support to communities across the commonwealth.” 

This year, the AARP Community Challenge is accepting applications across three different grant opportunities. All projects must be consistent with AARP’s mission to serve the needs of people 50 and older along with other eligibility criteria.

• Flagship grants support projects that improve public places; transportation; housing; digital connections; and disaster resilience. Awards range from a few hundred dollars to $15,000.
• Capacity-building microgrants are paired with expert support, webinars and cohort learning for projects to improve walkability and bikeability; implement safe, accessible home modifications; and disaster preparedness training. Awards are $2,500.
• Demonstration grants fund projects that encourage replication of exemplary local efforts. This year’s focus is on improving pedestrian safety, with funding support from Toyota Motor North America; expanding high-speed internet access and adoption, with funding support from Microsoft; and housing choice design competitions. Awards typically range from $10,000-$20,000, not to exceed $25,000.

“Over the last decade, AARP has invested in communities to help people of all ages and abilities to thrive,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer. “The impact that our Community Challenge grants have had in cities, towns and counties nationwide is significant, supporting everything from crosswalks and home improvements to increased community engagement while also serving as a catalyst for further action. We look forward to expanding the program and its cumulative results over the next ten years.”

Since 2017, AARP has invested $24.3 million toward 2,100 livability projects – including 44 in Virginia – across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands through the Community Challenge. The program aims to provide support to all community types, including rural, suburban and urban communities with a special focus on the needs of those 50 and older.

AARP Virginia works in collaboration with communities across the state, bringing people together, and providing resources and expertise to help make Virginia counties, towns and cities great places to live for people of all ages. In recent years, projects funded through the Community Challenge have helped to promote universal housing designs, enhance public spaces with signage and foliage, create intergenerational playgrounds, and improve street safety for cyclists and pedestrians.

The Community Challenge is open to eligible 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations and government entities. Other types of organizations are considered on a case-by-case basis. Grants can range from several hundred dollars for small, short-term activities to tens of thousands for larger projects.

The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. Eastern, March 4, 2026. All projects must be completed by December 15, 2026. To submit an application and view past grantees, visit www.AARP.org/CommunityChallenge.