General Session
Tuesday, November 17
9:25 a.m.–10:35 a.m.
The future of aging: Redefining what it means to live longer
Colin Milner, Marc Middleton & Tamara Smith
We are entering a defining moment in the evolution of aging. The first wave of Boomers is turning 80, a milestone that brings with it both new needs and new expectations. These expectations are shaped by decades of cultural change, a desire for longer healthspans, and a fundamentally different view of what later life can be. Far from simply a demographic shift, the moment represents a reset of the aging experience itself. This two-part general session explores what that reset means—from the systems we’ve built, to the lives people now expect to live within them.
Session 1: Where we are. Where we’re going. What it will takeColin Milner
The greatest opportunity in aging may lie in rethinking what aging means rather than simply improving what we do. For decades, society has optimized for decline by making things safer, more efficient and more supportive. Yet, the next generation of older adults isn’t looking for better versions of those solutions; they’re looking for something else entirely.
In this session, ICAA’s Colin Milner unpacks seven shifts reshaping aging—from how we design environments and experiences, to how people define health, purpose and identity. Milner looks at these shifts not as trends but as reframes that reveal where conventional thinking quietly holds us back. By changing how people perceive aging, we change not just the aging experience but the market as well.
Session 2: Can a longer life still feel like a better life?Marc Middleton, Tamara Smith & Colin Milner (moderator)
As people live longer, expectations are changing. The new 65+ looks for more than years; it seeks years that feel meaningful, engaging and worth living. This shift is prompting a fundamental question: What drives a fulfilling life in later years? Emerging research points to fulfillment as not just an outcome but also a leading indicator of overall well-being. At its center sits purpose, or the everyday experience of being relevant, needed and able to contribute.
When purpose is present, many outcomes that organizations strive for tend to follow—engagement, connection, and aspects of physical and emotional health. When purpose is absent, even well-designed programs and environments can fall short.
This session explores how evolving expectations, identity and lived experience are reshaping what it means to age, and what it will take to ensure longevity enhances the experience of living longer. For a generation that expects more from life, fulfillment is the measure of whether we’re getting it right.
Bios
Colin Milner is the founder and CEO of the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA), a global organization dedicated to advancing wellness and redefining the experience of aging. For more than two decades, he has been at the forefront of shifting the narrative from aging as decline to aging as opportunity—helping organizations, governments and industries rethink how they design environments, programs and services for older adults. An internationally recognized thought leader, Milner has advised groups including the US Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institute on Aging, and the White House Conference on Aging. His work focuses on translating wellness into measurable outcomes, positioning it as a strategic driver of healthspan, business performance and quality of life.
Marc Middleton is a multiple Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, journalist, media entrepreneur, author, speaker and filmmaker who focuses on the changing culture of aging. Middleton is the founder and CEO of Growing Bolder, a media company that produces and distributes health, well-being and active lifestyle content for older adults. He authored the books Growing Bolder: Defy the Cult of Youth, Live with Passion and Purpose and Rock Stars of Aging: 50 Ways to Live to 100. He also wrote, produced and directed Conquering Kilimanjaro, a 2014 Emmy-nominated documentary film. In addition to his Emmy Awards, Middleton is the recipient of the Dupont Award for Excellence in Journalism and a seven-time Masters Swimming world record holder.
Tamara Smith, DrPH, BS, is a nationally recognized healthcare executive and TEDx speaker with more than 20 years of experience in strategy, healthcare delivery systems, and community impact. As a national vice president at Humana, she serves as the enterprise executive leading the Humana Center for Human Flourishing through Health Advancement—reimagining care delivery by designing equitable, whole-person systems that integrate clinical care, social care and human flourishing. A trusted national voice on the social determinants of health, Smith’s work focuses on advancing systems-level change to improve health outcomes and equity. Through her leadership, she has emerged as a thought leader in shaping the future of health and healthy aging through human flourishing and fulfillment.
“Attending the ICAA Conference has consistently been a valuable experience for me throughout the years, both for relevant applicable knowledge I bring back to enhance programs for our residents, and for the opportunity to connect and collaborate with other passionate leaders in the industry. I always leave feeling inspired, informed, and proud to be part of a community that is shaping the future of vibrant senior living and wellness.”
Kirk Borde, ADC, CDP
AGE-u-cate Trainer, ADRD Education Resident Program Director, Addington Place of Jupiter, A Senior Lifestyle Community