Getting old may not be for sissies, as Bette Davis once said, but that doesn’t mean we should be resigned to going through a long period of decline as we age.. Quite the opposite, says Carol Waldman, a gerontologist and former executive director of a large and innovative suburban senior center. Getting older can mean thriving, not just surviving during the later stages in life. How so? Carol provides a step-by-step “Thrival Guide,” with six pragmatic tips, including how to adapt to change, stay open to unseen possibilities, discover new purposes, and adopt a new view of time. Carol offers a wealth of stories and examples of programs that have brought joy and meaning to thousands of seniors over three decades, including a nationally recognized Lifelong Learning Lecture Series. A passionate fighter against ageism, she also has spearheaded an AARP Age-Friendly initiative in her local community, advocating for policies that benefit people of all generations.
Featured Guest: Carol Waldman
Contact: waldman4@optonline.com
Carol Waldman is a gerontologist with a passion for helping older adults thrive. For almost three decades, she served as Executive Director at the Glen Cove Senior Center, one of the largest senior centers on Long Island, where had the opportunity to collaborate with many prominent professionals in the field of aging. In her ongoing effort to fight ageism, Carol developed a nationally recognized, award-winning Lifelong Learning Lecture Series, and affiliated with the Hofstra University School of Health Professionals to create a first-of-its-kind conference on Aging and Creativity. Carol was also President of the Long Island Coalition on Aging and the Co-Chair of the Nassau County Senior Service Providers Coalition. Her core advocacy efforts have included a focus on affordable senior housing and eradicating homelessness. After spearheading the World Health Organization/AARP Age-Friendly initiative in Glen Cove, Carol became Nassau County’s Liaison and Consultant for the county’s age-friendly efforts. Carol has served on several human service executive boards has received numerous scholarships and service awards. She continues to do research and guest lectures on aging issues and is currently working on a collection of short stories that speak to the poignancy of the aging experience.
Here are links to two articles that chronicle Carol Waldman’s storied career:
“Carol Waldman, woman with a ‘heart of gold,’ retires”
https://www.liherald.com/stories/carol-waldman-woman-with-a-heart-of-gold-retires,119304
“Herald Person of the Year: Carol Waldman”
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