Hi {{first_name|friend}},
It's a full week in the Positive Aging Community: two live conversations, Medicare Open Enrollment kicking off Thursday, and our first Beacon 50+Expo of the fall on Sunday.
Inside This Issue
This Week — Explorers Club Virtual Cafe (today), What I Got Wrong About Death and Dying (Tue.), and the Springfield 50+Expo (Sun.)
Medicare Open Enrollment — what's new for 2027 before enrollment opens Thursday
Mark Your Calendars — AI and Care, the Aging Life Care Manager® Roundtable, the LEGO Lady and more
ProAging News — elder law sponsorships, why pets help solo agers, and designing tech for older adults
Top Discussions & Podcasts — catch up on September's best conversations
Fresh Articles — Senior Olympics, aging in place, and what to do with our stuff
📌 This Week
Our Senior Living Community Explorers Club - Virtual Cafe meets today, Mon., Oct. 12 at 4 PM ET. Whether you're just starting to look or already narrowing down your choices, bring your questions and compare notes with others exploring senior living communities.
Then join us tomorrow, Tue., Oct. 13 at 4 PM ET, for What I Got Wrong About Death and Dying, an honest, interactive conversation about the assumptions so many of us carry into end-of-life planning.
If you are local to the DC/MD/VA region, I hope to see you this Sunday, Oct. 18, from noon to 4 PM at the Beacon 50+Expo at Springfield Town Center. We'll have a conversation on crafting a news story with WAMU News Managing Director Naomi Starobin, WAMU photographer Tyrone Turner, and Senior Olympian Bernhard Stamm of Ashburn, VA, plus the Fairfax County Venture into Volunteering Fair.
As always, feel free to reach out or schedule time on my calendar if you'd like to brainstorm!
MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT BEGINS THURSDAY, OCT. 15
Get ready with our recent discussion, What Seniors Are Really Asking About Medicare: Takeaways from a Live Q&A Session, and our new article, Medicare Open Enrollment 2027: What's New, What's Changing, and How to Make the Most of It.
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LIVE & INTERACTIVE · ONLINE
Aging in Place Club - Virtual Cafe — Mon., Oct. 26, 4 PM ET
Aging Life Care Manager® Roundtable Discussion — Wed., Oct. 28, 3 PM ET
AI and Care: What's Working, What's Next — Thu., Oct. 29, 4 PM ET
How I Became the LEGO Lady During My Mom's 16-Year Journey with Dementia — Wed., Nov. 11, 8:30 AM ET
Solo Aging Club - Virtual Cafe — Mon., Nov. 16, 4 PM ET
When Families Disagree: Navigating Aging, Conflict & Difficult Decisions — Wed., Nov. 18, 2 PM ET
IN PERSON · DC/MD/VA METRO REGION
The Beacon 50+Expo, Springfield — Sun., Oct. 18, noon–4 PM · Springfield Town Center, Springfield, VA
The Beacon 50+Expo, Silver Spring — Sun., Nov. 8, noon–4 PM · Silver Spring Civic Building, Silver Spring, MD
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Reach Elder Law Attorneys Across Maryland and DC
Sponsorship opportunities with the MD/DC NAELA Chapter for businesses that serve older adults, people with disabilities, or the attorneys who represent them.
Better Together: Why Pets May Be a Solo Ager's Best Ally
For a growing number of older adults, the one who greets them at the door every morning has four legs. A new Mather Institute report looks at the effects of pet ownership.
Top Positive Aging Discussions: September 2026
A summary of our top live and interactive discussions for September 2026 within the Positive Aging Community.
Tech Professionals Invited to Share Insights on Designing for Older Adults
A doctoral study explores why older adults trust, or don't trust, the technology built for them.
🎙️ Top Discussions & Podcasts
Catch up on our top live and interactive discussions from September:
27 YEARS OF THE BEACON 50+EXPOS
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. The first Expo is this Sunday, Oct. 18 at Springfield Town Center, followed by Sunday, Nov. 8 at the Silver Spring Civic Building, both from noon to 4 p.m.
Those interested in exhibiting, sponsoring, or volunteering can call (301) 949-9766, email [email protected], or visit thebeaconnewspapers.com/50expos.
My First Senior Olympics: From the Sidelines to the Starting Line
After more than 36 years of telling the stories of Senior Olympians, Steve Gurney moves from the sidelines to the starting line.
Age in Place or Find a New Space
Highlights from Steve Gurney's discussion-heavy session with a large George Mason University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute audience.
What to Do with Our Stuff: Letting Go, Holding On, and Moving Forward
There's a particular kind of stuff that piles up over a lifetime — not just boxes in the garage, but boxes tied to memory, identity, and love.
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Until next week,
Steve Gurney
Founder, Positive Aging Community · Associate Publisher, The Beacon
800-394-9990 | 703-966-6182
[email protected]
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