How I'm Preparing for the Certified Senior Advisor Exam (Without Taking It)

While I don’t plan to take the Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) exam, I am using its topic framework as a guide to systematically build a strong foundation for working with older adults—especially in the area of technology use. My goal is to develop expertise at the intersection of aging and technology, ensuring that I understand key issues beyond just the tech itself.

A Structured Approach: My Senior Advisor Learning Plan (SALP)

To keep my learning intentional and organized, I developed a Senior Advisor Learning Plan (SALP), which ensures steady progress and prevents me from getting stuck on any single area. For each topic, I take the following steps:

• Identify Key Resources – Books, articles, reports, and online courses that provide foundational knowledge.
• Locate Relevant Reports – Recent studies and industry insights that highlight trends and emerging issues.
• Find News & Updates – Staying informed on policies, innovations, and real-world applications.
• Understand Key Concepts & Vocabulary – Ensuring I have a strong grasp of terminology in aging, healthcare, and technology.
• Leverage Local & Virtual Resources – Attending talks, webinars, and training sessions.
• Listen to Podcasts – A great way to absorb expert insights on aging, technology, and senior care while on the go.

How I Organize My Learning: TiddlyWiki & the SALP Tag

With so much information across different topics, I needed a way to track my progress and connect ideas. I use TiddlyWiki as my electronic notebook, tagging everything related to this learning journey with SALP (Senior Advisor Learning Plan).

How This Helps:

• Easy Retrieval: If I need to review my notes on a specific topic (e.g., long-term care financing or digital literacy for seniors), I simply search the full text of my notes or I filter based on the SALP tag.  Within the broad SALP tag category, I have more specific tags as well. 
• Connecting Ideas:  I link related topics, such as how cognitive health research intersects with AgeTech solutions like wearables and smart home devices. I make extensive use of hyperlinks within the TiddlyWiki.
• Tracking Progress: I can see which topics I’ve explored deeply and where I need more research.
• Refining My Understanding: When I revisit older notes, I update them with new insights, making my knowledge base dynamic and evolving.

How I’ve Leveraged Technology in My Learning

1. Generative AI as a Research Assistant: Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot have transformed how I process information. I use AI to:

• Summarize lengthy reports into digestible insights.
• Clarify complex topics by asking follow-up questions.
• Compare different perspectives on aging-related issues.
• Generate structured notes that I later refine and tag in my TiddlyWiki.

This has made my study sessions far more efficient, allowing me to focus on analysis rather than spending hours sifting through documents.

2. Digital Note-Taking & Concept Mapping: Beyond TiddlyWiki, I use concept maps to visualize connections between different aspects of aging and technology. This approach helps me see how topics like digital inclusion for seniors relate to health equity and access to care.

Expanding My Learning Through Events & Training

Structured self-study is important, but I also make sure to learn from experts, attend discussions, and engage with the broader community. Some standout learning opportunities I’ve taken advantage of include:

A Local Talk on Assistive Technologies – I recently attended a community event focused on assistive technologies, where a local expert discussed available technology to support the hearing impaired. Seeing real-world applications of these technologies deepened my understanding of how older adults interact with them. This was focused on what is available to everyone without our state, including the local support organizations. It was attended by people who are struggling with hearing impairments and/or their caregivers.

The Microsoft Abilities Summit – This free online event held on 3/18/2025 highlighted how AI and digital accessibility tools are transforming the lives of individuals with disabilities and older adults. Learning about Microsoft’s efforts in inclusive technology gave me insights into how mainstream tech companies are integrating accessibility features in their products. This is particularly useful to empower workers who struggle with disabilities and there are benefits to older adults as well even if older adults are not the primary target.

Senior Planet Trainings – I’ve explored some of Senior Planet’s free training sessions, which help older adults navigate digital tools with confidence. Seeing how these sessions are structured has given me ideas on how to frame AgeTech education for different learning styles.

Breaking the Age Code (Book) – Written by Becca Levy, this book explores how our beliefs about aging directly impact longevity, health, and even cognitive function. Levy’s research-backed insights have challenged me to think critically about how ageism shapes technology adoption and how shifting mindsets could improve older adults’ engagement with digital tools.

Key Takeaway: Learning Without Limits

The CSA exam topics provide a useful structure, but real learning isn’t about passing a test—it’s about building meaningful, applicable knowledge. By combining structured study methods with digital tools like TiddlyWiki, Generative AI, concept mapping, and real-world events, I’m shaping a personalized, evolving learning journey that supports my work in AgeTech and older adult learning.

If you’re considering an independent study project, whether for professional development or personal growth, finding a structured approach, leveraging technology, and engaging with real-world learning opportunities can make all the difference.

Breaking the Age Code on Technology: Why We Need a New Narrative on Aging & Digital Literacy

Changing the Narrative

What if the biggest barrier to older adults learning technology isn’t the technology itself—but the way we think about aging?

For too long, we’ve heard the same outdated narrative: Older adults struggle with tech. They’re not digital natives. Learning new technology is too hard later in life.

But what if these beliefs are not just false—but actually holding people back?

(As as side note, the novel I'm working on includes a character in the 90+ age range who is totally badass around technology.  I want to be like her when/if I get to that wise age). 

Research from psychologist Becca Levy, described in her book, Breaking the Age Code, has shown that our beliefs about aging shape our cognitive abilities, health, and even how long we live. Dr. Levy's book does not focus on beliefs around technology and older adults, but that's where my mind went reading her book.  If we assume older adults can’t learn technology, they start to believe it too—creating a self-fulfilling cycle that leaves them out of the digital world.

It’s time to disrupt these myths and create a future where digital literacy is a lifelong journey, not something that stops at a certain age.  At the same time, it's important to also address another element:  Digital Equity.  The problem isn't just mindset, it's access and inclusion.  

What Have I been Doing about it?

I used to work very globally, now I work very locally.  In a series of projects very early in my career (late 1990s), I worked on efforts to eliminate the digital divide by providing access to computers and the nascent internet in so-called developing countries. It turned out cell phones would have a much more significant impact. I also co-authored a book on telecenters, an approach to provide community access to technology and the internet. Today, even in the United States, there are community access points, including in libraries.  Technology has advanced, access has improved.  A few decades later, challenges remain, not just globally but even locally in the United States. 

I live in what I would consider a privileged location, yet some of my neighbors, and especially older adults, may lack access to what we might consider basic technology and access to the Internet. Our county recently launched a Digital Equity Initiative. I hope to contribute to that effort in some way.  

I have started providing basic informational sessions through various existing programs, our community centers' 55+ program, the non-profit Arlington Neighborhood Village (ANV) that provides volunteer services for older adults, and soon (I hope) our network of libraries. So far I have focused on sessions to introduce Generative AI.  There is high demand for a much broader range of learning opportunities around technology.   There are also organizations that provide support and services more broadly, like AARP and its Senior Planet program, for example. 

What’s Next?

I’d like to put together a webinar exploring the psychology of aging and how we can rethink digital literacy for older adults. We would discuss:

• The surprising research on mindset and aging.
• Why some older adults thrive with technology—and how we can support more people to do the same.
• Strategies for making technology (and not just AgeTech) more accessible, intuitive, and empowering.
• Connections between aging and digital equity.

In the meantime, I am also super excited to have been accepted as a speaker at the 2025 Certified Senior Advisor Conference in Baltimore.  I have a few months to prepare and my proposed talk is fully aligned with, yet distinct from the webinar I just outlined.  As a result, I will likely have more to say on the subject and this might be the first in a series of posts on Digital Literacy and Aging. 

And for no other reason than the thought that spring is coming, here is a picture from my backyard. 

Hellebore - 3/12/2025

Generative AI for Older Adults: What's Missing and What's Next?

At the Arlington Neighborhood Village (ANV) Coffee and Conversation event this morning (February 12, 2025), I had the opportunity to discuss Generative AI—what it is, how it works, and its potential to enhance the lives of older adults. While AI is already making strides in creativity, communication, and learning, many of its most promising applications for aging populations are still in their early stages.

The full presentation will be available on the ANV YouTube Channel, but in this post, I want to go further—exploring key areas where generative AI needs improvement to become a truly valuable and accessible tool for older adults. 

Where Generative AI Needs More Development

1. Smarter Personalization and Memory Retention

Today’s AI can generate content on demand, but it lacks long-term memory and deep personalization. Future advancements should enable AI to:

• Remember user preferences over multiple sessions, creating more natural and familiar interactions.
• Adapt its responses based on an individual’s background, experiences, or storytelling style.
• Support reminiscence therapy by helping users refine and build AI-generated life stories over time.

2. More Engaging Storytelling and Reminiscence Tools

AI can assist with memoir writing, but its storytelling still falls short in emotional depth and historical accuracy. To improve:

• AI should be able to integrate personal photos, voice recordings, and handwritten notes into life stories.
• Historical and cultural context should be embedded to ensure accuracy and relevance.
• Tools should enable family members to co-create and edit AI-assisted memoirs collaboratively.

3. Improved AI for Creative Expression

While AI is already being used to generate art, poetry, and music, it still needs to become:

• Easier to use for those who are not tech-savvy, with intuitive, no-prompt-needed interfaces.
• More interactive, allowing step-by-step refinements instead of starting over each time.
• Capable of learning personal styles over time to produce work that feels truly unique.

4. Better AI for Social Connection and Communication

AI can help older adults stay connected, but existing tools often feel impersonal. To be truly impactful, AI should:

• Mimic individual writing styles so AI-assisted messages feel authentic.
• Provide conversation starters for those who struggle with social engagement.
• Enable seamless multilingual communication for connecting with family and friends worldwide.

5. More Ethical and Privacy-Conscious AI

As AI becomes more integrated into personal content creation, privacy concerns grow. Developers must ensure that:

• AI-generated content is fact-checked to prevent misinformation.
• Users have control over their data, especially in personal storytelling applications.
• AI systems remain transparent about how responses are generated and where data originates.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Generative AI for Older Adults

Generative AI holds immense potential to support older adults in storytelling, creative expression, and communication—but only if it becomes more personal, interactive, and ethical. Future AI tools should prioritize:

• Memory retention to improve personalization.
• User-friendly design to minimize technological barriers.
• Stronger privacy protections to ensure security and trust.

Getting Started with AI

Curious about generative AI? Explore ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude to try AI-powered writing, art, and storytelling. If you want to help shape AI for older adults, advocate for more personalized and ethical solutions in the AgeTech space.

A Final Thought: Generative AI isn’t a replacement for human connection. Instead, it should enhance well-being, strengthen relationships, and empower older adults to engage with technology on their terms.