Are you passionate about healthy aging, supporting older adults, or advancing geriatric care? The 2026 Aging Well Conference is your opportunity to learn, connect, and grow with an incredible interprofessional community dedicated to improving the lives of older adults.

The 2026 Aging Well Conference is focused on promoting healthy aging for older adults. As our population ages, it is essential for health professionals to meet the evolving needs of this demographic.

May 14-15, 2026
In Person at Appalachian State University Boone Campus, Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences.

This year’s conference brings together healthcare professionals, caregivers, community members, researchers, social service providers, and aging adults for two days of dynamic learning and collaboration.

Whether you support aging adults in a clinical setting, community program, or within your own family, you’ll walk away with practical, person‑centered tools you can use immediately. Aging Well is more than a conference, it’s a community movement. Past attendees describe it as “one of the greatest conferences I have ever attended” and praise the collaborative, uplifting atmosphere.

Come be part of meaningful conversations, innovative learning, and a mission rooted in improving the health and well‑being of older adults across our region.

What's New for 2026

• New breakout topics (LGBTQ+ aging, women’s intimacy/sexual wellness, wearable sensors, behavioral health & loneliness, planning for longevity)
• Even more interprofessional speakers
• Pre-recorded sessions for additional CEU access
• Expanded sponsorships and exhibitor hall
  

In Partnership with:

Appalachian State University, Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina and Northwest Area Health Education Center (AHEC), a program of Wake Forest University School of Medicine and part of the NC AHEC System and The UNC Center for Aging and Health, Carolina Geriatric Education Center.

Question:  What do autism, the poorest orphans in the world, hormone replacement therapy, and insurance denials have in common?

Answer:  They are all topics discussed on the most recent episodes of the Healthcare Insights in Northwest North Carolina podcast!

Listen and learn new insights about these topics with experts in their fields:

Click the links below or search for "Healthcare Insights in Northwest North Carolina" wherever you listen to podcasts.

Amber Nelms, BCBA - Amber shares insights from her work with Autistic youth, building a growing autism therapy business, and her inspiration for personal growth. Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/nwahecwebmaster/hi-ep-132-amber-nelms-bcba-applied-behavior-analysis-for-autism

John Boswell, JD - John shares insights from his work with empowering the world's poorest children in Sub-Saharan Africa and the poorest regions of India. Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/nwahecwebmaster/hi-ep-133-john-boswell-jd-beggars-to-bosses-empowering-impoverished-youth

George Ibrahim, MD - Dr. Ibrahim shares insights on hormone replacement therapy in women and men and dispels common myths about hormones, aging, and wellness. Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/nwahecwebmaster/hi-ep-134-dr-george-ibrahim

Neal K. Shah - Neal shares insights on dealing with insurance claim denials and his work to empower patients and providers to overcome the hassles of fighting claim denials using Artificial Intelligence. Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/nwahecwebmaster/hi-ep-135-neal-k-shah-insured-to-death

Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults—but they don’t have to be. With the right tools, knowledge, and care planning, healthcare professionals can make a life-changing difference. That’s where our free, interactive eLearning module comes in.

👩‍⚕️ Why This Training Matters

Every year, millions of older adults experience falls that lead to serious injuries, hospitalizations, and even loss of independence. Yet, many of these incidents are preventable. This self-paced course, “Falls: Screening, Risk Assessment and Care Planning for Older Adult Patients in the Community,” is designed to equip ambulatory care clinical staff with the skills to identify and reduce fall risks—before they happen.

Using the CDC’s STEADI framework (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries), this course walks you through:

• 📊 Effective screening and risk assessment techniques
• 🧠 Patient-centered communication strategies
• 🛠️ Practical workflows for primary care settings
• 🧩 Care planning tailored to each patient’s needs

💡 What You’ll Gain

• Real-world tools to integrate fall prevention into your daily practice
• Confidence in addressing fall risks with patients and families
• Free contact hours to support your professional development
• Flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere—on your computer or mobile device

Whether you're a medical assistant, nurse, or provider, this course is built with your role in mind. It’s not just about checking a box—it’s about helping your patients live longer, healthier, and more independent lives.

🚀 Ready to Get Started?

Don’t wait to make a difference. Click here to register now and take the first step toward safer aging in your community.

Dr. Ebru Karpuzoglu is an immunologist and molecular medicine researcher, and the Chief Scientific Officer and CEO of Aveseena. Dr. "Ebru" discusses "inflammaging," a condition where inflammation and premature aging occur simultaneously, triggered by factors such as stress, diet, and harsh skincare practices. She elaborates on how environmental aggressors, including certain endocrine disruptors found in plastics, can mimic hormonal effects and disrupt the body's systems, emphasizing the importance of storing food in glass containers and avoiding plastic bottles left in heat. The conversation also covers the dangers of topical estrogen in skincare without medical supervision, contrasting it with physician-monitored hormone replacement therapy.

Dr. Ebru highlights the skin's role as the first line of immune defense, protected by its microbiome and immune system. She explains that while acute inflammation is beneficial, chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging) is undesirable. The discussion also touches on the balanced approach to sun exposure for Vitamin D synthesis, recommending early morning or evening sunlight with SPF for protection, and the benefits of red light therapy for skin health. Finally, she validates the scientific basis of grounding, explaining that the human body is an open system that reacts to environmental energies. 

On May 15–16, nearly 200 healthcare professionals, advocates, and caregivers gathered at Appalachian State University for the 2025 Aging Well Conference—a two-day event dedicated to improving the quality of care for older adults. Now in its second year, this interprofessional and collaborative conference was hosted by Northwest AHEC and the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness.

This year’s event featured expert-led sessions covering a wide range of critical topics, including healthy aging strategies, cognitive health, dementia care, medication optimization, mobility and fall prevention, and patient-centered decision-making. Breakout workshops allowed for deeper discussion and hands-on learning, while also fostering networking across disciplines.

An interprofessional lineup of speakers created a dynamic learning environment where attendees could share insights, discuss real-world challenges, and explore innovative approaches to aging care. The timing of the conference aligned perfectly with Older Americans Month, making it all the more meaningful as we celebrated and empowered the older adults in our communities.

We’re grateful to everyone who joined us to learn, connect, and grow. The feedback we received was incredibly encouraging:

“This is one of the greatest conferences I have ever attended and I can’t wait to attend next year!”

“After attending last year, I knew I needed to bring my friends. My friends came with me this year and it has been so great. We can’t wait to come again next year!”

Mark your calendars—Aging Well 2026 is already in the works! Stay tuned for details as we continue to grow this powerful event focused on healthy aging and collaborative care.

As we age, maintaining good health goes beyond just doctor visits—it’s about nurturing our minds, bodies, and overall well-being. That’s why Northwest AHEC is proud to offer the 2025 Aging Well Conference , a program designed to empower healthcare professionals with the knowledge and tools to support aging individuals in leading healthier, more fulfilling lives. Learn all about the program on our website.

This activity focuses on advancing the knowledge and skills of healthcare providers in rural western North Carolina, particularly in geriatric care, addressing the unique healthcare needs of older adults. With a blend of individual and group presentations, panel discussions, and demonstrations, the activity brings together diverse perspectives of healthcare experts, researchers, government officials, social service providers, as well as older adults and family caregivers.

Sleep is one of the foundational pillars of our overall health and wellness. Not getting enough can leave you sleep deprived and can result in downstream negative health consequences. Sleep hygiene, sleep strategies, sleep aids, and sleep medications can help get us back on the path to rest and recovery through sleeping well.

Healthy aging — and finding ways to age well — is the focus of the first Appalachian State University Aging Well Conference, to be held May 16 and 17 at the Levine Hall of Health Sciences in Boone. The event is sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.