More Than Just Fun: How Meaningful Connection Fuels Cognitive Wellness
Release Date: 11/26/2025
Beyond ‘Behaviors’: Seeing Dementia as a Human Condition with Zach Parlier
Foresight Radio
What if we stopped trying to be dementia “experts” and started being dementia enthusiasts instead? In this episode of Foresight Radio, host Rachel Hill sits down with Zach Parlier, administrator and self-described dementia enthusiast at English Rose in Edina, Minnesota. English Rose operates small, residential homes with just six residents and a 1:3 staffing ratio, built around relationship-based dementia care and genuine normalcy — not just private suites and long hallways. Zach shares how caring for his grandfather with Alzheimer’s in his family’s farmhouse from the age of 12...
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More Than Just Fun: How Meaningful Connection Fuels Cognitive Wellness
Foresight Radio
In this Tech Tuesday episode of Foresight Radio, Steve Moran sits down with Sharon, a leader from “Connect,” a research-backed engagement platform that’s been 25+ years in the making. What begins as a conversation about dementia technology quickly reveals something deeper: connection is the most essential ingredient in cognitive wellness — and in many ways, the very heart of caregiving. Sharon unpacked why human beings — especially those living with dementia — rely on meaningful social interaction to maintain cognitive strength, confidence, and quality of life. She shared...
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From Pessimism to Potential: Designing Senior Living for Legacy, Health, and Hope with Ben Lytle
Foresight Radio
Live from the Senior Living Innovation Forum’s Fall Conference, Steve Moran sits down with entrepreneur and former public-company CEO Ben Lytle to rethink aging through the lens of human potential. They dig into why perspective is the beginning of wisdom, how the “tension of opposites” unlocks better decisions, and how communities can become places where older adults live their best lives and leave a legacy. Ben lays out practical plays: behavior-change ecosystems (beyond apps), incentive-aligned healthcare, gamified and personalized wellness, intergenerational engagement—and even AI...
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Housing Is Healthcare: Jake Rothstein of Upside on ROI, and Aging-in-the-Right-Place
Foresight Radio
On this Foresight Radio recording of Tech Tuesday, host Steve Moran sits down with Jake Rothstein, founder of Papa and now Upside (formerly UpsideHom), to rethink what “aging in place” really means. Starting from his grandparents’ journey, Jake shares how Upside became a “housing easy button” for health plans — matching vulnerable members to safe, affordable apartments and support without laying a single brick. We cover the 5 D’s trigger events, why case managers are pivotal, how flex funds unlock moves (deposits, movers, utilities, furniture), and why housing stability delivers...
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How to be Human while Using AI: Charlie Hills’ Playbook for 2K → 160K and What It Means for Senior Living
Foresight Radio
AI feels like a boogeyman to many operators and marketers — but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, we talk with Charlie Hills, a marketer who studied AI at university and then used it to scale his LinkedIn presence from 2,000 to 160,000 followers in under two years—while working a full-time job. We break down actionable, senior-living-ready tactics: The Human–AI Sandwich: capture ideas with voice-to-text, turn them into a design brief, collaborate with a designer, then use AI to refine—publish fast without losing authenticity. From “How-To” to “How-I”: why personal...
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Beyond Call Buttons: How Amber is Using Passive Sensors & AI to Transform Senior Living Care
Foresight Radio
What if senior living operators could predict health risks before they turn into hospitalizations? What if caregivers had real-time insights—without relying on cameras, push buttons, or wearables residents don’t want to use? On this episode of Foresight Radio (Tech Tuesday edition), host Steve Moran sits down with Stuart Hamilton, Founder & CEO of Amba, to explore how passive sensors and AI are creating a new standard for senior living care. Stuart shares the journey of building Amba after moving his own father into a community and realizing the technology gap....
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Blending Ownership, Operations, and Innovation in Senior Living | Scott Goldberg of Atlas Senior Living
Foresight Radio
What happens when you build a senior living company fueled by friends-and-family capital instead of private equity? How do you balance long-term ownership with day-to-day operations—and still foster a thriving workplace culture? In this episode of Foresight Radio, host Steve Moran sits down with Scott Goldberg, President & Co-Founder of Atlas Senior Living, to explore how Atlas has grown differently from many senior living operators. From innovative capital strategies to pioneering voice-powered technology with Amazon Alexa, Scott shares lessons on resilience, culture, and what the...
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From Content to Connection: What Senior Living Leaders Can Learn from Entrepreneurs with Cory Blumenfeld
Foresight Radio
What does entrepreneurship have to do with senior living? A lot more than you might think. In this episode, Cory Blumenfeld — writer, entrepreneur, and content creator — joins Rachel to talk about emotional intelligence in leadership, building a no-blame culture, the art of active listening in sales, and why personal branding isn’t a risk … it’s a reflection of aligned teams. From owning your communication style to bridging generational gaps, Cory offers a masterclass in modern leadership that applies far beyond startups — and straight into the heart of senior living.
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Joy, Connection & Dementia Care: Reimagining Video as a Therapeutic Tool
Foresight Radio
In this heartfelt episode, host Rachel Hill sits down with Bill Uniowski, co-founder and CEO of Zinnia TV, a platform changing the way we support people living with dementia through research-backed video content that sparks joy, connection, and calm. They dive into the origin story of Zinnia, born from co-founder Allison’s lived experience as a caregiver — and how it grew into a transformative tool for families and senior living teams alike. From powerful stories of nonverbal residents speaking again to tech that actually works with frontline staff (not against them), this conversation...
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Standing Out in a Sea of Sameness: Creating Connection Through Video & Voice
Foresight Radio
In this episode of Foresight Radio, we sit down with senior living powerhouse Christy Freeze to talk about everything from breaking out of the “sea of sameness” on LinkedIn to building trust with prospects through authentic, conversational video. Christy shares the exact framework she uses to help others uncover their unique voice, how sales directors can use simple video messaging to reduce no-shows by up to 60%, and why it’s time we all give video — and ourselves — a second chance. We dive into the power of personalized communication, how to thoughtfully blend AI and human...
info_outlineIn this Tech Tuesday episode of Foresight Radio, Steve Moran sits down with Sharon, a leader from “Connect,” a research-backed engagement platform that’s been 25+ years in the making. What begins as a conversation about dementia technology quickly reveals something deeper: connection is the most essential ingredient in cognitive wellness — and in many ways, the very heart of caregiving.
Sharon unpacked why human beings — especially those living with dementia — rely on meaningful social interaction to maintain cognitive strength, confidence, and quality of life. She shared how traditional “keep them busy” activities fall short, and how purposeful engagement built around opinions, preferences, and advice unlocks dignity, joy, and real human connection.
Steve brought the topic home with personal stories about his stepfather, Gary, highlighting the emotional weight caregivers carry when familiar conversations fade, questions repeat, and meaningful engagement becomes harder to spark. Sharon explained how Connect’s science-backed approach helps caregivers (family and professional) rediscover connection, reduce anxiety, create shared moments, and help individuals with dementia feel seen, valued, and capable.
As we enter Thanksgiving — a season built on gratitude and togetherness — this conversation is a powerful reminder:
Connection isn’t just nice to have. It’s cognitive medicine. It’s emotional nourishment. And it’s at the core of truly human care.
⭐ Top Takeaways
1. Connection = Cognitive Wellness
Dementia care isn’t just about safety or activity calendars — it’s about belonging, purpose, and shared moments. Social connection is as essential to brain health as nutrition or sleep.
2. Stop quizzing. Start connecting.
People with dementia don’t want to be tested. Instead, use OPA questions:
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Opinions
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Preferences
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Advice
These spark pride, memory, creativity, and dignity.
3. The “looping” technique builds deeper conversations.
Start with an engaging question, discover a spark, and continue the theme through stories, images, or activities. Each moment becomes a bridge to the next.
4. Technology can elevate human connection — not replace it.
Tools like Connect guide caregivers toward meaningful conversation, help build trust, and uncover capabilities you may not have known were still possible.
5. Purpose beats entertainment.
People living with dementia don’t just need to be occupied. They need roles, contribution, and identity — just like all of us.
6. AI will play a growing role in combating loneliness.
While human-to-human interaction is ideal, AI’s infinite patience and ability to spark conversation may become a meaningful supplement in the future.
7. Thanksgiving reminder: being seen is the ultimate gift.
Whether you’re a family caregiver or a senior living professional, one small moment of connection can change someone’s entire day — and yours.