Behind the Rankings: Uncovering What Makes a Nursing Home the Best with Zach Adams, Senior Health Data Engineer at U.S. News & World Report
Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One
Release Date: 12/02/2024
Inside U.S. News & World Report Nursing Home Ratings: What Families Need to Know with Ben Harder, Managing Editor and Chief of Health Analysis at U.S. News & World Report
Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One
How do we measure quality care in a way that truly supports families? In this episode, Nicole sits down with Ben Harder, Managing Editor and Chief of Health Analysis at U.S. News & World Report, to explore the heart and science behind the 2026 Best Nursing Homes ratings. Together, they break down the updated methodology, what makes top-performing facilities stand out, and how families can use these insights to make confident, compassionate decisions, whether navigating short-term rehab or long-term care. This conversation brings clarity to a system that often feels overwhelming, offering a...
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When Systems Fail, Caregivers Lead with Jessica C. Guthrie, M.Ed, Founder, Career & Caregiving Collide™, Caregiver Advocate and Educator
Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One
At 26, Jessica C. Guthrie, M.Ed became a full-time caregiver for her mom living with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Now a leading advocate and educator, Jessica is reshaping how we understand the intersection of career and caregiving. In this conversation, she and host Nicole Will explore love, equity, and representation in care, what it means to be seen, to lead with compassion, and to build a world where every caregiver’s story belongs. To learn more, visit: To connect with Jessica, visit: LinkedIn: Thank you to our Sponsor is a therapeutic dementia care platform that...
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The Power of Early Diagnosis and Advocacy in Caregiving’s Detective Work with Katie Brandt, Director of Caregiver Support Services and Public Relations at the Massachusetts General Hospital Frontotemporal Disorders Unit & Global Advocate
Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One
When her husband was diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration at just 29, Katie Brandt’s life changed overnight. What began as confusion and heartbreak became a lifelong calling to transform how we see, support, and study dementia. Today, Katie is the Director of Caregiver Support Services and Public Relations at the , and the Founder & CEO of . In this conversation, we talk about what it means to become a “caregiver detective”, the quiet observer, the record keeper, the advocate who pieces together the truth when something feels off. We explore how early and accurate diagnosis...
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Comedy, Caregiving, and Courage with Kelsey Cook, Comedian, Caregiver & Advocate
Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One
Comedian , known for her specials on Hulu and YouTube, opens up about her personal journey as a caregiver for her mom with Frontotemporal Dementia. In this heartfelt conversation, Kelsey shares the early signs she noticed, the trauma of crisis care, and the challenges of supporting her mom from a distance. She reflects on how humor has been a lifeline, how advocacy became part of her purpose, and why community connection matters now more than ever. Follow Kelsey and check out her work and podcast! Thank you to our Sponsor is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports...
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The Weight of Care & the Gift of Sleep with Andrea Suchin, Caregiver Advocate & Co-Founder of Wuggle
Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One
When caregiving became her world overnight, Andrea Suchin’s life changed forever. Her husband was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia at 54, leaving Andrea to navigate full-time caregiving while raising four children. Sleepless nights and overwhelming stress became her reality. Out of that journey, Andrea and her sister created Wuggle™, a deep touch pressure sleep cap designed to bring calm and restorative rest. In this episode, Andrea shares her story of resilience, the creation of Wuggle™, and how better sleep can transform the caregiving journey. To learn more about Wuggle...
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Why Aging Is Anything But Boring with Jean Ketcham, Founder of Aging But Dangerous & Author
Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One
At 85, Jean Ketcham is just getting started. As the bold voice behind Aging But Dangerous, Jean reminds us that aging isn’t about the body, it’s about the soul. In this lively conversation, we talk about skydiving, style, friendship, caregiving, and yes, even vibrators. With her signature sass, fearless honesty, and contagious energy, Jean shows us how to embrace every year fully confident, empowered, and unstoppable. To connect with Jean and learn more visit Thank you to our Sponsor is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. Creating engaging,...
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When FTD Changes Everything, Finding Strength, Purpose, and Community with Nanci Anderson & Lindsay Early, Co-Founders of Gary’s FUB Team, AFTD Ambassadors, and Family Caregiver Advocates
Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One
When Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) entered their lives, everything changed for Nanci Anderson and her daughters, Lindsay Early and Emily Anderson. In this conversation, they open their hearts about the long and confusing road to Gary’s diagnosis, the challenges of caregiving, and the deep grief of watching someone you love slip away too soon. They also share the turning point, when they chose to honor Gary by creating Gary’s FUB Team and raising awareness through advocacy and community. This is a story of heartbreak and resilience, of carrying love forward, and of finding purpose in the...
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The Art of Being Seen: Behind the Scenes of "Familiar Touch" with Sarah Friedland, Kathleen Chalfant, Shaun Rushforth & Jean Owen
Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One
Most people think aging is about endings. shows us it’s about beginning again. In this episode, filmmaker Sarah Friedland, actress Kathleen Chalfant, executive director Shaun Rushforth, and resident Jean Owen of , take us behind the scenes of this award-winning film that reimagines aging, dementia, and caregiving through dignity, creativity, and collaboration. A must-listen for family caregivers and senior living advocates. We go behind the scenes of Familiar Touch—filmed at Villa Gardens, a Front Porch Community. What does it mean to open your doors, your story, and your heart to a film...
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Global Innovations in Aging: SilverEco Ageing Well International Festival with Jérôme Pigniez, Founder and President of On-Medio and SilverEco.org
Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One
Last year, I had the privilege of joining as a Jury member, award presenter, and speaker. Meeting changemakers and those that reshaping aging care around the globe brings hope to our future, and we still have work to do! I left inspired by the global momentum to rethink how we support aging populations. Every conversation, every connection, reminded me that “Care and love are universal.” In this episode, I share a glimpse into our time last year and re-share my interview with the founder, Jerome Pigniez. He shares about The SilverNight Awards, and the is an event that unites global...
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Caregiving Changed Her Life - Now She's Changing Caregiving Through Research with Dr. Francesca Falzarano, PhD, Assistant Professor of Gerontology at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One
What if your deepest caregiving experience became the blueprint for changing the system? Dr. Francesca Falzarano was just 14 when her mother was diagnosed with dementia—an experience that shaped not only her identity, but her life’s work. Now an Assistant Professor of Gerontology at USC and founder of the , Francesca is studying the full arc of caregiving—from diagnosis to grief. In this conversation, she shares how personal loss inspired a research mission, what caregivers actually need (and when), and how technology and storytelling can foster healing and connection. Whether you're a...
info_outlineWhat makes a nursing home one of the best? One in five U.S. nursing homes rated as “Best.” The 2025 evaluation features ratings of nearly 15,000 U.S. nursing homes. Behind those rankings that guide countless families in making life-changing decisions, there’s a blend of rigorous analysis, dedication, and a commitment to quality care. Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on that process and diving into the story of someone who helps shape these crucial decisions.
My guest is Zach Adams, a Senior Health Data Engineer at U.S. News & World Report. Zach has become a leading force, along with his team, behind the Best Nursing Homes, Best Senior Living ratings and more. His expertise in advanced statistical modeling and data analysis ensures these rankings are more than just numbers—they’re a lifeline for families navigating the complexities of healthcare. Zach’s academic background in public health and epidemiology, along with his passion for improving senior care, makes him the perfect guide through this complicated landscape.
In this episode, we’ll talk about what makes a nursing home great, how the data is captured, the differences between short-term and long-term care, and how families can use these ratings to find the best fit for their loved ones and much more. Zach also sheds light on broader trends, like the critical staffing challenges many communities face and the role of technology in shaping the future of care. Whether you’re seeking answers for today or inspiration for tomorrow, this conversation promises to be as insightful as it is empowering. Thank you so much for your insight, Zach! I'm looking forward to talking about Senior Living next time!
Learn more HERE: https://www.usnews.com/info/blogs/press-room/articles/2024-11-12/u-s-news-world-report-publishes-2025-best-nursing-homes-ratings
U.S. News & World Report's 2025 Best Nursing Homes ratings
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