Hand in Hand: Advancing the Movement to Humanize Eldercare

Bold, visionary leaders are the ones who challenge the status quo, break down barriers, and champion quality of life for older adults. Today’s guest, Karen Schoeneman, is a shining example of that kind of leadership.

This week, Susan Ryan sits down with Karen to discuss her many years of work reforming long term care, beginning with her work in social services, where her passion for resident-centered care took root. That passion fueled a remarkable 22-year career at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), where she specialized in regulatory guidance for quality of life, led survey process improvements, and helped train more than 5,000 surveyors nationwide.

As a founding member of the Pioneer Network, Karen helped to grow a national movement dedicated to transforming long-term care. She played a key role in the development of the Artifacts of Culture Change, a tool used by nursing homes and assisted living communities to assess and enhance person-centered care.

Karen’s groundbreaking contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the Picker Philanthropy Lifetime Achievement Award, the ACHCA Public Service Award, and the Pegasus Award for her work as executive producer of the CMS “Hand in Hand” training toolkit.

Though officially retired, Karen’s legacy lives on through the countless people and communities she has inspired to embrace person-directed practices.

Tune in and be inspired by Karen’s journey, her insights, and her unwavering dedication to culture change in eldercare.