Visionary MIT researcher to share the future of living in the ‘Longevity Economy’ at the International Council on Active Aging’s 2018 conference and summit

(VANCOUVER, BC) – Joseph F. Coughlin, PhD, views aging much differently than many. He argues that our current idea of old age is made up and the dominant narrative limiting the capacity of people, businesses and society to bring new ideas to old age. Instead, he sees longevity as a call to innovate and invent the future of living. And it’s why the Wall Street Journal named him one of “12 Pioneers Inventing the Future of Retirement.” The International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) is excited to feature Dr. Coughlin as the keynote speaker at the ICAA Conference and Trade Show 2018, held October 18-20 at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach, California, and the concurrent Executive Leadership Summit.

With the theme “Ignite Your Wellness Culture,” the 2018 ICAA Conference urges attendees to take wellness beyond a program or physical space to become the foundation of an organizational mission, philosophy and delivery system. Dr. Coughlin was the natural choice as an advocate. As founder and director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab, he pursues creative ideas, technologies and innovations in housing and community, health behaviors, retirement planning and transportation to improve quality of life for older adults and inspire new opportunities for those who provide services to them.

Named by Fast Company Magazine as one of the “100 Most Creative People In Business,” Dr. Coughlin will share his vision, knowledge and groundbreaking work at the MIT AgeLab with conference attendees, and explain how the new generation gap is not about age, but expectations. The new older consumer is no longer surprised by novelty and innovation. In fact, this consumer now expects innovations in technologies, services and experiences to enable living longer, better, according to the visionary researcher and professor. His keynote session will help attendees better understand and prepare to respond to the current expectations gap.

In November 2017, Dr. Coughlin released his new book, The Longevity Economy (available for purchase on Amazon.com). This book reflects his insights as to what individuals, business leaders and society need to know in order to succeed in a world where 100 years of life is the “new normal” and older female consumers are the pioneers bringing innovation to the frontier of aging. Dr. Coughlin explains, “Boomers, if they act now, have the possibility of giving perhaps their greatest gift to future generations: a new vision of quality living across all ages.”

Expanded platform addresses full picture of wellness

In 2018, the ICAA Conference will again welcome hundreds of attendees in the name of igniting change through shared learnings in wellness and, for the first time, host a concurrent summit for executive leaders. Through these two offerings, ICAA seeks to address the full picture by melding the business model and the culture of wellness:

* The ICAA Conference and Trade Show is a platform to focus on the future of the industry and to engage in shaping its culture. Aimed at fostering a culture of collaboration, educational sessions and workshops will provide a forum to drive change and create a future where a high quality of life for older adults is the standard. Who should attend: CEOs and program directors, executive directors, administrators, board members, sales and marketing personnel, as well as architects, dining services employees, personal trainers, health educators, social workers, chaplains, therapists, professors and more.

* The Executive Leadership Summit features “The Business of Wellness” as its 2018 theme. Aimed at ensuring business success within the industry of aging and wellness, the Summit will bring executive leaders and other management executives together with industry experts to explore wellness through a business lens. The two-day meeting will concentrate on trends, maximizing returns, employee wellness, technology and other key areas. Who should attend: CEOs, executive directors, administrators, board members, presidents, vice presidents and other executives.

Educational sessions will be delivered by experts in business, wellness, technology, marketing, community design, and more. An accompanying expo of products and services will target multidimensional wellness and healthy aging for older adults, with exhibitors specializing in technology, equipment, services, transportation, dining, leasing and financing.

For more information about the ICAA Conference and Trade Show 2018 and the Executive Leadership Summit, visit www.icaa.cc.

About Dr. Joseph Coughlin
Joseph F. Coughlin, PhD, is founder and director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab. Dr. Coughlin also teaches in MIT's Department of Urban Studies & Planning and Sloan School’s Advanced Management Program. His research focuses on how demographic change, technology, consumer behavior and trends drive innovations in business and government. Dr. Coughlin has authored more than 100 research publications. He is a regular contributor to Forbes, and has written for The Atlantic, BigThink, MarketWatch, Slate, Time, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post. Dr. Coughlin was appointed to the White House Conference on Aging Advisory Committee and advises nonprofits, governments and corporations worldwide. His new book, The Longevity Economy: Unlocking the World's Fastest-Growing, Most Misunderstood Market, was recently released with Public Affairs. The visionary researcher and professor reports daily on Twitter @josephcoughlin and LongevityEconomy.com.

About the International Council on Active Aging - ICAA www.icaa.cc
ICAA, a professional association that leads, connects and defines the active-aging industry, supports professionals who aspire to develop wellness cultures for adults over 50. This includes creating wellness environments, programs and services. The association is focused on active aging--an approach to aging that helps older adults live life as fully as possible within all dimensions of wellness--and provides its members with education, information, resources and tools. As an active-aging educator and advocate, ICAA has advised numerous organizations and governmental bodies, including the US Administration on Aging, the National Institute on Aging (one of the US National Institutes of Health), the US Department of Health and Human Services, Canada's Special Senate Committee on Aging, and the British Columbia (Canada) Ministries of Health and Healthy Living and Sport.

For more information or questions:
Contact: Colin Milner, CEO, ICAA
Toll-free: 1-866-335-9777 (North America)
Telephone: 604-734-4466; cell: 604-763-4595
colinmilner@icaa.cc

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