Noah Beit-Aharon is Assistant Director of Activities, Maristhill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

Noah will be discussing the destructive social stigmas that often isolate residents of nursing homes, and how to rethink our biases in a way that will make us and our loved ones happier and more fulfilled. He also will talk about the important role activities play in nursing homes, assisted living, and other eldercare communities, from social and spiritual benefits to health benefits.

The way that our society views nursing homes — and especially the people in them — can be incredibly destructive to the well-being of those who have no choice but to be there, either for rehabilitation or for long-term care. The shame and stigma around requiring nursing home care contributes to feelings of loneliness and abandonment, and even raises the risk of abuse. In a country where a greater and greater share of the population is of retirement age or well past it, we need better, more ethical ways to think about nursing homes and their role in the community.