Active Aging and Brain Health: What Would You Like to Try Next? 

By Doug Leidig, President and CEO, Asbury Communities, Inc. 

How curiosity, choice and connection can support lifelong well-being 

When Margarete Verd first walked into a drumming class at Asbury Methodist Village, she planned to sit near the back and simply observe. 

Like many of us, something unfamiliar did not come naturally. But with a little encouragement, Margarete picked up a drum and joined in. Today, at age 86 and after more than 13 years as an Asbury resident, she is a regular participant. She also encourages others who may be hesitant to give the class a try. 

“At 86, this class has helped me stay active, positive and engaged,” Margarete shared. “I leave every session feeling energized and full of joy, and I truly miss it when the program is on break.” 

Margarete’s experience reminds me that opportunity does not always begin with a major initiative. Sometimes it begins when someone notices our hesitation and offers a sincere invitation. 

What stays with me about her story is not whether she became an accomplished drummer. It is that she remained curious, accepted that invitation, and discovered something that brought more movement, connection, and joy into her life. 

That, to me, is active aging. 

Expanding Our View of Aging 

Too often, our culture presents aging through one of two extremes. We focus on decline and what someone can no longer do, or we celebrate only extraordinary physical accomplishments. Both views are too narrow. 

Active aging is not a single achievement or standard of performance. It is the continuing opportunity to participate in life, learn, contribute, build relationships, pursue purpose, and experience something new. 

Active Aging Week encourages us to challenge outdated perceptions of growing older and recognize the abilities, contributions and potential within each person. It also invites us to consider whether we are creating communities where everyone has meaningful opportunities to remain involved. 

At Asbury Communities, this mindset is central to our work. 

Stories like Margarete’s influence how we think about well-being. They remind us that there is no universal definition of successful aging. Each of us should have the freedom and support to pursue what matters most to us. 

Creating a Culture of Possibility 

EngAge Well is Asbury’s commitment to helping people move better, feel better, connect more and experience more. Those ideas are intentionally broad because aging well is personal. 

Moving better might mean completing an athletic event. It could also mean improving balance, rebuilding strength after an illness, or walking more confidently to dinner. 

Feeling better may mean having more energy, managing stress, sleeping more soundly, or finding greater peace of mind. 

Connecting more could mean leading a resident committee, volunteering, joining a class or developing a new friendship. 

Experiencing more might involve travel and adventure. It can also begin with picking up a drumstick, trying meditation, learning to use new technology, or sharing a lifelong skill. 

There is no single right way to age well. Our goal is to listen, provide meaningful choices, and support each person in pursuing what matters most. 

That is why well-being cannot be reduced to an activity calendar or assigned to one department. It is a culture built around the whole person. It grows when people feel seen, invited, and supported in taking the next step. 

Our responsibility is not simply to offer more programs. It is to create more possibilities. 

Making Brain Health Part of Lifelong Well-Being 

Brain health is fundamental to this work. 

Our brains help us communicate, move, make decisions, manage emotions, maintain relationships, and respond to new experiences. Brain health is about far more than memory, and it should not become a priority only after someone receives a diagnosis. 

It is part of lifelong well-being. 

Brain health is connected to nearly everything we associate with aging well, including movement, nutrition, sleep, emotional health, social connection, purpose, and continued learning. When we treat these as separate concerns, we miss an opportunity to support the whole person. 

This belief guides Kinnections Brain Health, Asbury’s personalized approach to cognitive wellness. Led by Dr. Sue Paul, Asbury’s Senior Director of Well-Being and Brain Health, Kinnections brings together research, technology, coaching and everyday experiences that support cognitive health. 

As Dr. Paul explains, “Brain health is about much more than memory. It is reflected in how we move, connect, solve problems, manage emotions, and engage with the world. Small, consistent choices, along with a willingness to try something new, can help us support our brains throughout life.” 

Technology can provide valuable information about a person’s strengths and opportunities. But information alone does not inspire change. People do. A skilled coach can help turn what we learn into practical choices that reflect each person’s interests, abilities, and goals. 

No responsible brain health program should promise that every cognitive condition can be prevented. What we can provide is knowledge, encouragement, and practical ways for people to become more intentional about their cognitive well-being. 

That is a meaningful and empowering place to begin. 

Begin With a Better Question 

After years of walking through Asbury communities and talking with residents, I have learned that engagement often begins with something simple: We feel seen and understood well enough to accept the right invitation. 

Margarete did not enter her first drumming class intending to become a regular. She simply decided to try. That decision opened the door to movement, friendship, and joy. It also gave her the confidence to extend the same invitation to others. 

The future of aging will be influenced by research, technology, and new approaches to wellness. But it will also be shaped by the expectations we hold, the choices we protect and the possibilities we create together. 

Do we begin with limitations, or do we begin with possibility? 

Do we assume we already know what will bring meaning and joy, or do we remain open to discovering something new? 

During Active Aging Week and throughout the year, I invite each of us to consider two questions: 

What would I like to try next? 

How can I encourage someone else to discover what is next for them? 

Margarete’s story began with a drum, but its meaning reaches much further. It reminds us that potential does not expire; curiosity has no age, and growth remains possible throughout our lives. 

Aging well is not about meeting one standard. It’s about having the opportunity to keep learning, contributing, connecting, and making room for whatever comes next.