Join us virtually and for free on Thursday, May 22, 2025, for the Symposium on Healthy Aging and the Role of the Family History Community, a powerful online event celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month and exploring the intersections of healthy aging, mental wellness, AgeTech, and family history.
Hosted by the National Genealogical Society, Vivid-Pix, and FamilySearch, this event will bring together top experts and thought leaders to discuss the mental and cognitive challenges of America’s aging population—and the practical ways genealogy, storytelling, and innovation are making a difference.
Talem’s own Jake Rankin is honored to help kick off the symposium alongside Dr. Charlotte Yeh, Founder of Yeh Innovation and former Chief Medical Officer of AARP, Sheri Rose, CEO of Thrive Center, and Theda Heiserman, Director of Training & Education at CERTUS Institute.
More about the Symposium:
NATIONAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, VIVID-PIX, AND FAMILYSEARCH JOIN TOGETHER FOR SYMPOSIUM ON HEALTHY AGING
Honoring Mental Health Awareness Month and the Future of Healthy Aging
Symposium will Tackle Older Adults’ Mental Health Issues & Family History
May 14, 2025, Savannah, GA – In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, the National Genealogical Society, the leading nonprofit dedicated to promoting genealogical research and education, Vivid-Pix, a leader in photo Reminiscence Therapy (pRT) research and scanning/restoration technology, and FamilySearch, the world’s largest repository of family history resources, announced today The Symposium on Healthy Aging and the Role of the Family History Community, an in-person and online event to be held Thursday, May 22, 2025 from 1:00 PM–5:00 PM ET at The Galt House Hotel, 140 N Fourth St, Louisville, KY (invitation only), with free online access at: Webinar.
The Symposium on Healthy Aging and the Role of the Family History Community will tackle mental health, healthy aging, AgeTech, and family history, identifying areas where people can learn about America’s aging population and take action. “Family history activities are a pathway to good mental health to combat social isolation. The research, analysis, and writings associated with family history stimulate brain activity; storytelling, photos, and mementos bring back happy memories and intergenerational connection,” said Dr. Charlotte Yeh, Founder, Yeh Innovation, Past Chief Medical Officer, AARP.
“We’ve witnessed firsthand how photo Reminiscence Therapy (pRT) can reduce social isolation, improve medication compliance, and enhance connection and cognitive performance with older adults. That’s why we’re dedicated to expanding its availability and making this therapy affordable to all who need it, as well as supporting others’ work to help our community,” said Rick Voight, CEO, Vivid-Pix.
Important topics include:
- Understanding the health and cognitive issues facing an aging American population.
- How aging, isolation, and loneliness affect cognition – and how to assist those impacted.
- How the family history community can help our communities and the aging population.
- Activities that individuals and organizations, such as genealogy societies, libraries, archives, and museums (SLAMs), are conducting to support healthy aging.
Esteemed panelists include the leaders in aging health, genealogy, technology, museums, and societies, including:
- Charity Rouse, NGS Delegate Council Secretary, and Spartanburg County Public Libraries
- Crista Cowan, Corporate Genealogist, Ancestry
- Curt Witcher, Director, Special Collections & Manager, Genealogy Center, Allen County Public Library
- David Rencher, National Genealogical Society President and Chief Genealogical Officer, FamilySearch
- Debbie Gurtler, FamilySearch Library
- Dr. Charlotte Yeh, Founder, Yeh Innovation, Past Chief Medical Officer, AARP
- Dr. Shelley Murphy, International African American Museum (IAAM)
- Ed Donakey, Deputy Chief Genealogical Officer, FamilySearch
- Ellen Goodwin, Co-Founder, Artifcts
- Jake Rankin, Owner, Talem Home Care, Certified Senior Advisor
- John Dougan, NGS Board Member and Missouri State Archivist
- Matt Menashes, Executive Director, National Genealogical Society
- Matt Weismantel, NGS Delegate Council Chair
- Rick Voight, CEO, Vivid-Pix
- Sheri Rose, CEO, Thrive Center
- Theda Heiserman, Director of Training & Education, CERTUS Institute
“We’ve found that when helping people trace their roots, it can be transformative for a person’s mental health and perspective,” said Dr. Shelley Murphy of the Center for Family History at International African American Museum. “The people who attend programs at the museum come away with new energy, stronger connections to their past, and a newfound passion for family history research,” said Dr. Shelley Murphy, International African American Museum (IAAM).
Uniquely suited to support systemic activities that promote healthy aging and the family, the National Genealogical Society, Vivid-Pix, FamilySearch, and over 2,500 societies, libraries, archives, and museums are helping thousands of people daily with family history research. “The family history community, made up of passionate professionals, hobbyists, and thousands of organizations, helps people learn about their past through research, writing, and storytelling. These activities improve mental health and build strong relationships,” stated David Rencher, NGS president and Chief Genealogical Officer, FamilySearch. “We think our community is well-positioned to improve long-term outcomes for an aging population.”
Register for the online webinar at: https://bit.ly/ngsfamily.
About the Organizers:
The National Genealogical Society supports the aging community through its vast network of over 8,000 family historians and 500 genealogy organization members representing hundreds of thousands of people interested in family history. Family history activities, including reading, research and analysis, and writing, are brain-healthy activities that keep people engaged and socially connected. For more info, see: https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/.
Vivid-Pix invents and harnesses scanning, restoration, recording, and sharing technologies, making it simple for individuals, families, and organizations to relive memories and share stories, reconnecting people, whether through bringing back precious memories thought to be long gone due to the passage of time, or cognitive decline. For more info, see http://www.vivid-pix.com, https://vivid-pix.com/reminisce, https://vivid-pix.com/education, and https://vivid-pix.com/memorystation.
FamilySearch is the world’s largest repository of family history resources. With its vast volunteer network and thousands of local FamilySearch Centers and affiliate libraries across the United States and throughout the world, FamilySearch is well-positioned to support the growing interest in family history. For more info, see: https://www.familysearch.org/en/united-states/.
