Innovative Programs
Our Healthy Generations team is developing evidence-based programs and trainings to engage, educate, and strengthen our communities across generations. Our partnerships with community members, scholars, students, service providers, and policymakers ensure our work is culturally relevant with measurable, real-world impact. We provide opportunities to engage in community and online with virtual programming.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers empowers caregivers to strengthen their skills, confidence, health, and well-being.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers (PTC) is a free six-week class series, offered in-person or virtually, for friends and family members who provide care to a spouse, partner, parent, child with complex needs, friend, or neighbor – whether nearby or from far away. This interactive program equips caregivers with practical skills, confidence, and support to better care for themselves while caring for others. Each participant receives a complimentary copy of The Caregiver Helpbook, a hands-on companion filled with tools and strategies to manage real-life caregiving challenges.
The program provides an excellent opportunity for caregivers to learn about effective innovative, evidence-based practices to better care for themselves as they care for others. Funded by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Home and Community Living Administration.
Caregivers who participate:
- Learn to manage stress and improve their own self-care.
- Build confidence in handling caregiver challenges.
- Strengthen communication with family, friends, and healthcare providers.
- Identify resources that increase life balance, resilience, and well-being.
Licensed PTC facilitators lead with purpose, empowering caregivers to not just survive – but to thrive while caring for others.
The Class Leader Training extends this impact by preparing people to facilitate and guide PTC caregiver classes. Leaders gain the skills, confidence, and knowledge of resources to create safe, supportive spaces where caregivers share experiences and thrive. By training Class Leaders, we expand caregiving support into more communities, ensuring caregivers have the balance, connection, and hope they need.
Caregivers in their own words:
‘You have made such a difference in my life, helping me see things I wasn’t willing to admit. I just kept everything on the surface to hold it all together. The program is so different than I expected and so important. Thank you!”
“I thought I was doing the program for my loved one. Turns out it was for me. I’ve had an enormous breakthrough admitting my vulnerability, my needs to my grown sons.
Find a Class in Washington
Resources for Caregivers
Program Facts for Caregivers
Program Facts for Class Leaders
Micro-Learning Spotlight
April Micro-Learning Spotlight
Caring – Without Carrying – Everything: The Power of Boundaries
Many caregivers feel like they have to do everything themselves. Saying yes can feel easier than saying no, especially when someone you care about needs help. But trying to do everything often leads to exhaustion, frustration, and burnout.
Setting boundaries does not mean you care less. It means you are making caregiving more sustainable. Healthy boundaries help you protect your time, your energy, and your well-being so you can continue to show up in ways that truly matter.
Learning to say “I can’t do that today, but I can help tomorrow” is one example of how small boundaries can make a big difference.
To learn how Powerful Tools for Caregivers can help you develop practical skills for setting healthy boundaries, communicating needs, and reducing caregiver stress, watch the short video below.
For more information about Powerful Tools for Caregivers contact us at goldseninstitute@uw.edu or (800) 558-8703
Creating inclusive, person-centered care environments for every older adult.
Safe Home® is the first evidence-based training program designed to address the unique barriers faced by racially/ethically as well as sexual and gender diverse older adults in long-term care settings. The Safe Home® skill-based training equips staff with practical, transferable tools to create welcoming, person-centered environments where all people can thrive.
Each training includes technical assistance, ongoing training tailored to community needs, and resources grounded in Goldsen Institute research. Participants also receive continuing education credits and a certificate of completion, and facilities receive Safe Home® materials to advertise that they have successfully completed this important, evidence-based training and embody a ‘safe home’ for diverse older adults that welcomes their friends and families.
Through Safe Home®, leadership and administrators, practitioners, staff members and interns:
- Gain concrete skills to provide inclusive, person-centered, affirming care.
- Learn how to recognize and respond to bias, discrimination, and microaggressions.
- Build confidence in supporting diverse older adults and their families.
- Strengthen cultural responsiveness in long-term care settings.
Safe Home® participants in their own words:
“I only wish that it was safe in all facilities for LGBTQ residents to be able to this without fear. I hope that trainings like today will make this a reality.”
“I am even more aware of the importance [of culturally responsive practice] now. Thank you for the training!”
“An open and inclusive environment would allow a space for LGBTQ+ older adults to feel comfortable and safe to share their sexual orientation and gender identities with direct care workers, in order to be their full/authentic selves. This would allow direct care workers to better understand the person’s life history and social supports, as well as share relevant resources.”
Sharing life stories that connect generations – from lived experience to lasting legacies.
Legacy Letters® is a free, six-week community program where younger, middle aged, and older adults from across generations come together to reflect, write, and share their life stories. Guided by focus questions about defining moments, living lessons, and wisdom for other generations, participants build meaningful intergenerational connections while creating a written legacy to carry forward.
Through Legacy Letters®, participants:
- Reflect on their own life experiences and what they’ve learned.
- Write stories that capture defining moments and lessons.
- Share personal narratives with peers from different generations.
- Build lasting intergenerational connections grounded in mutual respect and understanding.
Participants reflect on what they wish other generations knew about what it was like to grow up in their generation. By lifting up voices of both older and younger generations,
Innovations in Aging
Discover inspiring voices and fresh ideas that are shaping the future of aging
Innovations in Aging is a lively and informative speaker series that explores cutting-edge issues in aging and multigenerational practice. These engaging sessions bring together practitioners, students, community members and researchers to learn from leading voices in the field, spark new conversations, and share practical strategies that make a difference in people’s lives.
Each talk highlights innovative perspectives and practical approaches. Recent presentations include:
- Examine dementia care rooted in empowerment and inclusion.
- Understand diversity in aging, lifting the voices of underserved communities.
- Employ trauma informed care across aging and disability services.
- Advance innovations in practice and policy that strengthens health and well-being
- Evaluate the latest research that is shaping the future of healthy aging
By connecting people and communities with research and practice, Innovations in Aging inspires action, fosters collaboration, and moves us closer to a future where all people can age with dignity, health, and a true sense of belonging.