2026 MSU AgeAlive Education & Research Forum

Join us for the 2026 MSU AgeAlive Education & Research Forum and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, March 26, 2026. The event will run from 9 am – 2 pm at the MSU Federal Credit Union Headquarters #1 (new location – 3777 West Rd) in East Lansing, Ishpeming Multi-Purpose Senior Center (121 Greenwood St) in Ishpeming (U.P. Remote View: In-person activities and presenters remote from East Lansing), and virtually on Zoom.

Each year, this event brings together the public, direct care workers, family caregivers, MSU researchers, faculty, and students along with community partners for discussion on aging issues. The theme for our 2026 session is “Advancing Mobility Across Settings As We Age.” This year, we will be hosting the AgeAlive Awards Ceremony as part of the Forum at 1 pm recognizing leadership in aging-related research, intergenerational programming and community impact.

The event is free with registration. A light breakfast and lunch are included upon request. A select number of vendors and resource tables will be on-site to learn more about services available in your community.

Special thanks to our Premier Event Sponsors:

REGISTER

Tentative Schedule

East Lansing Parking
Parking at the MSU Federal Credit Union Headquarters #1 – East Lansing site is available to the right of the building in the lots identified below. Ishpeming Multi-purpose Senior Center Parking is available in the main lot next to the senior center.

 

Special Direct Care Worker (DCW) Mobile Unit Training

The Mobile Training Unit (MTU) is a 45.5 ft-long truck that has been retrofitted to provide an accessible, homelike environment. It is equipped with a hospital bed, other durable medical equipment, and a large bathroom area, creating spaces for training and practicing ADLS and IADLS, as well as home safety. The demand for long-term supports and services (LTSS) is growing, particularly in providing aging services. There is an increasing preference for home and community-based services. Existing skill and simulation labs are primarily found in school and work settings and are usually booked for the profession for which they were designed for. There are no labs dedicated to home and community-based services designed for training the Direct Care Workforce. The training and recruitment challenges addressed by the MTU, as well as the flexibility it provides for interdisciplinary training, make it a wonderful fit for employers and educators alike.

Sponsorship & Vendor Opportunities
A select number of sponsorship and vendor opportunities are available this year to help ensure the continued offering of quality programming. All sponsorships and vendors must be approved by the Education & Research Forum Committee and meet MSU sponsorship guidelines. Explore: Sponsorship & Vendor Opportunities