Meals on Wheels is pleased to welcome Dr. Laura Allen to our organization as Director of Development!
Dr. Allen recently completed research as Project Director of the Kenton County Aging Readiness Plan. She serves as an adjunct faculty member at the Erickson School of Aging Studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she is also affiliate faculty for the Doctoral Program in Gerontology. She completed her Ph.D. in Integrated Social Sciences at Bar-Ilan University, Israel.
She joins a team of development and marketing professionals under the direction of Chief Advancement Officer Justin Beale.
“Our community has already benefitted from Dr. Allen’s work in the field of aging. As one of the leading senior service providers in the region, Meals on Wheels is lucky to have Dr. Allen guiding our development efforts and cultivating a culture of philanthropy,” says Beale.
Learn more about Dr. Allen in this feature Q&A.
You were born and raised in Kenton County, Kentucky. How did that influence your work in the field of aging studies?
My Nana was a really important person in my childhood. I spent every summer break at her house in Dry Ridge and we got into all kinds of things—cooking, sewing, fishing, mowing, playing cards with her two sisters, driving to McDonald’s just for a hot fudge sundae. I watched her really enjoy her retirement, and I also saw how difficult it was to find caregiving locally when she started to have some care needs. Spending so much time with her and her friends sparked my passion for working with older adults, and it wasn’t until I got to college at Western Kentucky University that I learned there was a name for that: gerontology.
Most recently, you completed research for the Kenton County Age Well Initiative as project director. What were your main goals for this project? What does it mean to “age well?”
My primary goals for the Kenton County Age Well Initiative were to strengthen collaboration between entities serving older adults in Kenton County and to elevate aging as a priority in the Northern Kentucky region. We were able to accomplish both of those things with an enthusiastic committee of stakeholders, and I’m excited to continue the work with that group in a different capacity now.
To age well means to grow older within a community that has the services and supports in place to help you live the way you want. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to age. It is the responsibility of our communities and all levels of government to ensure individuals have access to the housing, nutrition, transportation, and healthcare needed to remain engaged and maintain agency.
What made you choose Meals on Wheels of Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky?
This organization is growing, and it is rising to meet the moment. Throughout my research for the Kenton County Aging Readiness Plan, Meals on Wheels consistently stood out as a leader in service delivery and food access in the region. One of the most important things I learned in my last position was the economic impact of aging services like Meals on Wheels. Supporting older adults to stay at home for longer not only serves the individual client, but it creates a ripple effect across our entire community—from reducing the strain on our healthcare system to the neighborhoods, organizations and local businesses that benefit when older adults remain active, independent participants.
I saw the work of this organization is truly much more than a meal through the social connections programming, wellness checks, transportation and protective services, pet program, and more. When this opportunity opened up, I thought, I want to be a part of that team. And lucky for me, they invited me to join! Every day since, I have been filled with gratitude for the chance to work with and learn from such incredible colleagues.
What motivates you to support our organization’s mission and play an integral part in its growth?
The mission is clear: to deliver essential services that promote the independence and well-being of seniors. Each person at Meals on Wheels is committed to the mission during a time when funding for meals and services for older adults is not guaranteed. In just the first few weeks, I have heard from several clients about the joy-filled and stabilizing impact of our services. I feel so fortunate that working here allows me to work towards my own personal mission which is to be a good neighbor and to make life a little easier for the older adults in my community every day.
You can connect with with Dr. Allen at lallen@muchmorethanameal.org.