Consulting
Consulting at the intersection of healthcare advocacy, solo aging, and systems design
Ailene Gerhardt is a board-certified patient advocate and solo aging expert who partners with organizations to design, evaluate, and strengthen programs, policies, and practices that better serve individuals navigating healthcare and aging without traditional support systems.
Her consulting approach combines professional expertise, lived insight, and systems thinking to help organizations ask better questions, identify blind spots, and move from ideas to action.
Who I Partner With:
Healthcare and aging organizations
Nonprofits and community-based organizations
Advocacy groups and coalitions
Foundations and funders
Professional associations
Public and quasi-public entities
My consulting work is especially relevant for organizations serving people who do not have spouses, adult children, or informal caregivers.
Consulting Focus Areas:
Program & Initiative Development
Designing and refining programs that address healthcare navigation, solo aging, and advocacy gaps.
Policy & Practice Consultation
Reviewing policies and practices through an advocacy and equity lens, with attention to individuals aging or navigating care alone.
Training & Capacity Building
Supporting staff, volunteers, and leaders through education and facilitated discussions on healthcare advocacy, ethics, and solo aging realities.
Community Engagement & Strategy
Helping organizations think strategically about outreach, inclusion, and sustainable engagement with Solo Agers and underserved populations.
Advisory & Thought Partnership
Providing ongoing insight and guidance to leadership teams, committees, and initiatives.
How I Work:
My consulting approach is collaborative, practical, and grounded in real-world experience. I work alongside organizations as a thought partner, helping clarify challenges, explore options, and develop solutions that align with their mission and values.
I am not a “drop-in” expert. I help organizations move from ideas to actionable solutions with clarity, rigor, and compassion.
Why Organizations Choose to Work With Me
Board-Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA)
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)
Founder, Navigating Solo Network
National speaker, writer, and educator
Deep experience bridging individual experience and systems-level thinking
Organizations value my ability to translate complex healthcare and aging issues into insights that are actionable, ethical, and grounded in the realities people face every day.
Selected Experience:
Consultant and advisor to healthcare and aging organizations
Speaker, Healthcare Advocate Summit
Presenter, MAHCA Spring Symposium
Host, The Navigating Solo™ Podcast
Author, The Navigating Solo™ Planning Workbook
Contributor, Next Avenue
Additional examples and references available upon request.
Related Work
Beacon Patient Solutions
For individual healthcare advocacy and patient support services.
Navigating Solo Network
For education, community, and planning resources focused on solo aging.
"Working with Ailene transformed how we think about supporting Solo Agers in our programs. Her insights are practical, strategic, and deeply grounded in real-world experience. She doesn’t just consult, she partners with your team to create solutions that are ethical, actionable, and sustainable."
- Director, Community Health & Aging Services Organization