On Saturday, November 1, UYM Charities will host its first Aging Well ‘Pop-Up’ for older adults at Webster at Rye, a Silverstone Living Community, in Rye, NH.

Led by Gi Indoccio, LCMHC, who brings decades of experience in mindfulness and meditation, the inaugural session will introduce participants to practical mindfulness strategies they can use every day.

“Mindfulness is always part of what I wanted to do,” she said. “To me, mindfulness is meditation—they’re used interchangeably. I’ve practiced and taught mindfulness for years, and it has truly changed my life…I’m honored to be the first practitioner for Aging Well and to bring these tools to older adults for the first time.”

Indoccio’s journey with mindfulness began in the 1990s, which has included training at UMass Medical School and silent retreats. She has taught children, adults and now, for the first time, seniors.

“I’ve always been involved with the elderly—whether through family, friends, or volunteering—but this is my first time teaching mindfulness with seniors,” she stated. “I’m grateful UYM asked me, and I’m excited to share these practices with this community.”

Noting he has known Indoccio for years and has always appreciated “her work and care,” Rev. Dr. Robert Levey, UYM’s Executive Director, said mindfulness is “a great way for participants to try something new.” “The hope is they enjoy it, feel better, and are empowered to explore other offerings both within and outside of Aging Well,” he added.

Levey also expressed gratitude to Webster at Rye for hosting Aging Well’s first session and their ongoing commitment to the well-being of older adults. “Their receptivity to our ideas has been wonderful,” he said. “I hope our offering can enhance what is already a welcoming environment for older adults.”

Aging Well reflects UYM’s broader commitment to address interconnected challenges facing communities, recognizing that individual well-being and community resilience are deeply connected. Organizations interested in hosting Aging Well sessions or individuals seeking more information can visit uymcharities.org or contact Rev. Dr. Robert Levey at rlevey@uymcharities.org.

Founded in 1980, UYM Charities supports underserved individuals and communities through wellness, mentorship, and community-based care and initiatives rooted in dignity, equity, and holistic well-being.

When Rev. Dr. Robert Levey was approached by UYM Charities’s Board President Dr. Robert Costanzo to lead the organization in late 2024, he knew he wanted to get involved because it touched on a cause close to his heart.

“Older adults matter,” said Robert, whose academic interest in aging was preceded by a personal one. “Growing up, I had the chance to literally live next door to my grandmother, who moved up to eastern Long Island when I was almost 13, as my grandfather continued to become more ill.”

Noting his grandfather passed away just days after their arrival, Robert said he was able to forge a close bond with his grandmother, who would live another 25 years. His favorite memories of his grandmother consist of the stories she shared about growing up in rural South Carolina in the early 1900’s.

“We would eat poundcake and watch the [Atlanta] Braves on TBS,” Robert said. Her house was attached to my parents’ house, so my parents sometimes would come over while we were hanging, but we would start laughing like only we did when we were alone again.”

For Robert, the chance to make a difference in the lives of older adults through Aging Well is particulary gratifying. A donation-based program that assists older adults seeking integrative health and wellness services, the program supports access to complementary modalities such as acupuncture, massage therapy, energy healing, mindfulness, spiritual counseling, and more.

“How we treat older adults says so much about ourselves as individuals and America as a society,” he said. “There is so much unrest in society today that it is easy to lose sight of the need for older adults to age with dignity and grace.”

Costanzo agrees and said supporting seniors has been a lifelong passion. Acknowledging he is now an older adult himself, he said his passion is now grounded in his own experience.

“As I age, I can see that the focus of society no longer addresses many of my concerns,” he said. “‘Aging well’ is important to me, and that it means something different to me now than it did 30, even 10, years ago.”

For Robert, the opportunity with Aging Well is two-fold, as he said he wants to also capture and share some of the stories of those they serve in addition to providing holistic health services.

“My hope is we can give older adults a chance to be heard,” he said.

Click here to learn more about Aging Well, donate, or facilitate/host a pop-up session.

Founded in 1980, UYM Charities supports underserved individuals and communities through wellness, mentorship, and community-based care and initiatives rooted in dignity, equity, and holistic well-being.