Carol Marak

My wake-up call came after caring for my parents. Navigating their medical, emotional, and logistical challenges forced me to confront a difficult truth: I was aging alone and had no clear safety net. That realization moved me from fear to action. I founded the Elder Orphan Facebook community, reaching out to national journalists to bring visibility to this growing population. Thousands responded. Today, more than 11,000 members connect, share resources, and support one another. What began as personal preparation became a movement. My advice to anyone 50+: don’t wait for crisis. Start where you are, learn as you go, and build what you wish existed.”

BS in Behavioral Sciences, Sam Houston State University Certificate in the Fundamentals of Gerontology, UC Davis School of Gerontology

Strategic Foresight in Aging Systems—I identify structural gaps in healthcare, housing, caregiving, and retirement planning before they become crises—designing preventive frameworks rather than reactive solutions. Framework Design & Intellectual Architecture I build structured models: -10 Life Domains -Life Plan Assessment -Continuity-of-Self framework -Threats–Domains–Truths sequencing Community Building at Scale—Founder of the Elder Orphan digital community (11,000+ members). I built a national conversation by leveraging media outreach before social platforms were saturated with aging narratives. Peer Group Facilitation & Behavior Change—I guide adults from awareness to action. My groups produce measurable shifts: housing moves, fiduciary appointments, health proxies, social activation, less stress, and more!