Sonya Barsness, M.S.

Sonya Barsness serves as Adjunct Faculty in Georgetown University's Master of Science in Aging & Health program, bringing 25 years of expertise in gerontology and culture change in aging care. As founder of Sonya Barsness Consulting (SBC), she focuses on transforming perspectives about aging and dementia through paradigm-shifting initiatives based on lived experiences. Her significant contributions include co-developing CMS' Hand in Hand toolkit, a comprehensive training program for nurse aides on person-centered dementia care and abuse prevention. With a master's degree in Gerontology focusing on Psychogeriatrics and an undergraduate background in Psychology with minors in Biology and Gerontology, she teaches Psychology of Aging while advocating for meaningful aging in community settings. Through her consulting work and blog "Being Heard," she promotes innovative approaches to aging care across assisted living, nursing homes, and community-based settings. Her work emphasizes the importance of understanding and incorporating the perspectives of elders and people with dementia into education, research, policy, and practice, making her a nationally recognized educator in person-centered thinking related to aging and long-term care.