Michael Pessman is a Chicago-based gerontologist, writer, and advocate whose life and work are shaped by a deep personal connection to aging. Having grown up surrounded by the unconditional love and wisdom of his grandparents, Michael learned early on that older adults are not simply a population group—they are the backbone of our families, communities, and shared history. That belief guides everything he does.

Today, Michael is a nationally recognized thought leader in aging, with his perspective recently highlighted in OK Magazine and his work published in the Chicago Sun-Times, The Hill, Next Avenue, KevinMD, and other major outlets. His writing blends policy insight with lived experience, making complex issues like Social Security, Medicare, caregiving, and the Older Americans Act accessible and deeply human.

Michael is also the founder and editor of Ager Nation, a rapidly growing newsletter and emerging platform dedicated to delivering trusted, curated news for older adults and the people who care about them. He created Ager Nation because he saw a gap—too many older adults were missing timely, reliable information about the issues affecting their lives, and too many voices in aging were going unheard. His mission is to build one of the most trusted news sources in the longevity space, rooted in accuracy, empathy, and respect.

His advocacy is grounded in years of hands-on work with older adults across Chicago. At the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, he led community engagement and clinical trial recruitment in under-resourced neighborhoods. At the Alzheimer’s Association, he supported families in crisis on the helpline. And at Mather, he continues to support creative and wellness programs that strengthen social connection and well-being among older adults every day.

Across all these roles, Michael has witnessed the challenges older adults face—inequities in care, ageism, isolation, and policy failures that fall hardest on those with the fewest resources. His writing and public voice remain dedicated to advancing dignity, combating ageism, and pushing for stronger policies that support aging in place, caregiving, transportation, and affordable housing.

At the heart of his work is a simple belief: older adults deserve to be informed, respected, and heard. Through Ager Nation and his national advocacy, Michael is building the platform—and the movement—to make that possible.

Michael’s writing—marked by empathy, depth, and clarity—explores issues such as healthcare reform, Medicare policy, long-term care, and the broader social systems that shape aging in America. Through his work, he aims to foster understanding, drive meaningful policy discussions, and highlight the invaluable contributions of older adults to society.

A graduate of Concordia University Chicago with a master’s degree in gerontology, Michael is also a Fellow of The Op-Ed Project. He welcomes opportunities to share insights and commentary through interviews and public discussions related to the topics he cares about and advocates for.

“A society is judged not by its power or wealth, but by how it treats its oldest members.” — Adapted from Hubert H. Humphrey