About OAE

Patricia A. Wahlgren, M.A., CAPS

Patricia is a gerontologist and certified aging-in-place specialist. With a Bachelor's degree in Architectural Studies from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, her career began with a specialization in senior housing design working on projects located across the United States. She later earned a Master's degree in Gerontology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she focused on environmental gerontology and gained a passion for aging in place. A certified aging-in-place specialist for more than eight years, she is the founder of Optimal Aging Environments and also works for Nebraska Medicine. Her work has been noted in the Wall Street Journal and she has also served as an aging in place expert writing articles for an online health website.

Optimal Aging Environments was created to help older adults age successfully in the location of their choice, which is typically in their own home. Having taught classes on aging in place she quickly realized that many older adults saw assisted living as their only option and she has worked to eliminate this misconception. She views aging in place as an individualized approach and tailors her recommendations to each client.