Julie Walkup-Beazley has over two decades working with older adults and families navigating the often very complex aspects of aging. Julie knew from a very early age how much she loved older adults; she would often plead with her mom to take her to the local nursing home just to visit all the amazing people that are often forgotten in our world. When she went off to college, she struggled to find the right career path until she discovered the Center for Healthy Aging department at the University of North Texas, where she found a perfect degree to fit her lifelong passion. She received a bachelor’s degree in the Studies of Aging and began her career in the field of Senior Living. She started as an activity director at an Independent Living community in Fort Worth, Texas, which she enjoyed immensely. She then held multiple marketing positions at several communities, helping guide families with the often-difficult transition of moving into the appropriate placement. In 2009 she was introduced to the home care model and worked in business development for Acappella in Home Care. She became a certified Geriatric Care Manager in 2013 to help strengthen and broaden her knowledge of advocacy to older adults. Julie saw the importance of being the voice of many people that cannot speak for themselves and supporting families through the challenging parts of aging. She continued her successful career at Acappella in Home Care until 2022, when she decided to be a full-time care manager and that’s when Aging Advocates of Texas was born. She is an advanced professional with the Aging Life Care Association, and the unit coordinator for the Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter. She is eager to continue her career and help educate the community on the importance of care management and the impact it can have on many families.