About Vital Elder
Created from experience.
Built for community.
Our story
Vital Elder began after our founder’s parents were seriously injured in a car accident. Suddenly immersed in the realities of aging, recovery and caregiving, she discovered how confusing the system could be and how limited accessible support was for older adults and their families.
Vital Elder grew from that experience, offering gentle movement classes and other engaging programs to communities that help older adults remain strong, active, connected and independent as they age.
Founder of Vital Elder
Susie Arnett
Susie Arnett has built a career creating programs and experiences that help people of all ages learn, grow and connect. Her work spans television, transformative education, wellness retreats and hospitality, with leadership roles at Lifetime Television, Kripalu, Omega Institute, Canyon Ranch and Six Senses, as well as documentary production for HBO.
Vital Elder brings that experience to older adults aging in place and in senior living communities. Inspired by her own family’s experience navigating aging, recovery and caregiving, Susie founded Vital Elder to make life-enhancing programming more accessible, from longevity practices like gentle movement to a growing vision of creative exploration, shared learning and connection.
Susie serves as a volunteer ombudsman with Elder Services of Berkshire County and is also a volunteer for AARP Berkshire County.
Gentle Movement with Daniel
Daniel Orlansky
Daniel has studied yoga and meditation for over forty years and has taught since 1992 in Europe and America. He holds a Master’s in Expressive Art Therapy from Lesley University and directs Boston University’s yoga teacher training program.
He has taught workshops at the Kripalu Center and Omega Institute for over twenty years, and has led workshops and trainings for the Michigan Yoga Association, Yoga Teachers Association of the Hudson Valley and Boston Medical Center Integrative Nurses Association.
Our mission is simple: help people live healthier, more active and connected lives.