Introducing The PIE Model™, Built To Make Your Life a Whole Lot Easier

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Whether you’re a professional in the aging space, someone on the caregiving front lines, or a Solo Ager figuring this out on your own—you know me. I’m all about making the hard stuff more navigable. More human. More doable.

And today, I want to share something new I’ve been working on. Actually, scratch that - something I’ve been using for years behind the scenes. I’ve finally brought it forward, named it, built it out, and now: it’s ready for you.

The thing I have built addresses Problems We All Face.

If you’ve ever heard me speak or worked with me one-on-one, you’ve heard me say:
     “We can all have a say about how things will go, and where we’ll end up.”

But in practice? That’s hard. Because aging, care, and health planning are complicated. The systems are siloed. The roles are blurry. People don’t even know the right questions to ask.

I continued to see this every day - in my own life, in my client work, and in rooms full of professionals just trying to coordinate care.

     We were all speaking different languages.

     Clients were overwhelmed.

     Providers were stuck in their lanes.

     And the full picture? Nowhere in sight.

That’s when I realized we need a way to map the mess.

So, I built one.

It’s called The PIE Model™ - a smart, visual framework that captures the six key areas that show up in nearly every aging journey. Medical. Legal. Financial. Insurance. Housing. And Support.

That’s your PIE. Six slices.

And just like an actual pie. you don’t want to be missing a slice when you need it.

The model gives both professionals and individuals a way to see the whole Client landscape.

Where they’re strong.

Where there are gaps.

What to prioritize.

It helps organize information, start better conversations, and get clearer on the path forward.

It’s getting attention already. The PIE Model™ has been published, by invitation I am pleased to say, in the August-September 2025 edition of the CareManagement Journal . I am gaining some professional testimony from professionals who see the value of PIE in practice.

Now, I know our Community is a beautiful mix: some of you are fellow professionals: case managers, care planners, financial and elder law professionals, and patient advocates, like me.

Some are solo agers, clients, or people caring for someone you love. - A beautiful assortment of good folks, out there using the strategy that we discuss: for aging, navigating healthcare, and well, Life!

Some of you have known me for years. Others may be new here.

I invite you to read The PIE Model™ and learn how it applies (or can BE applied). My website is ready to tell you all about it, and how it works.

And you might be thinking: “Nancy, a model sounds great, but I just want the how-to’s—the tips, the scripts, the things I can do right now.”

I hear you. The PIE is ready for you to fold into your practice.

The PIE Model™ isn’t replacing anything you are doing right now. It’s simply the framework behind it all. You’ll still get the helpful content, the solo aging advice, the real-world insights. This just lets me structure it better for everyone—including you.

And for my fellow professionals? It gives us a shared language. A way to collaborate across our fields without stepping on each other’s toes—or leaving big blind spots in a client’s plan.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing more about how I use PIE with clients, in education, and in speaking, planning and tracking. Get ready to help yourself to PIE, get yourself some savvy and some strategy.

There will be resources. Examples. Case stories. I will be feeding you slices of insight, bite by bite. I have some Freebies lined up, and there is one on the website for you now – Your first taste of Pie!

Eventually, I’ll be inviting some of you to self-select any categories you wish to know more about: you may join in on the client-side info, and you may wish to take a look at professional tools. Or both.

But today, I just wanted to let you in on the Big Picture. To say thank you for being here.  

And to officially introduce The PIE Model™ - straight from my work, my heart, and my running list of “there’s got to be a better way...” - in aging, in healthcare, and in life.

Here’s your takeaway: Whether you’re trying to plan your own aging journey,  support someone else’s, or show up better in your profession, there’s a model now. A pie-shaped one. And I think you’ll find it easy to digest.

I’ll see you in your inboxes soon. Don’t get my newsletter with blog and video yet? Join My Community here. Of course we will save you some PIE. 

Nancy Ruffner is a patient advocate who provides strategy for aging, solo aging, and healthcare navigation. Nancy consults with clients in a triage fashion, offering one-hour consultations toward a deeper understanding of “how stuff works” in eldercare, or find your path. Schedule your 1-Hour session now, without obligation of commitment or continuing costs. nancyruffner.com.