1:45 – 3:00 p.m.

Life Plan Communities: How State Laws Impact Financial Solvency

Existing state statutes and legislative challenges can threaten the financial management and strategic direction of life plan communities. This session will draw on research by LeadingAge, which examined how state laws affect the financial solvency of communities nationwide. An expert panel of LeadingAge state partners, business partners, and members will discuss the economic implications of proposed state legislation and review how advocacy by LeadingAge state partners has effectively curtailed harmful initiatives. They will also provide guidance to help you mobilize your organization, board, and residents to urge state policymakers to protect the financial autonomy of life plan communities and respect the ability of these communities to safeguard their economic viability.

1:45 – 3:00 p.m.

Unlock the Power of Data Analytics

Imagine using data analytics to anticipate your organization’s staffing needs, deploy staff efficiently, or pinpoint burnout risks and solutions. Consider the advantages of employing predictive analytics to identify residents with health risks so you can use proactive interventions to improve outcomes and lower costs. Fortunately, these technological advances aren’t a distant dream. This session will demonstrate that they are rapidly becoming a strategic necessity for providers facing mounting workforce and care-related challenges. Presenters will help you understand how your organization can harness its data to stay competitive and responsive to the needs of older adults. Join this session to discover how data analytics can help you tackle critical issues in care delivery, optimize resource allocation, and meet emerging operational demands.

1:45 – 3:00 p.m.

Unlocking Doors to Become a Dementia-Inclusive Community

Sherbrooke Community Centre in Saskatchewan, Canada, is committed to fostering a residential environment that enables each resident to live a full and abundant life. Ten years ago, the organization’s commitment to culture change prompted Sherbrooke’s leaders to question its practice of segregating people living with dementia in locked memory care neighborhoods and houses. It then began unlocking several memory care areas and integrating their residents into the community’s life. Join Sherbrooke CEO Kim Schmidt as she discusses the leadership decisions that led Sherbrooke to transform its approach to supporting people living with dementia and the progress it is making. Schmidt will explore the philosophical underpinnings, practical steps, and challenges involved in creating environments where individuals of diverse cognitive abilities live together.

1:45 – 3:00 p.m.

Life Plan Communities: How State Laws Impact Financial Solvency

Existing state statutes and legislative challenges can threaten the financial management and strategic direction of life plan communities. This session will draw on research by LeadingAge, which examined how state laws affect the financial solvency of communities nationwide. An expert panel of LeadingAge state partners, business partners, and members will discuss the economic implications of proposed state legislation and review how advocacy by LeadingAge state partners has effectively curtailed harmful initiatives. They will also provide guidance to help you mobilize your organization, board, and residents to urge state policymakers to protect the financial autonomy of life plan communities and respect the ability of these communities to safeguard their economic viability.

1:45 – 3:00 p.m.

Expand Your Mission by Becoming an Affordable Housing Provider

Can life plan community sponsors become affordable housing providers? This session will answer that question by exploring how the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program could help your organization broaden its mission, promote economic diversity and inclusion, and address a critical need. A panel of providers at various stages of LIHTC-funded projects will share their experiences with affordable housing, from initial planning to implementation. Presenters will offer their insights into the LIHTC process and help you assess how an affordable housing development project could align with your community’s mission and strategic goals. Whether new to LIHTC or looking for inspiration, this session will leave you with a better understanding of the opportunities associated with affordable housing—and practical strategies to help you seize them.

11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

How Mentorship Supports Professional Growth and Development

Mentorship plays a critical role in fostering professional growth and advancing careers. During this session, Nzinga Shaw, a seasoned C-suite executive with extensive mentoring expertise, will share her insights about the value of mentorship, the roles and responsibilities of mentors and mentees, and the most effective techniques for establishing meaningful and effective mentor-mentee relationships. Attendees will also learn about a mentorship workshop series that offers resources, education, and tools to help mentors and mentees develop successful relationships. Participants in the workshop series will be on hand to share their experiences and describe how the mentorship series impacted their professional development.

3:30 – 4:45 p.m.

Make Sure Your Next Project Resonates with Consumers

Nonprofit providers often face criticism for lagging behind their for-profit counterparts in developing new residential offerings. Fortunately, there is much to celebrate in our sector, considering recent and notable market-rate communities that nonprofit providers have brought to the market. These communities have resonated with consumers and achieved impressive occupancy rates. This session will showcase a diverse group of providers whose new offerings have captivated older consumers in their respective markets. Discover the unique programs and features of these campuses and the common elements they share. You’ll return home more confident about advancing projects under development or in your pipeline, whether designed to introduce new, repositioned, or expanded campuses to your market.

3:30 – 4:45 p.m.

How is AI Transforming Aging Services?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to transform the aging services sector, leading to significant advancements in care delivery, operations, and resident engagement. This session will explore AI tools and systems that use advanced algorithms to analyze data, identify patterns, and provide actionable insights. Presenters will explain predictive analytics, which can anticipate resident health needs and enable proactive measures; automated task management, which can streamline workflows; and conversational AI, which can reduce loneliness among residents and improve their quality of life. You’ll also get a peek at future trends, including advanced safety monitoring technologies and systems that respond dynamically to changes as they happen. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover how strategic AI implementation can empower your organization to address emerging challenges and elevate the standard of care.

1:45 – 3:00 p.m.

Policy Update: Medicare Home Health and Hospice

2024 was a big year for the home health and hospice sectors as LeadingAge and policymakers from both parties began serious discussions about the value of reforming Medicare’s hospice benefit and elevating the value of home health. Staff members from Capitol Hill offices and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will use this session to discuss what’s next for hospice and home health. Discover how benefits for both programs might evolve and how current legislation could affect providers of aging services. Explore the growth of palliative care, the likelihood of a Medicare Advantage hospice “carve-in,” home health payment reform, and initiatives designed to improve program integrity. Presenters will share information about advocacy and engagement opportunities designed to help you participate in hospice and home health conversations.

1:45 – 3:00 p.m.

Best Practices and Pitfalls of CEO Transitions

No matter how carefully an organization plans for a CEO transition, the process of changing leaders often brings with it an unsettling sense of urgency and uncertainty. During this session, an executive search consultant will help ensure your next CEO transition runs smoothly. Learn about recent trends in CEO continuity planning and effective onboarding strategies. Gain insights to help you address awkward situations that may arise during the CEO search, including when a valued internal candidate is not selected for the executive position or the board becomes overly involved in the management of the organization. Recently appointed CEOs and board members will be on hand to discuss best practices and pitfalls of CEO transitions.

1:45 – 3:00 p.m.

Can Registered Apprenticeships Bolster the CNA Workforce?

Registered apprenticeship programs can now access federal or state funding and resources to help healthcare providers recruit and retain a qualified workforce. Yet, nursing homes and other aging services organizations have struggled to get in on the action. This could change, thanks to the federally funded Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP), which is helping providers establish new registered apprenticeships for direct care professionals nationwide. This session will describe how registered apprenticeships work and the national standards and best practices that could help them grow. A GWEP participant will discuss their organization’s plans to develop a registered apprenticeship for certified nursing assistants (CNA). Explore how registered apprenticeships have become a national model, their track record in nursing homes, and the challenges and opportunities they pose to providers of aging services.

3:30 – 4:45 p.m.

Policy Update: Achieving Affordable Housing Goals

LeadingAge works diligently with Congress and federal housing agencies to achieve our bold policy goals to preserve, expand, and enhance affordable housing for older adults. This session will offer an overview of that work. Staff from congressional offices and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will be on hand to discuss their goals regarding housing for older adults. In addition, LeadingAge’s Advocacy Team will help you prepare for Lobby Day by exploring how congressional and HUD goals align with LeadingAge’s goals and the areas where they diverge. Join us as we review funding, policy, and operational issues affecting affordable housing, including the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, housing plus services and service coordination initiatives, asset limits, insurance, and inspections.