Ellen Lowre

VP Nutrition; Wellness & Sustainability
CCL Hospitality Group
Boston, MA, USA
  • 95-F. Your Wellness Strategy: Aligning Operations with Expectations

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

    95-F. Your Wellness Strategy: Aligning Operations with Expectations

    Many older adults are seeking a senior living community that will foster their physical, emotional, and social well-being. Will your community meet their expectations? This session will provide valuable guidance to help you integrate the concepts of wellness and well-being into your mission to support resident satisfaction, longevity, and purpose. Presenters will help you understand how innovative approaches to promoting wellness can position your organization as the preferred choice for older adults looking for a vibrant and supportive living environment. Hear from senior living operators who have created vibrant communities that cater to the whole person. You’ll take home practical strategies for aligning your operations with evolving consumer expectations to ensure your organization’s long-term success.

Stephen Luoni

Director, Community Design Center
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR, USA
  • 132-F. Meet the Adult Family Home: Prefabricated Congregate Housing

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

    132-F. Meet the Adult Family Home: Prefabricated Congregate Housing

    As the shortage of affordable and accessible housing persists, addressing the needs of an aging population becomes increasingly urgent. This session will present an innovative solution: the Adult Family Home, a prefabricated congregate housing prototype that features five to ten bedrooms and is designed to help unrelated adults age in place, foster relationships, and receive assistance with daily activities. Presenters will discuss the model’s biophilic design principles, which enhance connections to nature, outline its financial benefits, including reduced initial startup costs, and describe its potential as a financeable option for small business operators. You’ll discover how this model cultivates vibrant, supportive communities while addressing pressing housing needs.

Jan Luursema

Consultant
MaPaLaNa
Elst, GELDERLAND, The Netherlands

Jing Ma

Chairman of the Board
Shenzhen Houde Shijia Technology Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen City, SHENZHEN, China
  • 75-D. International Perspectives: Field-Driven Standards Lead to Person-Centered Innovation

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

    75-D. International Perspectives: Field-Driven Standards Lead to Person-Centered Innovation

    Providers of aging services in China have used CARF International’s field-driven, person-centered accreditation standards to improve the care experience of their residents and the business outcomes of their organizations. This session will showcase China’s innovative business and care delivery in independent living, assisted living, rehabilitation programs, and other care models unique to China. Presenters will introduce you to China’s aging services system, explain how it compares to aging services worldwide, and suggest ways it could be replicated in other countries. Panelists will also share how Chinese providers are expanding person-centered practices across entire systems of care.

Brian Maas

Vice President Mission and Spiritual Care
Immanuel
Omaha, NE, USA
  • 96-G. Body & Soul: Connecting Spirituality, Health, and Wellness

    • Tuesday, November 04, 2025

    8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

    96-G. Body & Soul: Connecting Spirituality, Health, and Wellness

    Spiritual care helps older adults find purpose, increase resilience, build coping mechanisms, and address concerns about suffering and mortality. This session will explore innovative approaches to meeting residents’ increasingly diverse cultural and religious needs. Presenters will discuss activities that nurture spirituality, such as nature outings, organized social interactions, and dedicated spaces for prayer or meditation. They’ll also demonstrate how training staff to provide high-quality spiritual care can positively impact employee morale, job satisfaction, and personal growth. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the link between spirituality and health, the benefits of integrating residents’ spiritual preferences into their care plans, and the value of making high-quality spiritual care a strategic and mission priority for your organization.

Donald Macaskill

Chief Executive
ScottishCare
Glasgow Prestwick Airport, United Kingdom

Sarah Malchow

Chief Administrative Officer
Cedar Community
West Bend, WI, USA
  • 127-C. Refresh and Expand Your Independent Living Offerings

    • Sunday, November 02, 2025

    4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

    127-C. Refresh and Expand Your Independent Living Offerings

    Enhancing the independent living options on your campus could help keep your organization competitive in today’s market. This session will show you how. The chief administrative officer of a multi-site organization will discuss how their organization is diversifying its independent living offerings to include standalone ranch homes, duplexes, converted loft residences, and conventional apartments. An architect will review design trends and considerations for various price points. A financing expert will outline how to model and evaluate different independent living options. Whether you’re facing low occupancy in older inventory or exploring new options to meet growing demand, you’ll leave this session with fresh ideas for strategic campus planning.

Stace Mandl

Vice President, Health Policy
LeadingAge
Washington, DC, USA
  • 116-G. How Will Federal Policy Changes Impact Your Nursing Home?

    • Tuesday, November 04, 2025

    8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

    116-G. How Will Federal Policy Changes Impact Your Nursing Home?

    Every new federal administration reshapes the country’s policy landscape in ways that can significantly impact the daily operations of nursing homes nationwide. During this session, the LeadingAge advocacy team will discuss recent policy developments from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the current administration. Presenters will help you understand how these developments are likely to affect your organization. They’ll also identify resources and advocacy opportunities that can keep you informed about future changes.

  • 121-J. Federal Policy Across the Continuum

    • Wednesday, November 05, 2025

    8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

    121-J. Federal Policy Across the Continuum

    Are you managing multiple service lines across the continuum, or just curious about the broader policy landscape affecting aging services? This session is designed for you. The LeadingAge advocacy team will be on hand to review this year’s federal policy successes and challenges. You’ll gain a clear understanding of key federal legislative and regulatory changes impacting nursing homes, hospice, affordable housing, home health, adult day services, and Medicaid home and community-based services. You’ll also hear the latest updates on legal matters, workforce development, and Medicare Advantage. Don’t miss this opportunity to catch up on 2025’s policy news and prepare for the advocacy initiatives that are expected to emerge in 2026.

Tom Mann

Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Moorings Park Communities
Naples, FL, USA
  • 65-H. How Artificial Intelligence Can Help Consumers Find You Online

    • Tuesday, November 04, 2025

    3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

    65-H. How Artificial Intelligence Can Help Consumers Find You Online

    At least 30% of moves to life plan communities occur after prospective residents search for retirement options using online search tools. This session will show you how to capitalize on this new trend by paying closer attention to search engine optimization (SEO), a method for presenting website content so search engines like Google can help consumers find you online. Presenters will show you how to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve SEO and boost your online visibility. You’ll also get tips for using AI-driven tools to automate online tasks, enhance the quality of your web content, establish authority in niche topic areas, and achieve significant growth in visibility and user engagement.

Melissa Markey

Director of Wellness
Westminster Canterbury Richmond
Richmond, VA, USA
  • 49-F. Strategic Success: Engage Stakeholders and Measure Progress

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

    49-F. Strategic Success: Engage Stakeholders and Measure Progress

    Westminster Canterbury Richmond took deliberate steps to enhance transparency and collaboration during its 2022 strategic planning process, which laid the groundwork for a major campus expansion. During this session, the organization’s chief executive and director of strategic growth will describe how they engaged workgroups of organizational leaders, board members, residents, and staff to set organizational priorities and identify desired outcomes. Presenters will showcase the accountability tool they used to check in regularly with more than 35 of the organization’s leaders. They’ll also present two case studies detailing the organization’s recommitment to strategic growth and its evolving approach to wellness and fitness. Learn how to implement a strategic planning process that engages stakeholders, measures progress, and ensures accountability.

Judy Martin

International Engagement Director
Anchor Excellence
Balmain East, NSW, Australia
  • 112-D. International Perspectives: Challenges, Innovations, and Global Lessons

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

    112-D. International Perspectives: Challenges, Innovations, and Global Lessons

    As one of our youngest and fastest-aging continents, Africa has much to teach the world about providing inclusive, rights-based aged care characterized by resilience, strong community traditions, and limited resources. During this session, advocates and practitioners will explore the evolving landscape of aging and caregiving in Africa, including rural caregiving, community-based care, gender-based violence, legal and financial gaps, and elder-led advocacy networks. You’ll engage in a dynamic conversation about the current state of aged care in Africa, the African Union’s mission to integrate aging into law and policy, and the continent’s vision for the future. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover what your region can learn from Africa’s unique approach to aged care.

Dyan McAlister

Chief Financial and Strategy Officer
Presbyterian Senior Living
Dillsburg, PA
  • 41-A. The ABCs of Credit Ratings: A Guide for Life Plan Communities

    • Sunday, November 02, 2025

    1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

    41-A. The ABCs of Credit Ratings: A Guide for Life Plan Communities

    Life plan community leaders, financial officers, and strategic planners must have a solid understanding of credit ratings before they can help their organizations secure financing on favorable terms. During this session, Fitch Ratings, along with a diverse panel of providers from multi-site and single-site communities will present an overview of credit ratings, explain how to obtain one, and offer guidance on incorporating credit rating considerations into your strategic planning. You’ll receive tips for aligning capital projects and funding needs with your community’s credit profile, identifying and mitigating risks that could negatively impact your rating, and implementing practices that enhance credit strength. Prepare to improve your community’s credit profile and secure the resources necessary for growth and sustainability.

  • 107-B. Crisis and Issue Management: Best Practices for Senior Living

    • Sunday, November 02, 2025

    2:45 – 3:45 p.m.

    107-B. Crisis and Issue Management: Best Practices for Senior Living

    The dynamic and high-stakes nature of senior living environments requires robust strategies for crisis and issue management. This session, designed for senior living executives and legal compliance professionals, will explore best practices for navigating scenarios that can threaten operational stability, reputational integrity, and regulatory compliance. Presenters will offer practical insights into managing crises, including data privacy breaches and ransomware attacks. Participants will engage in an interactive game-show-like format to address scenarios involving regulatory scrutiny, media pressure, and internal investigations. Learn how to minimize liability and safeguard organizational trust while preserving confidentiality in privileged communications, managing relationships with third-party vendors, and addressing allegations of workplace misconduct.