Rick Russell

President/CEO
Hospice of Northwest Ohio – Perrysburg
Perrysburg, OH, USA
  • 106-A. Hospice Agencies: It’s Time to Sharpen Your Survey Skills

    • Sunday, November 02, 2025

    1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

    106-A. Hospice Agencies: It’s Time to Sharpen Your Survey Skills

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) employs surveys as a primary tool in its fight against hospice fraud. With changes to the Hospice Special Focus Program on the horizon, now is the perfect time to deepen your understanding of the hospice survey process and sharpen your survey skills. Join this session to learn what types of fraud CMS and its survey contractors look for during a survey. You’ll gain insights and tips for using mock surveys to prepare your hospice team for its next survey.

Aline Russotto

Executive Director
Orchard Cove
Canton, MA, USA
  • 85-J. Let Residents and Team Members Reimagine the Continuum

    • Wednesday, November 05, 2025

    8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

    85-J. Let Residents and Team Members Reimagine the Continuum

    Orchard Cove, a life plan community in Canton, MA, began reimagining its continuum of care in early 2021 in response to sweeping changes in the field of aging, feedback from residents, and business priorities. This session will detail the organization’s planning and implementation process, led by a multidisciplinary group of team members and residents. Presenters will describe how the Orchard Cove team developed a health and well-being navigation program, actively promoted the well-being of residents and team members, reimagined skilled nursing, and introduced a new array of services to maximize independence and enhance quality of life. You’ll gain valuable insights to help you engage with stakeholders as you launch a similar process.

Susan Ryan

President & CEO
AgingIN (formerly Center for Innovation)
Linthicum, MD, United States
  • 125-A. International Perspectives: Lessons from Household Care Models

    • Sunday, November 02, 2025

    1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

    125-A. International Perspectives: Lessons from Household Care Models

    In 2023, Australia’s HammondCare, the United Kingdom’s Belong Group, and The Green House Project in the United States established the Household Model International Consortium to promote the benefits of small-scale congregate settings for older adults. During this session, representatives from the consortium’s three founding members will share the history of the household model and discuss its physical design and operational philosophy. Presenters will highlight key features of the household model, including privacy, connections to nature and the outdoors, consistent staff assignments, fresh food, and a care model that places residents at the center of every decision. You’ll learn strategies for incorporating household model design and operational principles into your operations, even if large-scale renovations or new construction aren’t feasible for your organization.

Colleen Ryan Mallon

Chief Growth Officer
Frasier
Boulder, CO, USA
  • 55-K. Finding New Places Where Your Organization Can Grow

    • Wednesday, November 05, 2025

    10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

    55-K. Finding New Places Where Your Organization Can Grow

    Growth is the most effective strategy for nonprofit organizations seeking long-term sustainability in the senior living sector. But where should you establish a new project, and which senior living offering will best meet the needs of older adults in your chosen locale? This session will help you tackle the formidable task of identifying and prioritizing new locations where your organization can grow. Presenters will guide you to think strategically about potential sites for new growth and show you how to use data tools to prioritize where to conduct detailed site searches and market analyses. You’ll also learn to leverage market-driven information to select the type of project most likely to succeed in your chosen area.

Philippe Saad

Principal
DiMella Shaffer
Boston, MA, USA
  • 131-F. Inclusive Planning and Design to Support an Expanded Mission

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

    131-F. Inclusive Planning and Design to Support an Expanded Mission

    Goddard House, a 175-year-old single-site assisted living and memory support community in Brookline, MA, embarked on a journey in 2019 to expand a mission that already distinguished it from the competition. This session will showcase the significant physical updates that Goddard House undertook to support programs deemed essential to that expanded mission, which calls for greater engagement with the Boston community, an increased focus on the creative arts, and renewed efforts to foster a sense of belonging for everyone. Presenters will describe the community’s innovative approach to aging and examine the inclusive master plan and evidence-based design process that have enabled the Goddard House campus to create spaces tailored to support current and future residents and programs.

Frances Salinas

President & CEO
Wesley Willows
Rockford, IL, United States
  • 35-H. Breaking Barriers: The Journey of Women to C-Suite Success

    • Tuesday, November 04, 2025

    3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

    35-H. Breaking Barriers: The Journey of Women to C-Suite Success

    During this must-attend session, women executives in aging services will discuss their professional journeys, challenges, and career-defining moments. Chief executive officers, chief operating officers, and vice presidents will share their stories of perseverance and innovation, offering lessons to help other women leaders navigate career transitions, overcome obstacles, and build resilience. Discover the leadership qualities that fueled their success and gain practical strategies for finding mentors, building professional networks, and cultivating confidence. Whether you’re an emerging leader, a mid-career professional, or a seasoned executive, you’ll leave this session with actionable insights to guide your career journey and create work environments that empower and support the advancement of women leaders.

Kevin Salminen

Chief Financial Officer
Pinnacle Living
Glen Allen, VA, USA
  • 34-H. Enhancing Your Board’s Financial Expertise

    • Tuesday, November 04, 2025

    3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

    34-H. Enhancing Your Board’s Financial Expertise

    Good governance entails more than simply assembling a diverse group of board members with the skills and background necessary to advance your organization’s mission. It also requires organizational leaders to help board members fully grasp their fiduciary responsibilities. During this session, you’ll discover strategies for enhancing the financial acumen of board members, enabling them to develop a thorough understanding of your organization’s financial and operational health. This understanding will allow all board members to engage in strategic planning, participate in nuanced discussions about the ramifications of financial decisions, and make informed decisions. If your board is seeking ways to promote open, informed discussions that foster effective governance and accountability, this session is for you.

Lisa Sanders

Vice President, Communications and Media Relations
LeadingAge
Washington, DC, USA
  • 61-D. Master the Art of Storytelling to Shape the Media Narrative

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

    61-D. Master the Art of Storytelling to Shape the Media Narrative

    Public relations professionals in aging services play two roles when sharing stories about their organizations with the media: they communicate relevant facts to reporters and assist those reporters in crafting compelling narratives that bring those facts to life. This session will introduce LeadingAge members to the art of storytelling. A panel of reporters and communications experts will help you understand journalistic concepts and public relations strategies. You’ll learn how to generate story ideas about your organization, pitch those ideas to the media, and engage with reporters. You’ll also gain tools and tactics to help you navigate damaging media storms or ride the exhilarating waves of favorable coverage.

Tom Sanders

Owner | Author
Tom Sanders Photography & Films
  • 60-C. Manage Your Online Images to Minimize Liability

    • Sunday, November 02, 2025

    4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

    60-C. Manage Your Online Images to Minimize Liability

    Standout photography and high-quality graphics can enhance your organization’s brand awareness, especially when prominently displayed on your website. But what happens when your online images don’t reflect the diversity required by Fair Housing regulations or lack proper alternative text or “alt tags” that improve website accessibility? This session will help you minimize liability related to accessibility and compliance. Presenters will outline steps you can take to coordinate an on-location photo shoot, select the right photos for your website and other marketing materials, and understand how individuals with disabilities interact with your brand online. You’ll learn how to create an optimal web experience for all prospective residents.

Katherine Santos

Chief Strategy Officer
Legacy Lifecare
Peabody, MA, United States
  • 56-L. Stronger Together: Securing Your Future through Affiliation

    • Wednesday, November 05, 2025

    11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

    56-L. Stronger Together: Securing Your Future through Affiliation

    Affiliation has become an indispensable tool for nonprofit senior living organizations facing complex challenges. This session will include case studies where organizations enhanced operational efficiency, stabilized finances, improved care quality, and strengthened recruitment and staff development after affiliating with a network of charitable, nonprofit senior care organizations. Presenters will provide practical strategies for examining various collaborative models. You’ll take home a framework for evaluating when affiliation might be beneficial, criteria for identifying and selecting suitable partners, and tips for ensuring that an affiliation aligns with your organization’s mission and goals. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore a strategy that could help secure your organization and its mission.

Richard Scanlon

Managing Director, Senior Living Finance
Ziegler
Saint Petersburg, FL, USA
  • 48-E. Acquisitions and Divestitures: Perspectives on Buying and Selling Assets

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

    48-E. Acquisitions and Divestitures: Perspectives on Buying and Selling Assets

    The senior living sector has experienced significant growth in acquisitions and affiliations over the past few years. This session will highlight trends in mergers and acquisitions while exploring how for-profit and nonprofit buyers differ in their approaches to valuing assets and implementing ownership changes. You’ll hear the stories of a Dallas-based senior living organization that acquired a senior living community in Fort Worth and a Florida-based multi-site organization that divested several campuses. Get the guidance you need to navigate the acquisition/disposition process, including steps you should take after concluding that certain components of your organization are not contributing value to the enterprise.

Marilyn Schairer

Reporter/Producer
WGBH News
Boston, MA, USA
  • 61-D. Master the Art of Storytelling to Shape the Media Narrative

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

    61-D. Master the Art of Storytelling to Shape the Media Narrative

    Public relations professionals in aging services play two roles when sharing stories about their organizations with the media: they communicate relevant facts to reporters and assist those reporters in crafting compelling narratives that bring those facts to life. This session will introduce LeadingAge members to the art of storytelling. A panel of reporters and communications experts will help you understand journalistic concepts and public relations strategies. You’ll learn how to generate story ideas about your organization, pitch those ideas to the media, and engage with reporters. You’ll also gain tools and tactics to help you navigate damaging media storms or ride the exhilarating waves of favorable coverage.