April 1, 2015 |

LeadingAge advocacy day brings 300 to Capitol Hill

More than 300 members of LeadingAge headed to Capitol Hill March 17 to talk with their representatives about how Congress can expand the world of possibilities for aging by supporting affordable senior housing, long-term care financing and high-quality, value-added post-acute care.

“Each year, LeadingAge’s advocacy day gives our nonprofit aging services leaders the opportunity to speak with one voice on Capitol Hill about the issues that matter most, from affordable senior housing to ensuring quality care and services America’s seniors,” Cheryl Phillips, MD, senior vice president for public policy and advocacy at LeadingAge, said in a statement.

PEAK Summit

The event coincided with LeadingAge’s PEAK Summit leadership conference, which was held March 15 to 18 and included about 1,200 LeadingAge members. There, LeadingAge President and CEO Larry Minnix discussed the organization’s new Thrive initiative, which aims to provide a “framework and resources to help organizations achieve a successful future in meeting the needs of the people and communities they serve.” Areas covered by the initiative are community involvement and engagement, governance, philanthropy, quality, strategic partnerships, strategic planning, and workforce and leadership development.

“Thrive is no easy process,” Minnix told attendees. “If you commit to it, here are the outcomes I predict for you: Better quality of service to whomever you serve in an explosive competitive market. Better selection and retention of service sector employees and volunteers who feel a sense of calling in your organization because it has a healthy culture. And stronger balance sheets and more successful philanthropy because a generous public likes to support successful, mission driven causes. You will be more fully engaged in the planning and service delivery of your community who will see you as a critical resource not just a silo of service often to be dreaded as they drive by.”

PEAK Summit also included a presentation by Dan Heath, co-author of Decisive, who provided decision-making tips; sessions on topics such as diversifying service offerings, meeting competitive challenges, new technologies and leadership principles; and the Great Minds Gala fundraising event.

“Every year, PEAK gets better and better,” Minnix said. “I think this one was our most successful yet. We are proud of the work our members do every day to expand the world of possibilities for aging in communities across the country.”

LeadingAge President and CEO Larry Minnix; Diane Rehm, master of ceremonies; 2015 Proxmire Award recipient and “Dear Abby” columnist Jeanne Phillips; and Integrace President and CEO Jackie Harris at the Great Minds Gala.