Nov 5 2011
The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), today hosted a meeting of 140 executives interested in advancing excellence in senior living. The day-long event at National Harbor, Maryland offered executives briefings on topics shaping their businesses today and peer discussions groups to help find answers to some of the big shared questions on their minds.
“ALFA member companies drive innovation and entrepreneurism in senior living”
"ALFA member companies drive innovation and entrepreneurism in senior living," said Richard P. Grimes, president and CEO of ALFA. "Annual events like the ALFA Senior Living Leadership Forum serve to advance excellence in member companies and across the entire field of long term care and services for seniors. The executives who participate from senior living providers and companies serving senior living communities are a solutions-oriented type of people who impact the growth and success of the senior living sector. More importantly, the personal commitment each of them brings with them to better serve seniors and their families is what makes this gathering so special."
The executives began the morning with a briefing from Dr. Frederick Joutz, co-director of the Research Program on Forecasting in the Economics department at George Washington University. Joutz spoke about the macroeconomic trends impacting businesses in the United States and influencing consumer behavior. Joutz's discussion looked at the track record of the American economy and suggested potential future paths the economy could take based on the latest economic data.
The executive breakfast briefing helped frame conversations for roundtables focused on eight areas of executive leadership including operations, sales and marketing, human resources, clinical quality, finance, dining and government relations. Meanwhile, representatives from allied member companies of the ALFA President's Council joined with CEOs from senior living companies in a discussion about the future of senior living.
Later in the day, all attendees had the option to participate in one of three timely, topical sessions facilitated by subject matter experts. Erik Johnson from Avalere Health spoke in detail about how the new accountable care organization (ACO) rules set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) will impact health care providers and open new doors of opportunity for senior living companies. Other participants discussed recent activities by labor unions to infiltrate social movements like Occupy Wall Street and ways recent National Labor Relation Board rulings were reducing the rights of employees and employers. Lastly, a group assembled to discuss the impact the economy continues to have on growth of the senior living sector and best practices on how to operate better in the uncertain environment.
"These face-to-face gatherings enable senior living executives and executives from companies serving the senior living business to build relationships and solve concerns together. The ALFA Forum is just one more way leaders in senior living can influence not only their own futures, but the futures of their companies and of the sector," added Grimes.
SOURCE Assisted Living Federation of America
Older Americans living alone often rely on neighbors or others willing to help