The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) recently welcomed more than 600 long term care providers to Washington, D.C. for the annual Congressional Briefing. As part of the event, attendees heard from Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), Representative Greg Murphy (NC-03), and Punchbowl News Co-Founders Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer.
Assisted living providers were especially focused on workforce solutions, as the demand for senior care will grow in the coming years. During the general session, NCAL Executive Director LaShuan Bethea reinforced this important point.
“Meeting future demand for assisted living services requires a strong workforce pipeline,” she said. “Achieving that goal will require a true public-private partnership. Our message to policymakers this year is simple: Help us care for the future by helping us build the workforce of the future.”
During the event, AHCA/NCAL also recognized the 2026 Joe Warner Patient Advocacy Award recipients: Barry Carr, chairman and co-founder of Ignite Medical Resorts, and Randi Carr, chief of staff of Ignite Medical Resorts. Named in honor of the late Joe Warner, the former president and CEO of Illinois-based Heritage Enterprises and a tireless champion for long term and post-acute care, the award is presented annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing quality care and patient-centered policies at the local, state, or national level.
Learn more about this year’s event and issues, and make plans to attend the 2027 AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing, which will be held June 7-8 in Washington, D.C.