Las Vegas, Nev. — Today, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) officially welcomed more than 3,000 attendees to its annual Convention & Expo dedicated to the long term and post-acute care profession. Delivering Solutions 25 is the much-anticipated return of the event after AHCA/NCAL was forced to cancel last year's convention due to Hurricane Milton. The enthusiasm for this year's event is on display as thousands of long term and post-acute care professionals and business partners convene in Las Vegas for four days of education, networking, and inspiration.
"As a profession, we don't take for granted the opportunity to spend time together, and reconnect on the reason we do this important work—the residents,"
said Clif Porter, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. “This is officially my first convention at the helm of AHCA/NCAL, and I just feel an immense sense of gratitude and excitement, like many attendees. There is much to reflect on and celebrate from the previous year, and it's also a time to set our sights on what's next. This week allows us to share ideas, unify our vision, and prepare for the growing demand for care."
The week's events started on Sunday with record-breaking attendance at NCAL Day, which brought assisted living professionals together for specifically tailored education. Attendees had the opportunity to visit the onsite Dementia Empathy Experience Program (DEEP) and learn more about the association's
LTC Data Cooperative, a resource that assembles electronic health record data for providers and researchers. In addition, AHCA/NCAL hosted its inaugural Networks Day for professionals leading clinical, operational, or financial strategy for provider-owned networks. Sunday was also host to the Rehabilitation Therapy Symposium, a four-hour educational opportunity for rehabilitation therapists.
Today, the conference continues with the opening general session featuring keynote speaker Allison Massari, an entrepreneur and visual artist, who delivers stories of resilience stemming from her own experiences with adversity.
On Tuesday, the Association will honor long term and post-acute care organizations and professionals who are raising the bar. At the Elevating Excellence Awards Ceremony, the 878 recipients of this year's AHCA/NCAL Quality Awards Program will be recognized, including three facilities at the
elite Gold level. The award ceremony will also honor the most recent recipients of the
Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award, the
Jan Thayer Pioneer Award, and the
AHCA/NCAL Awards Program.
Social commentator Jonathan Pontell, who coined the term 'Generation Jones,' will deliver the closing keynote on Wednesday. His work exploring a specific set of aging Americans delivers impactful insights as the long term and post-acute care profession prepares for the next generation of residents.
“This year has a lot in store for attendees—some events may surprise them, others may challenge them to think differently about their work, but all will inspire,"
said Phil Scalo, AHCA Board Chair. “This is a critical time for our profession to embrace innovation and new ways to approach care. We've living in a constantly changing world of technology and increasing demand, and yet our constant is delivering high-quality care. There's no doubt this week will be memorable."
Delivering Solutions 25, which offers more than 100 education sessions and more than 300 exhibitors, runs through Wednesday, October 22.