Nearly 250 assisted living providers and professionals attended NCAL Day on Sunday, October 1, which kicked off Delivering Solutions 23, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) Convention & Expo in Denver, Colorado.

Gerald Hamilton, an independent owner/operator of multiple assisted living communities in New Mexico, served as emcee for his second and final NCAL Day as NCAL Board Chair. His remarks included a focus on change, something—according to Hamilton—that is “tough, but it can also be good.”

This year’s event featured two keynote speakers. DeAnna Murphy, Chief Knowledge Officer at Thrivin, started off the morning by inspiring attendees to find their purpose and reshape the future. The afternoon keynote, world champion triathlete and high-performance coach Siri Lindley, built on that by leading an engaging discussion on building a solid foundation to achieve high performance.

“This year’s NCAL Day keynote speakers were uplifting, encouraging, and exactly what those in the room needed to motivate them to continue their noble work,” said NCAL Executive Director LaShuan Bethea. “After several hard years for assisted living providers and those throughout long term care, today’s speakers provided not only a new perspective, but hope and optimism that the future is bright for the profession.”

The day also included six breakout sessions for attendees to choose from, all focused on various issues impacting assisted living. These included burnout prevention strategies, mitigating litigation risk, rising acuity, marketing strategy, and optimizing outcomes for dementia residents.

One session also focused on quality, which continues to be a priority for NCAL and its members. The session—"Quality: When in Doubt, Check it Out”—was led by NCAL Director of Quality Improvement Pam Truscott.

“Quality matters more now than ever before in assisted living and senior care communities,” said Truscott. “Anecdotal information is no longer relevant. Stakeholders—from your residents to family members to customers and regulators—need to see proof of the quality of care and services provided. That's where data plays a key role in quality and continuous improvement.”

NCAL Day wrapped up with a fireside chat that included Truscott, Hamilton, Bethea, and NCAL Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs Jill Schewe. They discussed the future of assisted living, with a focus on important quality, regulatory, and impactful strategies—such as affordable assisted living, the collection of assisted living data, and population health management. ​