LEADERSHIP SUMMIT CONVENED

VCAL (12/15/03)

On December 4-5, 2003, leaders from 31 states attended the Assisted Living Provider Leadership Summit:  Many Paths to Common Ground in Tampa, Florida.  The conference brought together 130 state and national leaders in the assisted living profession to share their shared vision for assuring quality of care and consumer choice.  Presentations addressed common experiences and issues faced by assisted living organizations  throughout the country and what works in assisted living in different states.  Sessions focused on policy and regulatory successes and failures, and suggestions on how to keep assisted living viable in each state. 

NCAL was one of the major sponsors of the conference, which was the first of its kind.  The summit was planned and organized by the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging; American Seniors Housing Association, Assisted Living Federation of America, Florida Assisted Living Affiliation; National Center for Assisted Living and the University of South Florida, Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging. 

Among the topics covered were the diverse ways states regulate assisted living and various models for medication management in assisted living.  States sharing their regulations included Connecticuts Residential Model, Kentuckys Consumer Driven Model, Marylands Levels of Care and Deemed Status Model, and Oregon and Washington as examples of states with high regulations and high acuity.  Future editions of the VCAL Focus will feature articles based on presentations at the Leadership Summit.