National and regional, massive and niche — there’s a senior living conference for everyone. Of course, that doesn’t mean they’re all worth your time and money.
At Foresight, one of the most-asked questions we get is, “What’s the best senior living conference to attend?” Our answer always is, it depends!
If you do your homework and plan ahead, attending a conference can provide a strong ROI. The first thing to do, though, is narrow down which conferences are best for your team.
(NOTE: We do consult one-on-one with some Foresight partners about which conferences are best for them. Interested? message us!)
Skip down to view the top living conferences in the U.S.
Step 1: Set Goals.
A good way to pick a conference is to first, consider your goals. Ask yourself why you’re going. Is it to …
- Get leads?
- Check out new technology?
- Set up face-to-face meetings?
- Learn new strategies and best practices?
- Stay up-to-date on the latest thinking in senior living?
Step 2: Prep.
After choosing the best conference for your goals …
- Decide who should attend. Send the people with the best chance of achieving the goals you set in step 1.
- Plan. Browse the agenda. Choose your sessions. Figure out who you want to connect with. (Reach out well in advance to book appointments! People’s conference schedules fill up.) The better organized you are, the more ground you can cover.
Step 3: Learn.
After the conference, take two final steps to make sure you squeezed every drop of benefit from your time there:
- Share the results. Have whoever attended debrief the rest of your team. (Consider giving them a list of questions in advance, to help them organize their thoughts and provide the team with better input.)
- Determine your ROI. Track your leads and connections, and build a log of closed business that traces back to the event.
Top Senior Living Conferences of 2024
And now, here is our comprehensive list of the top regional and national senior living industry conferences in 2024.
National Conferences — Spring
| ASHA Annual Meeting (American Seniors Housing Association) | Focuses on finance, development, and operation of a full spectrum of senior housing and services. Only ASHA members are invited to participate. | Miami, FL: January 2-24 |
| NIC Spring Conference (National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care) | Geared towards leaders in senior housing, skilled nursing, health care, and support services. The focus is on providing the latest data and trends. | Dallas, TX: March 5-7 |
| HIMSS24 (Healthcare Information and Management Systems) | Geared towards health care professionals, including CIOs and senior executives. | Orlando, FL: March 11-15 |
| Senior Living 100 | Targeted to senior living operators, with sessions on leadership, strategy, and innovation. | Laguna Niguel, CA: March 24-26 |
| Synergy Senior Dining & Hospitality Conference, from Senior Dining Association | Focuses on the needs and challenges of the senior dining industry. | Orlando, FL: April 7-10 |
| Environments for Aging Conference + Expo | Focused on senior living architects, facility managers, senior housing developers, and contractors. | Atlanta, GA: April 13-16 |
| LeadingAge Leadership Summit | Focused on C-suite executives in aging services. Separate from LeadingAge’s larger annual meeting, which happens in the fall. | Washington, DC: April 15-17 |
| Senior Living Executive Conference & Expo, from Argentum | Serving for-profit owners and operators of senior living communities. | Phoenix, AZ: April 20 – May 1 |
| Senior Living Innovation Forum: Spring (SLIF) | Connecting senior living leaders to discuss trends with the goal of reshaping the future of senior living. | Palm Springs, CA: June 9-11 |
| Evolve (subscribe here to be notified when date announced) | Senior Living Foresight’s virtual summit focused on life enrichment leaders. | Virtual; date TBA |
Regional Conferences — Spring
There are many regional events. Check industry associations such as Argentum, LeadingAge, American Seniors Housing Association and AHCA/NCAL to find ones near you. Here are some examples.
| PALA Spring Conference (Pennsylvania Assisted Living Association) | Brings together leaders in assisted living, nursing homes, and personal care. | State College, PA: April 2-4 |
| Annual TALA Conference and Industry Expo (Texas Assisted Living Association) | Geared towards owners/operators of assisted living communities throughout Texas. | San Antonio, TX: April 2-4 |
| LeadingAge California BOLD Annual Conference & Expo | Bills itself as one of the largest premier annual conferences on the West Coast supporting the continuum of care for older adults. | Anaheim, CA: May 13-15 |
| Elevate: CALA’s Conference & Trade Show — spring (California Assisted Living Association) | Attracts owners and operators of California-based residential care facilities that encompass assisted living, memory care, and continuing care retirement communities. Provides access to the latest tools, resources, and policy updates to help maximize quality of care. | Sacramento, CA: June 3-5 |
National Conferences — Fall
| Conference | Description | Venue/Dates |
| RETHINK Conference, from Skilled Nursing News | Focused on long-term care executives and professionals; looks at trends, issues, and the future of skilled nursing. | Chicago, IL: September 11-12 |
| NIC Fall Conference (National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care) | Geared towards leaders in senior housing, skilled nursing, health care, and support services. The focus is on providing the latest data and trends. | Washington DC: September 23-25 |
| AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo (American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living) | Focused on post-acute and long-term care providers, vendors, and affiliates. | Orlando, FL: October 6-9 |
| SMASH Senior Care Marketing & Sales Summit | Focused on providing marketing and sales solutions and insights for operators of senior living communities. | Las Vegas, NV: October 14-16 |
| LeadingAge Annual Meeting | Focused on not-for-profit aging services providers across the spectrum of care. | Nashville, TN: October 27-30 |
| Senior Living Innovation Forum (SLIF): Fall | Connecting senior living leaders to discuss trends with the goal of reshaping the future of senior living. | Miami Beach, FL: November 3-5 |
| CFI Conference, from Pioneer Network and The Green House Project |
For providers. Examines changes in regulations, advancements in person-directed care practices, and innovative staff development opportunities about culture change. | Grand Rapids, MI: November 11-13 |
| ICAA Conference and Expo (International Council on Active Aging) | Focused on retirement, assisted living, rehabilitation, wellness, fitness, and recreation fields for the 50+ demographic. | Raleigh, NC: November 19-21 |
Regional Conferences — Fall
There are many regional events. Check industry associations such as Argentum, LeadingAge, American Seniors Housing Association and AHCA/NCAL to find ones near you. Here are some examples.
| Conference | Description | Venue/Dates |
| PALA Fall Conference (Pennsylvania Assisted Living Association) | Brings together leaders in assisted living, nursing homes, and personal care. | Gettysburg, PA: October 9-11 |
| Elevate: CALA’s Conference & Trade Show: Fall (California Assisted Living Association) | Attracts owners and operators of California-based residential care facilities that encompass assisted living, memory care, and continuing care retirement communities. Provides access to the latest tools, resources, and policy updates to help maximize quality of care. | Palm Springs, CA: November 4-6 |
As a beacon in the realm of business gatherings, CIAMAR 2024 – the International AMAR Congress 2024 is set to unite visionaries and experts in 50+ Wellness, Senior Living, and the Longevity Economy. This landmark forum serves as a dynamic platform, where specialists illuminate emerging trends and dissect the economic impact of the 50+ sector in North America. Beyond borders, the discussions transcend to the profound influence of this demographic, shaping the narrative of retirement choices in Mexico and Latin America. The Congress stands as a nexus for in-depth exploration, analysis, and strategic insights into the dynamic interplay between the 50+ sector and the evolving retirement landscape in the region.