I am a convention/trade show junkie!

I look forward to the presentations in the general sessions and breakout sessions.  They get my creative writing juices flowing, they give me new perspectives  and yes . . . sometimes they frustrate me.  I love being able to meet in person individuals I have only interacted with on the internet and by phone.  I love being able to meet new people and explore their views on senior housing, what they are doing to make the industry a better place and improve the quality of life for seniors.

I am a convention/trade show junkie!

I look forward to the presentations in the general sessions and breakout sessions.  They get my creative writing juices flowing, they give me new perspectives  and yes . . . sometimes they frustrate me.  I love being able to meet in person individuals I have only interacted with on the internet and by phone.  I love being able to meet new people and explore their views on senior housing, what they are doing to make the industry a better place and improve the quality of life for seniors.

 I love prowling the trade show floor discovering new technology and new ways to solve old problems.

Larry Minnix

Larry is the president and CEO of LeadingAge and in his keynote address made an audacious statement:

“The members of LeadingAge have the potential/ability to lead this nation away from our impending financial collapse.”

I wondered if this was rhetoric or a true conviction he held. Not at all sure I would even get a response, I dashed off a short email to him last week asking if he would be willing to share his reflections on LeadingAge 2012.  He graciously gave me his time today to explore his ideas in more depth.

Here is what he had to say:

• The anecdotal feedback he and the staff have received is that this LeadingAge annual convention is the best one they can remember.  The sense was that t did a particularly good job mixing inspiration (Desmond Tutu) and the Practical (Atul Gawande, Joseph Coughlin).
• There was a real sense that, while there are huge challenges ahead in caring for seniors; LeadingAge members are up for the challenge and believe there are real practical solutions.

Saving The Country

It is easy to point fingers when it comes to answering the question of why federal government spending is so high and growing. But no one disputes that the cost of healthcare and social security, which means seniors, are the two biggest factors. The question I was ultimately asking Larry was this:  “What can a bunch of not-for-profit’s, scattered across the nation, do to solve this problem?”  He acknowledged that the barriers to fixing the problem are huge.  There is a frustrating silo mentality on the part of many care providers, payor sources and, yes, sometimes even on the part of LeadingAge members and other senior housing providers. Here is how Larry  thinks LeadingAge members can save the world . . .

• The system is broken.  It cannot be fixed by tweaking it.  It needs a complete overhaul.
• A number of LeadingAge members have been able to work with regional senior HMO organizations to take a more holistic, case management approach to provide a higher quality of life at a lower cost.
• LeadingAge members can demonstrate that focusing on wellness improves quality of life and reduces costs.
• It is extremely difficult for senior housing providers to find a place at the table where these issues are being wrestled with.  Larry dreams of more and more of his members forcing their way to the table and gently but firmly demanding the right to tell their story, to talk about how they can be the ones who can fix this budget busting senior healthcare problem.

Today there are pockets where LeadingAge members are making this kind of difference.  Not in enough places and not yet a big enough difference.  I will be working with LeadingAge to tell some of those stories, hoping they will inspire you to help solve this massive problem. Steve Moran