2021

Year in

Review

Dear Friends,

While we wish we could say that the pandemic is now in the rear-view mirror, all of our communities continue to feel the weight of the fight against COVID-19. Nevertheless, as we reflect upon where we were just one year ago, we must acknowledge how far we have all come and how we have worked together to protect and serve older adults across the Commonwealth.

As we look towards a new year, with hope for easier days to come, we want to express our gratitude for all of you. Each and every member of the LeadingAge MA community has contributed to the progress that we have made this year. As a result of focused advocacy efforts and your diligence, LeadingAge MA member communities are almost completely vaccinated, with a majority of community members also having received a booster. We know more about infection control best practices and how to help everyone stay healthy. We have deepened our connection to one another, despite our virtual reality. We are so proud of all of your hard work, and to have the continued opportunity to walk alongside you.

In the following pages we’ve outlined some of what we’ve accomplished over the past year- both in spite of, and because of, our collective circumstance. We know that time is short, and to-do lists seem never ending, so we hope that you will take this one thing with you: YOU are an integral part of this community and your hard work, commitment and heart inspires us every day. Thank you for being here with us, and for all that you bring to your organization and the LeadingAge MA community.

With gratitude,

Elissa Sherman, President & Nicole Breslin, Board Chair

Our members...

are collaborative, respected, forward thinking organizations focused on meeting the needs of older adults. Comprised of over 200 mission-driven organizations, the membership of LeadingAge MA represents the full spectrum of aging services providers. Our members work tirelessly to meet the needs of over 30,000 older adults across the Commonwealth. Despite all that they have been faced with over the last year, our members have continued to show up in meaningful ways to support one another and to advance the field of aging services.

Together with our national partner LeadingAge, we provide tools, resources, and knowledge to help our members tackle their day-to-day challenges while empowering them to think strategically about the future.

Advocacy

Knowledge Management

Community Building

LeadingAge MA is a deeply respected voice in the field, with a long history of amplifying the voices of non-profit providers. Over the past year, we have focused much of our Advocacy efforts on ensuring that members have had the supports and resources they have needed to navigate the pandemic.

Staying on top of the latest news, best practices and regulatory requirements has never been more crucial. LeadingAge MA played a critical role in getting our members the information they need, when they needed it through timely newsletters, virtual education, member meetings and personal outreach.

In 2021, our members were more engaged than ever! With every virtual meeting we held, our community grew more tightly knit. The collegial spirit of our membership inspires us everyday and this year we are proud to say that over 75% of our member organizations had representatives participate in our meetings.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact all of our communities, LeadingAge MA has been laser focused on providing the knowledge and tactical support that our members need to help those they serve live active and meaningful lives while staying safe.

Member

Update

Newsletter

Timely Education with Experts

Reporting

Requirements

Support

Personalized Advocacy & Troubleshooting

Virtual

Round Table

Meetings

COVID-19

Web

Resource Hub

While always maintaining a keen eye on the perennial issues facing non-profit aging services providers, our advocacy efforts over the past year have been aimed at influencing the ever changing COVID policies that have direct impact on our members and those they serve.

We played an active role to ensure that all aging services organizations had early access to vaccines for residents and staff, working closely with the Baker Administration to ensure that independent living communities were included, and we spent countless hours helping to trouble shoot vaccine clinics for members experiencing difficulties.

We met frequently with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, DPH and EOEA to advocate for solutions when members were faced with issues such as vaccine and testing access, and regulatory challenges. We also worked with state agencies to identify opportunities to increase rates of vaccination among staff members.

Our advocacy efforts at both the state and federal level included raising awareness of the workforce crisis and need for investments to ensure aging services providers can compete with other sectors that are able to pay higher wages for less challenging work.

We facilitated virtual meetings between LeadingAge MA members and members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation to hear first hand about the challenges facing aging services and how this work is a critical component of our nation’s infrastructure.

With community building and networking at the core of what we do, LeadingAge MA has been committed to continuing to offer safe and meaningful ways to gather during the pandemic, both virtually and in person.

The 2021 Annual Conference & Exhibition...

brought together over 150 aging service professionals for two half days packed with timely and valuable virtual education. A keynote session from John Cochrane of Humangood kicked off the day, followed by a record number of breakout sessions. The conference was closed by Carol Silver-Elliot, Chair of LeadingAge, who offered an inspirational address for our members. Attendees also had the opportunity to network with colleagues, as well as with the over 35 businesses at our expo.

The 2021 Senior Living Symposium...

offered the high quality education and networking attendees have come to know at this signature event, co-hosted with Platinum Sponsor Ziegler. Although circumstances kept us from being together in person, the close to 200 attendees took advantage of all that our virtual platform had to offer.

This year's event featured highly anticipated market analysis from our partners at Ziegler, paired with sessions from leaders in the field on how communities are balancing the demands of the pandemic with the need to plan for the future.

The 67th Annual Meeting of the Membership...

struck the perfect balance of virtual and in person gathering. We celebrated our newly elected Board members, expressed our gratitude to the outgoing Trustees and offered a long awaited opportunity to network safely in person at our celebration reception at Polar Park. During the virtual business meeting we welcomed Katie Smith-Sloan, CEO of LeadingAge, who offered her thoughts on the state of the field and how our members have stayed resilient during this challenging time.

LeadingAge MA is steadfast in our commitment to providing high quality leadership development opportunities. 2021 represents the 10th year of the LeadingAge MA Leadership Academy, and we celebrate the over 175 alumni who are working to create a brighter future for the field of aging services.

2021 LeadingAge MA Leadership Academy Graduates

Shamone Allien, Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services

Lamya Belghiti, Rogerson House

Elyse Coty, CLA

Erica Curcio, Goddard House Assisted Living

Gwen D'Angelo, Mount Pleasant Home

Cynthia Fanara, NewBridge on the Charles

Robert Faria, Hebrew SeniorLife

Krissy Fleming, North Hill

Effie Hathaway, Hebrew SeniorLife

Jill Jeffers, NotreDame Hospice

Cherie Metcalf, Hannah BG Shaw Home

Rose O'Mahony, Springhouse

Marina Polyakov, Hebrew SeniorLife

Leslie Reichert, Briarwood

Ashley Webster, D'Youville Senior Care

Laura Ziter, Sherrill House

We would like to thank Jodi Detjen whose service as the dean of

the Leadership Academy for past 10 years is greatly appreciated.

We wish Jodi all the best in her future endeavors!

The LeadingAge MA Board of Trustees...

is a group of passionate, dedicated senior living leaders who commit their time and effort to advancing the work of the Association. We are enormously grateful for their tireless leadership.

2021-2022 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Elected October 12, 2021

OFFICERS

Chair Nicole Breslin, Youville Assisted Living Residences

Immediate Past Chair Aline Russotto, Orchard Cove

Chair –elect Walter Ramos, Rogerson Communities

Treasurer Lisa Kubiak, Mary Ann Morse Healthcare

Clerk Anne Doyle, Lasell Village

President Elissa Sherman, LeadingAge Massachusetts

TRUSTEES

Marianne Delorey, Colony Retirement Community

Betsy Mullen, Chelsea Jewish Lifecare

Anne Thomas, Glenmeadow

Patrick Stapleton, Sherrill House

Margaret Mantoni, The Loomis Communities*

Joe Frias, North Hill*

Michael Ferrick, D'Youville Life & Wellness Communities*

Matthew Hollingshead, Hebrew SeniorLife*

Thank you to our outgoing Board Members for their dedicated service and their invaluable contributions...

Chris Sintros, Deaconess Abundant Life Communities

Gerry Foley, Covenant Heath

David Becker, Covenant Health

Alexandra Schweitzer, Strategic Trustee

Scott Ariel, Armenian Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

We also want to offer our special thanks and recognition to Aline Russotto for her steadfast and thoughtful leadership as Board Chair over the past two years.

*Elected October 12th to a first term.

Throughout the year, LeadingAge MA is supported by over 85 Business Affiliates and Partners who offer innovative solutions geared towards our provider members' needs. We are so grateful for their ongoing support.

We want to extend a special thank you to our Business Partners for their generous contributions to the work of the Association. Their year long commitment to LeadingAge MA and our members is greatly appreciated.

Platinum Partners

Gold Partners

The LeadingAge MA Staff...

might be small in size, but we are a big when it comes to our commitment to supporting members. As we reflect upon the year that has passed and look towards 2022, we are especially grateful to each and every one of you who has contributed to the important work of LeadingAge MA. This work cannot be done alone, and we are proud of our incredible community for the ways that you support each other and the Association.

We thank you all and look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

Elissa Sherman, President

Sarah Lacasse, Member Engagement Manager

Lynn Monaghan, Director, Events & Education

Pete Thompson, Accountant