2026 Annual Meeting Schedule
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The 2026 LeadingAge New Jersey & Delaware Annual Meeting + EXPO is the must-attend event for leaders who are shaping the future of aging services.
This is your moment to connect with fellow trailblazers, share bold ideas, and gain inspiration to fuel your mission. Join us—and be part of shaping the future of aging.
Tuesday, June 16th
Stop by the Palladium Prefunction to check in and pick up your badge. Registration will be open from 10 am – 5 pm Tuesday, June 16th.
Members of our Board of Trustees will meet for a regularly scheduled Board Meeting from 9:30 am – 11:30 am on Tuesday, June 16th. This meeting is invitation only. A formal invitation will be sent to all Board members.
Kick off the 2026 LeadingAge NJ & DE Annual Meeting + EXPO with a dynamic session designed to inspire bold ideas and meaningful action. Leave energized and ready to drive impact in your organization and community! Snacks will be provided (lunch on your own – explore local options here).
A1: New Jersey & Delaware Public Policy Update
A2: How New Jersey’s Affordable Housing Framework Is Shaping Senior and Supportive Housing
A3: Retention 911: Reviving, Inspiring, Engaging, Retaining!
A4: Innovating Care: Jewish Home Family’s Journey with AI-Powered Pain Assessment
A5: Oh, I didn’t think of that: Hidden benefits of strategic master planning
B1: State of Play: Aging Services Policy Across the Continuum
B2: How the Medicaid Housing Supports Program (HSP) Helps Older Adults Stayed Housed
B3: Marketing as an Introvert: Leveraging Quiet Strengths for Big Impact
B4: AI, Cyber, and Data: The Strategic Trifecta for Senior Living
B5: The Best Mistakes We Ever Made: Lessons from the Trenches
2.0 NAB/NCERS Credit Hours
During this engaging workshop, Denise Boudreau, President of Drive Culture Outcomes, will guide leaders to take time to reflect on their own strengths and where they want to grow. Together, we’ll explore the 30 behaviors that exemplary leaders consistently demonstrate. The encouraging news? Nearly 40 years of research shows that these behaviors can be learned and practiced by anyone who is willing to show up and do the work. To support leaders beyond the session, each participant will receive the 30-Day Leadership Challenge Workbook, filled with simple, meaningful daily actions that build confidence, trust, and connection.
1.0 NAB/NCERS Credit Hour
Join the Aging Life Care Association for an interactive, roundtable-style conversation exploring the often underrecognized challenges older adults face while living in senior communities and affordable senior housing. Together, we’ll examine the impacts of ageism, solo aging, grandfamilies (grandparents actively helping raise grandchildren) , care coordination gaps, PACE programs, and the development of Multisector Plans for Aging. Designed for social workers, service coordinators, congregate services teams, clinical professionals, and anyone supporting older adults, this session offers a collaborative space to share insights, exchange strategies, and identify practical solutions that strengthen support systems and improve quality of life.
Keep the conversation going! Join our peer-led Networking Huddles, designed to give you time to reflect on what you’ve learned, share key takeaways, and dive deeper into the important topics shaping this year’s Annual Meeting. Connect with peers, exchange insights, and turn inspiration into action!
Cap off your first day at the 2026 LeadingAge NJ & DE Annual Meeting + EXPO at the Welcome Reception, hosted by the Leaders of Color + Allies Network, on Tuesday, June 16, from 5:30 – 7:00 PM in the EXPO Hall. Connect with fellow attendees, engage with our exhibitors, build new relationships, and celebrate the day in a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere. Light fare will be served—we look forward to seeing you there!
Wednesday, June 17th
Stop by the Palladium Prefunction to check in, pick up your badge, and get any questions you may have answered! Registration will be open from 7:45 AM – 4:30 PM on Wednesday, June 17th.
Fuel up for the day with breakfast in the Exhibit Hall! Join us in Palladium Ballroom A + B from 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM to enjoy a meal, connect with fellow attendees, and explore our diverse exhibitors. Don’t miss this chance to network and charge up for the day!
C1: Modernizing to Meet the Needs of the Residents
C2: Mindful Ethics: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach for Nursing Homes & Assisted Living
C3: From Assessment to Action: Building an AI Readiness Roadmap for Senior Living
C4: Maximizing the Full Value of Senior Living – Inside & Outside the Walls of the Community
1.0 NAB/NCERS Credit Hours.
In an industry facing disruption, workforce strain, and rising expectations, technical competence is no longer enough. In this candid and challenging session, Rev. Zina Jacque, Ph.D., asks senior housing leaders a sharper question: Do you actually know the value you bring—or are you borrowing it from your title? Through guided reflection and real-world leadership insight, participants will surface their personal value proposition—the unique, unreplicable contribution that shapes how they lead, decide, and influence culture. This session pushes beyond inspiration into clarity, confronting drift, burnout, and performative leadership with purpose, conviction, and truth. Leaders will leave with language for their value, confidence in their calling, and a renewed foundation for impact. Because when leaders lead from who they are—rather than what they manage—organizations, teams, and residents thrive.
Take a break and refuel with lunch in the Exhibit Hall! Join us in Palladium Ballroom A + B from 12:15 PM – 2:00 PM to enjoy a meal, connect with fellow attendees, and explore our diverse exhibitors. Don’t miss this chance to network and recharge!
D1: New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) Update
D2: Affordable Senior Housing in Focus: Key Updates from HUD
D3: The Value of Partnerships as a Model for Strategic Growth
D4: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Café: An early approach to dementia and memory issues.
D5: Leveraging technology to maximize resident experience and organizational growth
2.0 NAB/NCERS Credit Hours
Dementia care is evolving, and today’s professionals are being called to move beyond traditional activities and embrace a new rhythm – one grounded in neuroscience, person-centered engagement, and the transformative power of music. In this dynamic workshop, Kelly Dee, MMT, MT-BC, CDP, master’s-level music therapist and national dementia-care educator, explores how music activates preserved brain pathways, reduces distress, and restores connection for individuals living with dementia at every stage. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how rhythm, melody, and memory interact in the brain, and why music remains accessible long after language and executive functioning decline. Through real-world examples, research highlights, and practical demonstrations, Kelly illustrates how music can improve mood, decrease behavioral expressions, support ADL participation, and enhance staff-resident relationships. This workshop also provides actionable strategies for integrating music intentionally – not as entertainment, but as a clinical, evidence-based tool that elevates quality of life and strengthens community culture. Attendees will learn how to build individualized musical profiles, embed music into daily routines, support care transitions, and train frontline teams to use music therapeutically with confidence and compassion. Whether you are a leader, clinician, or frontline care partner, this presentation empowers you to modernize your dementia-care approach, improve outcomes, and create moments of joy and connection. It’s time to bring a new rhythm to memory care – one grounded in brain science, purpose, and humanity.
Keep the conversation going! Join our peer-led Networking Huddles, designed to give you time to reflect on what you’ve learned, share key takeaways, and dive deeper into the important topics shaping this year’s Annual Meeting. Connect with peers, exchange insights, and turn inspiration into action!
Connect with colleagues, reflect on the insights gained throughout the conference, and enjoy light food in a relaxed and welcoming setting. We look forward to seeing you there!
Thursday, June 18th
Stop by the Palladium Prefunction to check in and pick up your badge. Registration will be open from 8:00 am – 11:00 am Thursday, June 18th.
Start your final day on a high note with our Networking Breakfast—an opportunity to connect, reflect, and build meaningful relationships before the conference concludes.
Wrap up the conference together in our closing plenary session over some snacks (lunch on your own – explore local options here).
1.0 NAB/NCERS Credit Hour
In a field defined by constant change, the most powerful insights often come from those who’ve lived the longest. This session, led by Jack York, draws from a seven-year, cross-country journey gathering stories from elders and those who serve them in communities across the country. Through these conversations, leaders reconnect with the purpose that first drew them to this work. The voices of elders reveal lives that have shaped families, communities, and history—while the dedication of those who support them reflects the quiet, daily impact happening inside communities everywhere. You’ll laugh, reflect, and rediscover the extraordinary lives you change every day. Beyond the stories, practical takeaways show how intentionally capturing elder voices taps the power of storytelling, elevates quality of life, and deepens staff engagement and retention. Real examples demonstrate how listening with intention can influence culture and connection. purpose a living part of your organization—one conversation at a time.
