Policy and Advocacy
LeadingAge’s national advocacy efforts delivered consequential wins this year. Federal minimum staffing mandates that providers could not meet were reversed; proposals to cap Medicaid funding and eliminate health care–related taxes were stopped; improvements were secured for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s affordable senior housing preservation program; more than 130 regulatory relief recommendations were submitted; and $915 million in planned cuts to home health were halted.
Member participation reached new heights. Providers completed more than 6,200 advocacy actions—nearly double last year—through alerts, direct messages to Congress, and legislative visits. Engagement with national tools remained strong as members downloaded more than 32,000 resources and registered nearly 5,000 times for networking programs.
2025 Learning Hub, Shared Learning, and Leadership Development
This year saw significant growth in the Learning Hub. Members accessed more than a dozen live online events, more than 25 new OnDemand offerings, and a library that now exceeds 200 resources. New governance materials broadened support for board leadership across the field.
Shared learning efforts continued with two cohorts of the Dementia Inclusion Series, helping organizations advance more inclusive environments for people living with dementia. Leadership programs welcomed the nineteenth Leadership Academy class, more than a dozen first-time CEOs through the Fellowship Program, and two cohorts in the six-week Next Level Leadership Series.
2025 LTSS Center Research, Advocacy, and Thought Leadership
The LeadingAge LTSS Center advanced key priorities across research, workforce, and public policy. Work with the Moving Forward Nursing Home Quality Coalition and 23 Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Programs supported development of registered apprenticeship models for certified nursing assistants. Five new DC Fellows joined the LTSS Center to expand research capacity.
The Center documented early feasibility of LDcare to support long-distance caregivers of people living with dementia and provided analysis on how Medicaid reductions could affect beneficiaries. LTSS Center Co-Director Robyn Stone shared U.S. affordable housing best practices at the Seoul Senior Forum. The Leaders of Color Network continued its growth, reaching 862 members—up 33 percent from last year.