BOSTON — Today, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) officially welcomed more than 4,000 attendees to Delivering Solutions 26, its annual Convention & Expo dedicated to the long term and post-acute care profession. The annual convention is an opportunity for attendees to reconnect with colleagues, exchange ideas, and explore new solutions regarding the continued delivery of high-quality care for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
"Delivering Solutions allows long term care professionals to share their experiences and ingenuities so that we can enhance the care that residents receive," said Clif Porter, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. “Providers are standing at the precipice of a future that will demand bold thinking for an aging nation. This week gives us an opportunity to come together, learn from one another, and discover revolutionary approaches to shared challenges in the name of high-quality care."
Delivering Solutions 26 officially began this Sunday with the Rehabilitation Therapy Symposium and a milestone NCAL Day. As NCAL celebrates its 25th anniversary, its 20th annual NCAL Day drew a record crowd of more than 350 participants. The full day of assisted living education featured two keynote speakers and discussions on improving health outcomes, leadership, and continued quality improvement.
“NCAL Day is always an inspiring event for assisted living professionals, and we’ve made this year even bigger as we celebrate these momentous anniversaries for both NCAL and NCAL Day,” said LaShuan Bethea, executive director of NCAL. “We are honoring the past while looking toward the future, equipping caregivers with the tools to continue advancing care for the next 25 years and beyond.”
Delivering Solutions 26 continues today, beginning with a keynote speech from Josh Linkner, a prolific entrepreneur, venture capital investor, and innovation expert. He will walk through his five-step innovation framework for cultivating full-organization ingenuity and how it drives sustainable success. Tuesday will feature the debut of the Celebration of Excellence, a red-carpet-inspired evening honoring the record number of 2026 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award recipients.
In the closing session on Wednesday, Mountain View Nursing Home Administrator Ryan Hoover will inspire attendees with his story about how a 40-bed nursing home in rural Virginia is championing leadership and passion in long term care. Hoover’s experience with his facility, where 80 percent of care is delivered by volunteers living on campus, showcases how having a clear purpose rooted in strong values results in exceptional, person-centered care. The closing session will also include the formal award presentation for the recipients of the Provider ACE Awards program. The most recent recipients of the Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award, the Jan Thayer Pioneer Award, and several more program awardees will be honored.
“This annual gathering reflects what our profession does best: challenge ourselves, share what works, and keep moving forward to support seniors and individuals with disabilities,” shared AHCA Board Chair Chris Wright. “Delivering Solutions 26 creates that space while keeping quality care and the well-being of residents at the forefront.”
Delivering Solutions 26, which offers more than 60 education sessions and more than 380 exhibitors, runs through Wednesday, October 14.