We Need Each Other More Now Than Ever

Like most everyone in the world these days, my family and I have been working our way out of the pandemic routine we created and are now quickly adding professional and social events back into our lives. As a father of twin middle-schoolers and a second grader in waiting, our normally packed family calendar had essentially disappeared. So, it was both exciting and a relief to hear that the LeadingAge Annual Meeting + EXPO is being held in person in Atlanta, October 24 – 27, 2021.?

I’m sure the workload for LeadingAge staff and committee members grew immensely for this meeting given the additional logistical challenges, tightened timeline, and various unknowns. Still, thousands of us are grateful just for the opportunity to see each other again and immerse ourselves in everything aging services.

The LeadingAge Annual Meeting + EXPO always represents an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and friends and engage in rich discussions and learnings. This year should be all of that and more. As we see the pent-up demand for aging services manifesting itself into increased business in all service areas, we now face new challenges in addition to those we have been dealing with in the past. Couple that with the hiring situation and continued pressure for innovation, we need each other more now than ever.

I imagine that many organizations are having a similar conversation about who and how many people they can send this year. With many barriers in place that we didn’t face pre-pandemic, it’s not the easiest trip to make. However, if there was ever a time to collaborate on ways to move our organizations and our field forward, it is now! We need each other’s wisdom, experience, and solidarity more than ever. We’ve already started to see some remarkable post-COVID innovations, and we must do all we can to ensure we make the most of the opportunity we have in front of us.

I am looking forward to reconnecting with many of you in Atlanta and can’t wait to commiserate, laugh, and learn of all the exciting ways our field is changing and expanding. See you in Atlanta!

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Editor’s Note: LeadingAge invited members to share their perspective on taking the first step to move forward as a community at the the 2021 Annual Meeting + EXPO on October 24-27. This the first in-person event LeadingAge is hosting in more than 18 months and we’re counting on you to be there with us. Join thousands of your peers to learn, share, grow, and move forward. Together. For more info, visit the 2021 Annual Meeting + EXPO website.