The LeadingAge PA Annual Conference is an annual highlight for the Varsity team and this year’s event was no exception. It’s always a pleasure to meet with friends and clients and make new connections. 

We also pay close attention to the trending topics overhead at shows like LeadingAge PA. Here’s a look at four conversations we found ourselves in the middle of during our time in the Poconos: 

CONSOLIDATION – We’re seeing more affiliations, mergers and acquisitions (or at least hearing about them) than ever before, including for-profit skilled nursing systems taking over not-for-profit faith-based SNFs. The mergers and acquisitions market for the senior living industry is incredibly active and shows no signs of slowing. 

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT – Reducing or eliminating agency support continues to be a priority as communities recognized the importance of developing a skilled workforce and maintaining a stable team to meet the needs of residents.

REIMBURSEMENTS – The delicate balance between providing top-notch healthcare services and managing financial resources is a tightrope walk that retirement communities navigate with precision and care. Keeping pace with reimbursements for the healthcare end of the continuum is a big part of that daily struggle. 

MIDDLE MARKET STRATEGIES – The middle market is a growing older adult population and we’re seeing more conversations around strategies to target and serve those who fall into that often overlooked gap. There are some unique models that are working well. It’s a market that Varsity is intimately familiar with and one that we’ll continue to develop strategies for in the future.