Q: What brought you to LeadingAge at the end of 2016?
A: It was personal — my mother and father are in a CCRC in Ann Arbor, MI. I have been in health policy for decades and decided to come back to health issues specific to aging.
Q: What are your plans?
A: The goals were set by the board, and it’s to advance the idea of workforce as a strategy for LeadingAge. A lot of people have said this is the No. 1 issue, and I am focused like a laser on it.
Q: What’s the No. 1 thing people ask you about?
A: Recruitment and retention. How do we get people into the field of aging and how do we keep them there?
Q: What’s your advice?
A: It’s not something that is fixed overnight or over a year. We have short-term and long-term goals. Among these are framing, which is how do we show the issue of working in aging as valuable and valued. Another area is looking at best practices. A third priority is looking at our superstar states.
Q: Is there anything else you want people to know?
A: It’s exciting and a privilege to be here. All the stars are aligned about this issue.
From the April 01, 2017 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
