Mark Parkinson

Much like historical battles fought and won by American ancestors, providers have to be ready to fight for “our lives and for our survival,” the head of the American Health Care Association said Monday.

“Critics don’t understand what we do, “Parkinson told the crowd at the opening general session of the AHCA/NCAL 62nd AHCA convention in Las Vegas. “Our industry is under attack. We’re going to fight, fight, fight and win these battles.” 

Parkinson encouraged the providers to engage in grassroots advocacy and participate in fly-ins to Washington, D.C. this fall, as well as contact their local representatives.  AHCA Board Chairman Robert Van Dyk also announced new research, called Care Conversations, that reflects family and residents’ experiences and concerns around skilled nursing care.

“These are real conversations with real people,” he said. “This research is nothing like what we’ve done before.”

Nearly 3,000 members attended educational sessions, saw exhibitor booths and attended a welcome reception at the Mandalay Bay Resort. The National Center for Assisted Living held its fifth annual NCAL Day on Sunday.

Bestselling author Daniel Pink, author of “A Whole New Mind,” delivered the opening keynote address. Corporate culture expert Tony Hsieh, the CEO of Zappos.com Inc., will be the featured speaker at the closing general session at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.