ReImagining Care Models:

Financially Responsible Decisions in a Changing Landscape

New Orleans • January 21-22, 2026

Start 2026 with the clarity, strategy, and expert insight you need to make one of the most critical decisions facing Senior Care Providers.

Join us in New Orleans for ReImagining Care Models: Financially Responsible Decisions in a Changing Landscape—a two-day, executive-level symposium featuring nationally recognized leaders in finance, small-house innovation, market feasibility, culture transformation, and operational redesign. This gathering is built for senior executives who want concrete answers, real data, and proven models—not theory.

Across the country, C-suite teams are weighing major decisions:

  • Should we continue operating skilled nursing?
  • Should we reposition into a higher-acuity assisted living model?
  • Can we redesign into a small-house environment—and what does it really cost?
  • Is an exit from skilled nursing the financially responsible move?

This symposium tackles those questions head-on.
You’ll gain access to strategic frameworks, financial modeling considerations, design approaches, operational insights, and real-world case studies from organizations that have already made these pivots—successfully.

Featured Speakers.

Reimagine what’s possible in aging services at the 2026 ReImagining Aging Summit in vibrant New Orleans, a city alive with art, soul, and inspiration.

This two-day symposium brings together leaders, designers, industry experts and care innovators to explore the future of human-centered aging. Hear keynote insights from industry visionaries, tour the groundbreaking Poydras Home transformation, and engage in dynamic discussions on person-directed living, workforce culture, and operational design.

For Life Plan Community executives navigating the future of skilled nursing, this Summit is especially timely. Across the country, organizations are wrestling with what comes next—whether to continue investing in their skilled nursing centers, reposition them into a higher-acuity assisted living models, or exit the service line entirely. As reimbursement pressures, workforce shortages, and changing consumer expectations reshape the landscape, the question isn’t if to rethink skilled nursing—but how to re-think it.

This symposium is your one-stop shop to understand the full spectrum of creative, practical, and financially grounded options available. You’ll gain clarity on the emerging models, hear what peers are doing, and learn approaches that align safety, dignity, financial sustainability, and the lived experience of older adults.

Come to learn, connect, and be renewed by the rhythm of a city that celebrates life at every age—and leave with a clearer roadmap for the future of your organization.

Katelyn McCauley, Vice President, Head of Senior Living Research, Ziegler

Katelyn McCauley

Vice President, Head of Senior Living Research, Ziegler

Katelyn will share the latest information on senior living trends and the future of our dynamic and growing industry, with a particular focus on assisted living, memory care, skilled care and short-term rehab. She will explore innovations in and the future of our industry from multiple viewpoints including consumer expectations, market impact, development considerations, and more.

Karen Contrenchis

State Director, Louisiana & Mississippi, LeadingAge Southeast

Karen currently serves as State Director for Louisiana and Mississippi with LeadingAge Southeast, following her tenure as President & CEO of LeadingAge Gulf States. With more than three decades of experience in the long-term care field, she has led strategic, financial, policy, and member-focused initiatives supporting senior living providers. Karen also serves on the Louisiana Nursing Home Emergency Preparedness Review Committee and previously worked for 27 years at Woldenberg Village. She is a Licensed Facility Administrator in Louisiana.

Michael Starke

President and CEO at PMD Advisory Services, LLC

Michael has over 45 years of experience as a consultant in market feasibility analysis and product development for all sectors of the age 50 and older housing and health care continuum.

Eric Krull

Executive Vice President at THW Design

Eric Krull serves as Executive Vice President at THW Design, a multi-disciplinary architecture and design firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. Eric has dedicated his roughly 25+ year career to planning and designing senior living and care environments.

Jolie Harris

Dr. Jolie Harris

Assistant Professor, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing

Dr. Harris teaches in the areas of Biobehavioral Basis of Health, Health Policy and Politics, and Health Outcomes. Her academic work focuses on integrating data science and policy to improve elder care quality and outcomes.

John Ponthie

Co-owner of Southern Administrative Services, LLC

He has more than 25 years of experience in health care administration, including 16 years in hospital management and other ancillary services. Under Ponthie’s direction, his company developed the first for-profit Green House homes.

Erin Kolb – Chief Executive Officer, at Poydras Home

Erin Kolb

Chief Executive Officer, Poydras Home

Erin shares the transformative journey of Poydras Home’s shift from an institutional model to a household model—empowering residents as decision-makers and reimagining team roles around person-directed care.

Michelle Shank

Chief Operating Officer, LEADER

Michelle Shank is driven by her personal passion to impact the lives of older adults in Louisiana through supporting and educating families, healthcare providers, and the greater community.

Cynthia Thurlow – President + CEO, 3rd3rd

Cynthia Thurlow

President + CEO, 3rd3rd

Cynthia brings the lens of branding, communications, and culture—demonstrating how strategic storytelling and marketing can redefine perceptions of aging and create communities that inspire belonging and purpose.

What You’ll Learn.

Proven Alternatives to the Institutional SNF
Learn directly from leaders who have built and operated small-house models at scale, including for-profit and nonprofit perspectives, so you can understand what works, what fails, and what’s realistically replicable.

Operational & Workforce Impact
Explore models that reduce staffing stress, strengthen culture, and improve workforce stability, all while elevating resident experience. Learn from a messaging and marketing perspective how to differentiate your setting from your competitors running institutional living versus person-directed living.

Design That Supports Both Care & Cash Flow
Hear from architects and operational designers on how physical environments shape outcomes, staffing patterns, and financial performance. Also learn from a national brand marketer about how you can use this environment to WIN on census.

The Poydras Home Transformation Tour
Experience one of the most compelling household-model conversions in the country, with on-the-ground insights from the CEO who led it.

This is not a conference about aging in general. It’s a decision-making intensive for executives who must determine their organization’s next move.

You’ll leave with a clear understanding of your options, a deeper grasp of the financial and cultural implications of each, and a practical roadmap you can take back to your board, your leadership team, and your community.

ReImagining Aging Summit Agenda.

Date Time Details
Wednesday, January 21
 10:00–11:00 AM
Arrive and Meet Fellow Attendees
11:00 AM–12:15 PM
Welcome – Susan Ryan, CEO, AgingIN
  • Introduction and Symposium Overview
Overview of State Coalitions – Michelle Shank, LEADER
  • Louisiana Enhancing Aging with Dignity through Empowerment and Respect
  • The power of state culture change coalitions
Summit Engagement: Introductions, Intentions, and Impact
  • Participant introductions to unveil concerns and opportunities for discussion during the Symposium
12:15–1:15 PM
Reimagining Aging Keynote Speakers

Karen Contrenchis – LeadingAge Southeast, State Director-Louisiana & Mississippi. As State Director of LeadingAge Southeast, a prominent association representing four states, Karen will provide an insightful overview of today’s evolving senior care landscape. She will address critical topics shaping aging services, including regulatory shifts, reimbursement challenges, leadership development, workforce shortages, and occupancy trends. Special emphasis will be placed on innovation and innovative strategies and initiatives that support long-term care providers in navigating today’s complexities while remaining mission-driven and resident-focused.

Katelyn McCauley – Vice President, Head of Senior Living Research, Ziegler. Katelyn McCauley joined Ziegler in 2025 as Vice President, Head of Senior Living Research. She utilizes her strong foundation in predictive analytics, hypothesis testing, and strategic planning to support Life Plan Communities. Katelyn began her career in senior living as a Research Analyst and Project Manager. After roughly two years, she was promoted to Director of Senior Living Research, and then again to Director of Research and Operations. During this time she gained valuable insight into how to operationalize and implement data-driven decisions, while also building relationships with senior living executives. Katelyn holds a Master of Science in Psychological Science from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. She is passionate about answering real-world questions through transforming complex data into actionable insights.

Cynthia Thurlow – Founder & President, 3rd3rd. Cynthia will explore the often overlooked but essential role of branding, marketing, and lead generation in senior care. She will delve into how crafting a compelling message—and building a strategic marketing approach—can transform a care community into a vibrant, empowering, and inspiring destination. She will challenge attendees to think beyond traditional messaging and instead position their communities as places where seniors want to live—places that evoke excitement, purpose, and a true sense of belonging.
1:15–1:45 PM
LUNCH
1:45–2:15 PM
The Poydras Home Journey – Erin Kolb, CEO, Poydras Home

Poydras Home will share its journey of transforming care environments and organizational structures to enhance residents’ quality of life in newly built and renovated spaces—while honoring its history, culture, and community connections. Central to this transformation is ensuring each resident remains the primary decision-maker in their daily life. To support this person-directed approach, Poydras Home introduced a coaching model that empowers care partners to understand each resident’s health needs and lifestyle preferences. This initiative reimagines physical spaces, organizational systems, and financial models to create truly individualized care.
2:15–3:15 PM
Poydras Home Tour
  • Two three-story buildings, connected by a glass atrium and opened in the summer of 2023, offer private accommodation tailored to each individual’s needs within a small home setting.
  • Six Green House™ Homes: three 12-elder long-term care homes, two 14-elder long-term care homes, and one 14-elder assisted living home.
  • Renovated assisted living building incorporating a household model.
3:15–3:45 PM
BREAK
3:45–4:45 PM
Panel Discussion with the Poydras Home Team: Perspectives on Person-Directed Care

A diverse panel—featuring voices from the C-suite, Board of Directors, administration, and direct care—will share insights from their unique roles in the transformation from an institutional model of care to one where elders live with dignity, purpose, and the freedom to direct their own lives. This interactive session will invite participants to ask questions, share their perspectives, and engage in meaningful dialogue around the challenges and opportunities of implementing person-directed care.
4:45–5:15 PM
The Power of Partnership

Explore tools, technologies, and services from industry partners that promote resident dignity and autonomy, free up time for direct caregiving, and offer solutions to strengthen your organization’s financial performance.
5:15–6:30 PM
Networking Reception

Join fellow participants, industry leaders, and Poydras Home staff to connect, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations. Whether you’re expanding your professional network or deepening connections with peers, this informal gathering offers a valuable opportunity to build meaningful relationships with like-minded senior living professionals.
6:30 PM
Dinner on Your Own

Poydras Home is located in Uptown New Orleans on Magazine Street, the historic dining, shopping, and arts district of New Orleans. Enjoy dinner at one of the many great restaurants within walking distance. Dinner reservations are encouraged.
Thursday, January 22
 8:00–8:30 AM
Networking Breakfast
8:30–10:30 AM
Leading the Change: Transformative Approaches to Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living – an Interactive and Collaboration Discussion
  • Transforming Care Environments: Learn from a dynamic panel of leaders as they share how to reimagine senior care—from strategy and financial planning to implementing person-directed, coaching-based models that elevate quality of life.
  • Revitalizing Skilled Nursing: Explore bold strategies for struggling providers to rethink, reposition, and restore viability in today’s evolving care landscape.
  • Innovating Assisted Living: Discover how to design and operate assisted living communities that prioritize resident choice, engagement, and quality of life—while building sustainable, person-directed care models that work for today’s market.

Jolie Harris, LEADER

Eric Krull, THW Design

Michael Starke, PMD Advisory Services

Katelyn McCauley, Ziegler

John Ponthie, Southern Administrative Services
10:30–10:45 AM
BREAK
10:45 AM–12:30 PM
Interactive Deep-Dive Roundtables
  • Participants will engage in small-group discussions on key topics shaping the future of aging. Guided by experienced professionals, these sessions explore critical areas such as balancing mission and margin, making the business case, design innovation, and operational models.
  • Groups will tackle real-world challenges and opportunities, generating actionable insights and strategies that can be applied directly in their own care settings.
  • Each group will share a summary of their focus area, highlighting practical recommendations and implementation strategies. These presentations move beyond theory, emphasizing actionable steps for bringing innovative care models to life in real-world environments.
12:30–1:00 PM
LUNCH
1:00–2:30 PM
Creating a Plan of Action

Building on the insights gained throughout the Symposium and Roundtable Discussions, each attendee will be encouraged to create a roadmap that fits their specific goals for bringing ideas to life within their own care communities.
2:30–3:00 PM
Pathways to Progress: Susan Ryan, CEO, AgingIN

Wrap up & Call to Action

Come for the clarity.

Leave with a strategy.

And experience it all in a city that knows how to bring people together, spark creativity, and celebrate renewal.