November 16, 2020 Washington, DC — Aging services providers across the country are coming together to share wisdom gained and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Even without comprehensive and coordinated support from government officials, mission-minded providers developed innovative solutions to protect and nourish the lives of millions of older adults and care workers throughout the country’s worst health crisis.

LeadingAge, the association of more than 5,000 nonprofit providers of aging services, introduces the Pandemic Playbook, an interactive collection of insight, tools, and best practices for serving older adults during a catastrophic health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.

While originally conceived to help ensure that aging services providers can prepare for and mitigate the impact of a future pandemic, the playbook will be a timely and much-needed resource as we head into what experts are predicting will be the “the darkest days of the pandemic.”

“LeadingAge members have always relied on shared learning. Our collective power is made greater through sharing, learning, and collaboration–and never has that been more important,” said Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge. “The playbook captures the creativity and innovation our members rely on to endure months of battling COVID-19.”

Developed in partnership with an expert panel and staff contributors, the playbook is a comprehensive resource for aging services providers that covers critical issues including financial strategies, crisis intervention, infection control, workforce support, and psychological wellness of staff and residents.

In addition to collecting their pandemic best practices, LeadingAge further recognized all of its members during its Annual Meeting Virtual Experience. Sloan presented the shared Award of Honor, the highest award the association bestows, for members’ bravery, leadership, hard work, and courage throughout the pandemic.

“The pandemic has brought out the resilience in all our members and I am in awe of what you have faced and what you have overcome this year,” said Sloan during the “Focusing on a Different Future” keynote session on Thursday, November 12.

Attend the session on the Pandemic Playbook at the LeadingAge Virtual Experience.

26-G A Pandemic Playbook: Lessons Learned from Aging Services

Tuesday, November 17, 1:15-1:45 p.m. ET

Press attend free of charge. Registration instructions are here.

We represent more than 5,000 aging-focused organizations that touch millions of lives every day. Alongside our members and 38 state partners, we address critical issues by blending applied research, advocacy, education, and community-building. We bring together the most inventive minds in our field to support older adults as they age wherever they call home. We make America a better place to grow old. For more information: www.leadingage.org