LeadingAge Technology Leaders Named Finalists for McKnight’s Excellence in Technology Awards

The 16th annual McKnight’s Excellence in Technology Awards program has announced many LeadingAge members as finalists. Winners will be announced on Sept. 16, 2026, in a virtual ceremony. Several thought leadership webinars offering continuing education credits will precede the ceremony on Sept. 15 and 16. LeadingAge members are finalists in the following categories:

Building Bridges

• “Bridging care gaps through data exchange” – MatrixCare, LeadingAge Bronze Partner with CAST Focus

Creative Use of AI

• “AI-powered voice chat bot reduces anxiety, depression” – RiverSpring Living, LeadingAge CAST Patron
• “Nursing homes without walls: Attentive AI keeps seniors home” – Zemplee, LeadingAge Business Member
• “Retention Radar – Redefining retention with AI-powered insights” – Retention Radar, developed by LCS, LeadingAge Bronze Partner with CAST Focus.
• “Ryan: AI wellness companionbot for senior care” – DreamFace Technologies, LeadingAge Business Member
• “Zero falls with AI: A new benchmark in care” – Helpany, LeadingAge Business Member

Electronic Health Records (EHR) Integration

• “A partnership for transformation: Mary’s Woods, Parasol Alliance and PointClickCare” – Parasol Alliance, PointClickCare, LeadingAge Gold Partner with CAST Focus
• Mary’s Woods “How Ascent gained 135 days of length of stay” – ALIS by Medtelligent, LeadingAge Business Member

Falls Prevention, Management or Detection

• “How real-time visibility cut falls by nearly in half in just six months” – Tenera Care, LeadingAge Business Member
• “How United Zion achieved zero falls with AI” – Helpany, LeadingAge Business Member
• “Ninefold fewer falls through AI-powered passive monitoring” – Zemplee, LeadingAge Business Member
• “Building more with less through AI development” – Jewish Home Family, LeadingAge CAST Patron
• “Retention Radar – Redefining retention with AI-powered insights” – LCS, LeadingAge Bronze Partner with CAST Focus

Innovator of the Year

• “Closing the digital gap in aging” – Jewish Home Family, LeadingAge CAST Patron
• “Retention Radar – Redefining retention with AI-powered insights” – LCS, LeadingAge Bronze Partner with CAST FOCUS

Keep It Super Simple (KISS)

• “How real-time visibility improved overnight safety and proactive care” – Tenera Care, LeadingAge Business Member
• “Improve staff efficiency and care delivery” – CarePredict, LeadingAge Bronze Partner with CAST Focus, and ALIS by Medtelligent, LeadingAge Business Member
• “Simplifying admissions at scale – MatrixCare, LeadingAge Bronze Partner with CAST Focus

Quality

• “Next-generation rehabilitation with Armeo Power” – RiverSpring Living, LeadingAge CAST Patron
• “Protecting comfort care through passive fall protection” – Viconic Fall Defense, LeadingAge Business Member
• “VNS Health and Netsmart HVLDL mortality risk dashboard” – Netsmart, LeadingAge Bronze Partner with CAST Focus
• “Zero falls with AI: A new benchmark in care” – Helpany, LeadingAge Business Member

Resident Engagement and Recreation

• “How The Forum built one digital front door to community life” – The Forum at Rancho San Antonio, managed by LCS, LeadingAge Bronze Partner with CAST Focus and Cubigo, LeadingAge Business Member

Resident/Patient Monitoring and Safety

• “How United Zion achieved zero falls with AI” – Helpany, LeadingAge Business Member
• “Nursing homes without walls: Safer homes with AI” – Zemplee, LeadingAge Business Member
• “SmartHeart ECG speeds diagnosis and treatment” – RiverSpring Living, LeadingAge CAST Patron

Tech Champion

• “Empowering clinicians with real-world AI innovation” – WellSky, LeadingAge Business Member

Asbury Communities and United Methodist Communities Featured for Innovative Solutions

LeadingAge CAST Patrons Asbury Communities and United Methodist Communities were featured in HealthTech’s article “How 3 Leading Senior Care Organizations Approach Innovation.”

For Asbury Communities, the story featured concierge Joy, which uses AI to answer residents’ questions from Asbury’s resident engagement platform. The organization is also benefitting from robust information technology (IT) infrastructure and data analytics, plus new falls solutions, an innovation lab that gives residents input on the organization’s tech selections, and more.

CAST Commissioner Travis Gleinig described the three-layered innovation strategy at United Methodist Communities, where he serves as vice president of innovation and CIO. Elements include a strong infrastructure, tools that ease staff’s work, and a governance process for choosing and piloting new technology.

Parker Health Group Collaborating on Study to Create Holistic Senior Living

Parker Health Group, a LeadingAge CAST Patron, is one of several organizations supporting a three-year study called Reimagining the Future of Senior Living. Funded by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care and the MIT AgeLab, this collaboration will look at older adults’ coming needs and expectations for technology, as well as health, housing, wellness, and lifestyle.

The idea is to make senior living an “aspirational and holistic experience that generations of older adults increasingly value,” according to Senior Housing News. In addition to extensive research with older adults, the research will seek feedback from technology experts. McKnight’s Senior Living also covered the new collaboration.

Direct Supply Brings Service Robots to Senior Living

LeadingAge Business Member Direct Supply was mentioned in the McKnight’s Senior Living article “Robotics technology augments, not replaces, senior living workforce, expert says,” as a partner that has introduced Richtech Robotics’ products to senior living communities. These robots handle tasks such as dining, delivery, and bussing so that care teams can deliver the human touch to residents. The article emphasizes that robots are not taking jobs from humans but enabling more care for older adults.

DIRECTTV for Business Releases Report on Technology and Entertainment Trends

A technology report released by LeadingAge Business Member DIRECTTV for Business was featured by McKnight’s Senior Living in “Digital tools, high-speed internet now core senior living resident expectations.” The report, “Technology and entertainment trends in independent living communities” challenges assumptions around independent senior living residents age 64 and up. Surprisingly, 57% of respondents said they actively use artificial intelligence tools, and the same percentage believe their content is important to their personal well-being. Findings also include that use of streaming is rising, and residents are willing to pay for better entertainment.