October 29, 2024 Washington, DC — Aging services leaders’ innovation, leadership, and dedication to serving older adults are front and center at this week’s LeadingAge Annual Meeting at the Music City Center in Nashville. The annual event– the largest of its kind that attracts mission-driven providers representing the full continuum of aging services–this year brings together over 6,000 attendees from across the country to learn, strengthen networks, and find inspiration in one of the sector’s most unique gatherings, hosted by the association of nonprofit providers of aging services.

Lourisa “Lulu” Solomon, RN, today Tuesday, October 29 receives the 2024 Joan Anne McHugh Award for Excellence in Frontline Nurse Supervision. This year’s award recognizes the critical role that frontline nurse supervisors play in the long-term services and supports (LTSS) workplace. A native of the Philippines, Solomon pursued a career in health care so she could follow in the footsteps of her mother, a midwife, and her aunt, a nurse. She worked briefly in acute care and began her long career in aging services after moving to the United States in 1985. For the past four years, Solomon has worked as a staff development coordinator, infection preventionist, and supervisor at New Jersey Eastern Star Rehabilitation and Nursing in Bridgewater, NJ. In that multifaceted role, she implements training programs for direct care professionals, mentors and guides those caregivers through their professional development, and leads the infection control response. She also supervises 45 care team members while providing hands-on nursing care to 70 residents. Read more about Lourisa here.

David Gehm, president and CEO of Wellspring Lutheran Services, on Monday, October 28 received the 2024 Award of Honor. This esteemed accolade recognizes Gehm’s outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to community service and advancing the quality of care for older adults. Under Gehm’s leadership, Wellspring Lutheran Services has achieved significant milestones in providing compassionate care and nurturing environments for older adults, as well as helping foster children and families in need throughout Michigan. Over Gehm’s 30 years as chief executive, Saginaw-based Wellspring has evolved to become one of the state’s leading providers of human care services, offering a broad range of resources and supports that impact more than 15,000 of Michigan’s most vulnerable populations each year. Read more about Dave here. 

“Lulu and David both exemplify the heart and dedication that drive aging services forward,” said Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge. “Lulu’s unwavering commitment to mentoring and developing caregivers in long-term services is a testament to her passion for compassionate care, while David’s visionary leadership at Wellspring Lutheran Services has transformed the lives of thousands, creating nurturing environments for those in need. Together, embody the spirit of mission-driven service that our sector strives to live by. We congratulate both of them on their achievements and thank them for their dedication to the betterment of our field.”