2022 Public Policy Institute Agenda
All times shown are Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Monday, March 7
11:00 AM
- Registration Open | The Gallery/Falling Flowers
1:00 – 1:15 PM
- PPI Kickoff: The Future of Senior Living | Conservatory Ballroom B/C
Welcome and Introductory Remarks from James Balda, President & CEO of Argentum and Pat Mulloy, Chairman of Argentum
1:15 – 1:35 PM
- Argentum Advocates for Seniors | Conservatory Ballroom B/C
Call to action from Maggie Elehwany, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Argentum
1:45 – 2:30 PM
- Cutting Edge Alzheimer’s Disease Trends and Resources | Conservatory Ballroom A/B/C
Discover the latest research priorities and public policy objectives of one of the nation’s premier organizations leading the fight to conquer Alzheimer’s and dementia. Also experience insight from AARP, the nation’s largest organization dedicated to Americans over age 50, on the future of community-based care. Presenters will introduce BrainGuide, a first-of-its-kind platform that empowers people with knowledge and resources to take the best next-steps in managing their own or a loved one’s brain health. Learn how to implement the most dynamic strategies to help prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia, and gain access to the resources to living a quality life with memory disorders.
- Presenters:
Brendan Flinn, Senior Policy Advisor, AARP
Niles Godes, Chief Government Relations and Policy Office, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s
Brooks Kenny, Vice President, Customer Engagement and Partnerships, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s
2:45 – 3:30 PM
- Building the Senior Living Workforce Our Residents Need | Conservatory Ballroom A/B/C
Senior living’s chronic workforce challenges were exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. This overview of the current state includes strategies proven effective to attract workers, as well as a look at Argentum’s workforce development initiatives and programs and how these have reduced turnover and increased retention. We’ll also review state workforce development programs participants could tap for senior living, and update participants on Argentum’s efforts to increase access and funding for federal workforce development programs.
- Presenters:
James Balda, President & Chief Executive Officer, Argentum
Peter Corless, Executive Vice President of Enterprise Development, OnShift
Maggie Elehwany, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Argentum
3:45 – 4:45 PM
- Current Tensions and Solutions to Reimagine Assisted Living | Conservatory Ballroom A/B/C
Innovation backed by research highlights this panel on building and forming senior living communities, led by the author of the recently published “The Imperative to Reimagine Assisted Living.” Research presented identifies key tensions in assisted living and points to potential solutions in the areas of assisted living models, regulation, financing, residents, and nurse and direct-care workforce. Next, new consensus recommendations regarding accreditation, medical care, and mental health in assisted living will be discussed, as well as lessons learned from COVID.
- Presenters:
Denise Hobson, Program Director, Accreditation Commission for Health Care
Frances Messer, Chief Executive Officer, North Carolina Assisted Living Association
Paul Williams, Vice President of Government Relations, Argentum
Sheryl Zimmerman, PhD, Kenan Distinguished Professor and Co-Director, Program on Aging, Disability, and Long-Term Care, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, Director of Aging Research, School of Social Work, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
4:45 – 5:45 PM
- A Senior Living Industry Outlook: Where Do We Go From Here? | Conservatory Ballroom A/B/C
Discuss with a veteran industry insider today’s key operational and economic indicators and what the short- and long-term future holds. Through bottom-line focused analysis, we’ll look at how the ongoing pandemic will affect projected growth. Topics include factors supporting demand for senior housing moving forward, the geographic supply-demand picture, and addressing challenges such as the staffing recruitment and retention crisis and the lack of affordable housing and care for America’s large middle-income adult cohort.
- Presenters:
Beth Burnham Mace, Chief Economist and Director of Research, The National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC)
Tana Gall, Chief Executive Officer, Merrill Gardens
Chris Winkle, Argentum Board of Directors
6:00 – 7:00 PM
- Welcome Reception at the Conrad Hotel | The Gallery
Meet the Keynote Speaker

Charlie Cook is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading authorities on U.S. elections and political trends. Charlie founded the independent, non-partisan Cook Political Report in 1984, serving as Editor and Publisher until August 1, 2021 when Amy Walter took over those roles, ownership and management of the venerable newsletter. Charlie will remain as a contributor to the renamed “Cook Political Report with Amy Walter.”
In addition to lecturing, Charlie will continue to write his weekly column for National Journal and serving as a political analyst for both National Journal and for NBC News. Cook is also a co-author of the 2020 and 2022 editions of The Almanac of American Politics.
Al Hunt in the Wall Street Journal has referred to Charlie as “the Picasso of election Analysis” while the New York Times has referred to the Cook Political Report as “a newsletter that both parties regard as authoritative.” In 2010, Charlie was the co-recipient of the American Political Science Association’s prestigious Carey McWilliams award to honor “a major journalistic contribution to our understanding of politics.” In 2013 Charlie served as a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can register to attend the event
Argentum is a private, non-governmental nonprofit association serving the senior living community. Argentum’s events, publications, and other services are provided exclusively to owners and operators of senior living communities and to suppliers to those owners and operators. Argentum reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to accept or reject access to, or participation in, the association’s events, publications, and other services. If you’re a member of the media and would like to be considered for access, please email pconnole@argentum.org to request this accommodation.