Agenda

Gather for a warm welcome from the the Senior Housing News team, as they set the stage for the high-impact sessions, networking opportunities and industry insights set to unfold.

Over the next five years, the 80-plus population is expected to grow 29%. Ventas is preparing for the demand runway by growing its senior housing operating portfolio, also known as SHOP. In 2026, the company is standing at the precipice of what its leaders believe are great years ahead. Now, it's just a matter of execution. Join us for this discussion with Ventas CIO and EVP of Senior Housing Justin Hutchens as we talk about the road for Ventas and what it means for the wider industry.

Take a breather between sessions to mingle with senior living leaders, exchange ideas across development and care, and build relationships that drive industry innovation.

In 2026, senior living development is frozen solid. New community openings are near or at historic lows. The industry faces a rapidly growing "investment gap." During this panel, hear from three senior living developers and operators about the future of development in senior living, including the biggest challenges and where opportunities lie.

Meal or no meal? How is the active adult model growing? What are the best ways to market these communities in a quickly changing digital landscape? These are all big questions on the minds of top active adult operators. During this session, we'll talk about operations (such as whether to include food), how active adult companies are widening their services for the demand ahead and how they're crafting marketing strategies that attract prospects in a fast-paced online world.

Description: Memory care is a rapidly evolving sector for senior living operators, both with regard to demand and services. In the coming years, millions of older adults will need the services of memory care operators. There may not be enough beds to serve all of them, at least if current trends hold. What does that mean for the industry, and where should memory care operators focus their time and energy now? During this panel, we'll trace the future of memory care and dig into what leading operators are doing today to improve their businesses tomorrow.

Refuel and recharge with senior living leaders by enjoying lunch, where meaningful introductions and collaborative conversations are always on the menu.

SHN+ members are invited to join a collaborative discussion on the forces shaping senior living development, design, and care during an exclusive networking lunch.

Take a breather between sessions to mingle with senior living leaders, exchange ideas across development and care, and build relationships that drive industry innovation.

Residential assisted living communities -- sometimes referred to as the small-home model -- are having a big moment in 2026. The product type has existed for many years, but it is now poised to serve a unique niche as the boomers age into senior housing in the years to come. Join us for this session about how three residential assisted living companies are growing their models and why they believe they are well positioned to serve the needs of the baby boomers.

It's a cliche that assisted living of today is the skilled nursing of yesterday. But it's true that senior living operators have many more tools to keep older adults living in their communities, even as their medical conditions necessitate more high-acuity care. Tune in to this panel to learn the place that assisted living has on the care continuum and why a growing number of operators believe that the product type can serve more residents than ever before.

There's more to running a senior living portfolio than maintaining occupancy. From staffing and expenses to technology and referrals, this panel will cover the operational playbooks of leading operators in today's dynamic and increasingly complex landscape.

Unwind after a day of sessions by reconnecting with peers and continuing conversations with the senior living executives, operators, clinicians, designers, and capital partners driving innovation and excellence across the industry.

Take a breather between sessions to mingle with senior living leaders, exchange ideas across development and care, and build relationships that drive industry innovation.