What This Means for Older Adults and Families
Quick Answer: Senior living leadership directly impacts quality, innovation, and daily life for older adults. Organizations that invest in staff development, technology, and industry collaboration are better positioned to deliver strong care, engaging programs, and forward-thinking solutions.
At the 2026 LeadingAge PA Annual Conference, professionals from across the aging services field gathered to share ideas, recognize leadership, and explore what’s next in senior living. Participation from the Presbyterian Senior Living team reflects ongoing investment in leadership, innovation, and advocacy that connects directly to the experiences of older adults.
This kind of leadership is one way to evaluate the quality and forward-thinking approach of a senior living community.
How to Recognize Strong Leadership in a Senior Living Community
For individuals and families exploring senior living, understanding how organizations lead and evolve can offer valuable insight into what daily life may look like in a community. The qualities below can demonstrate how a senior living organization invests in its people, engages with the broader industry, and continuously improves the experience for older adults.
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• Investment in staff training and leadership development programs
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• Active participation in industry conferences and professional collaboration
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• Recognition for advocacy, quality, or innovation within senior living
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• Implementation of new programs, technology or care approaches
Conference Speakers Share Expertise
Ongoing learning and knowledge-sharing help strengthen the experience within senior living communities. Sharing expertise across the field helps bring new ideas and proven strategies back to the communities where older adults live.
Several members of the PSL team served as featured speakers, sharing insights with aging services professionals from across the region.
Dan Davis, President and CEO, presented during the session “Strategies for Evaluating Resident Technology,” alongside collaborators from Prelude, CDW, and Thrive Center, Inc. The session explored considerations and best practices for assessing technology solutions that support residents.
Daniel K. Krieger, Chief Business Integration & Compliance Officer, and Deb Larkin, Vice President, Privacy & Compliance, also served as presenters for the session “Lurking in Plain Sight – The Duties You Didn’t See Coming.” Their presentation, delivered in partnership with Caring Communities, addressed emerging challenges and responsibilities within aging services operations.
Finally, team members from one PSL community, Kirkland Village, Bethlehem, PA joined together for a presentation, "Improving Care from Within." Staci Warsaw, Executive Director, and colleagues, Elizabeth Jensen, Director of Independent Living, and Ashley Harlacher, Nursing Home Administrator, and a resident presenter, shared insights on the community’s PEER program. The session highlighted the program’s impact and offered practical perspectives for peers across the aging services field.
Advocacy Leadership Recognized
Advocacy plays an important role in shaping policies that affect access, affordability, and quality in senior living.
Dan Davis was honored with the Advocate of the Year Award, presented during the Opening General Session on May 11. The recognition highlights leadership and commitment to advocacy efforts that support older adults and the broader aging services field.
As part of the award presentation, an advocacy video featuring Davis was shared with conference attendees, underscoring the impact of ongoing advocacy initiatives and the importance of continued engagement.
Volunteer Honored with Distinguished Service Award
Volunteer engagement is a key part of creating connection and purpose in senior living communities.
PSL was also recognized through the Distinguished Service Awards. Diane Dantos, who serves residents of Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg with her time and dedication, was named Volunteer of the Year. Diane previously won the PSL Altruism Award.
The award was presented during a General Session, recognizing Dantos for dedication and service that supports residents and enhances community life. Award recipients and their guests were later honored at a celebratory dinner held during the conference.
Leadership Development Milestone
The conference also marked a significant professional milestone for two PSL team members. Ashley Harlacher of Kirkland Village and Chris Garges of Pine Run Village, Doylestown, PA, were both recognized for completing the Fellows in Leadership program.
The nine-month program brings together emerging leaders in aging services to strengthen leadership skills, broaden perspective, and foster collaboration across the field. Ashley’s and Chris’ participation reflects PSL’s continued commitment to leadership development and investing in the future of aging services.
Ongoing training and leadership growth help ensure better care, more engaging programs and stronger community experiences.
Leadership, collaboration, and continuous improvement all shape what older adults experience in a senior living community. From innovation and advocacy to staff development, these efforts support environments that promote independence, connection, and quality of life.
