Phil Fogg Jr.

Registration is in full swing for the largest annual conference of the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry (NIC). All events will take place Oct. 23-25 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago.

The event will run from Monday through Wednesday this year, instead of its typical end-of-week span. As usual, a variety of educational sessions of interest for skilled nursing, assisted living, independent living and other types of operators will take place. Topics will range from lending and finance practices to labor, regulatory and caregiving issues.

“The senior housing and care industry is at an inflection point,” event organizers said. “Disruptions continue to be felt throughout the U.S. economy, labor markets, capital markets, health care, and the preference of aging consumers. Meeting the housing and care needs of older adults requires increased sharing of information, collaboration, and agility.”

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan (R-WI) will be the economic keynote speaker at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 24. 

Ryan “possesses unparalleled insights and experience across a wide range of transformative business, economic, policy and geopolitical issues, and their potential to reshape society,” according to NIC organizers.

“Speaker Ryan will provide an easily digestible explanation of the interconnectivity of all the elements in play in the current risk environment,” they add. “He will thoughtfully outline potential scenarios for how pivotal policy decisions may play out and put forth practical action steps for developing solutions for tomorrow’s issues, today.”

The skilled nursing keynoter will be Phil Fogg Jr. (pictured), CEO and president of Marquis Companies and current board chairman of the American Health Care Association. He will speak at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 25. He will deliver “keen insights into how to not only survive, but thrive given the current challenges faced by the industry.”

Another program highlight figures to be the session with Joanne Pike, DrPH, CEO of Alzheimer’s Association, who will share their latest research. Attendees will learn about novel treatments for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia and practical applications for the care and support of those senior living residents.

“The skilled nursing sector has seen numerous challenges over the past few years, including pandemic impacts, regulatory changes, managed care expansion, staffing shortages and the move to home and community-based services. This tsunami of events is causing operational and financial hardship for operators and investors alike,” organizers note. Despite these threats, the skilled nursing sector still presents opportunity for growth given the demographics of the aging population and the sector’s place in the post-acute healthcare delivery system.

Visit the NIC event website to register or learn more on the event.