AAHSA President and CEO Larry Minnix
AAHSA President and CEO Larry Minnix

It’s official: The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging will become LeadingAge, the group announced Monday.

Approximately 40% of members voted recently in an election to approve the name change, said AAHSA President and CEO Larry Minnix. The final tally was 85% for the name and 15% against the name in voting that closed in mid-August. The new name will take effect in early 2011—the 50th anniversary year for the agency. Legal paperwork and transitioning steps have already begun.

The new name will “reinforce the kind of leadership and innovation that our members have been involved in for a long time,” Minnix said.

AAHSA leaders have been involved in a process to rework the brand for 18 months, according to Minnix. The board approved the new name before it was pitched to members. With the new name also comes a new mission statement: “Expanding the world of possibilities for aging.”