Six senior care facilities across Delaware have rejoined the New Jersey branch of LeadingAge, a national trade association for senior care and aging services.
LeadingAge New Jersey President and CEO Jim McCracken announced that Cokesbury Village in Hockessin, Country House in Wilmington, Manor House in Seaford, St. Francis LIFE in Wilmington, The Moorings at Lewes, and Westminster Village in Dover joined the organization earlier this year.
Now rebranded LeadingAge New Jersey & Delaware, the regional organization, will debut in Dover on March 5.
“I’m beyond excited to be expanding our association work,” McCracken said in a statement. “The landscape of aging services is changing. There has never been a time in our history when the multi-specialty, interdisciplinary approach to aging services was more important than it is today.”
LeadingAge is a not-for-profit association that represents 6,000 members all focused on senior services across the nation. With its 38 state partners, LeadingAge focuses on legislative advocacy and expanding education.
Founded in 1931, LeadingAge New Jersey has more than 140 members and reported about $964,500 in total revenue in Fiscal Year 2018, according to Internal Revenue Service records.
LeadingAge once had a branch in Delaware years ago, but after leadership retired, many members turned to the Delaware Health Care Facility Association, according to McCracken.
Now the six Delaware senior care facilities are breaking from the Delaware Health Care Facility Association to return to the LeadingAge fold. McCracken told the Delaware Business Times that it was less about competition and more of finding an association that aligns with their values.
“There’s different mindsets out there, and ours is focused on the mission of enabling older adults to live life to the fullest. We do that through advocacy, education and networking,” McCracken told DBT.
“We represent different aspects of senior care, from affordable housing, nursing homes and continuing care communities, and now we have a great opportunity to grow that message in Delaware,” he added.
By Katie Tabeling
ktabeling@delawarebusinesstimes.com
