Florida Pioneer Network

10/09/2025

Today is Ageism Awareness Day! Take the time to think about how our country's institutional bias when it comes to long-term care is due to ageism. Check out their website to learn more about ageism and what can be done about it. https://asaging.org/ageism-awareness/

08/23/2025

This is a horrible situation and Rachel Blumberg has been bringing media attention to it since it started. There is already a workforce crisis in senior care communities and Trump has made it even worse.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1179290120898942&id=100064538960345

The Trump administration’s cancellation of a humanitarian work permit program forced LeadingAge member Sinai Residences President and CEO Rachel Blumberg to let go of 10 dedicated team members working legally in the U.S. It was the hardest day of Blumberg’s entire 30-year career in senior living.

“They’re not just employees. They end up becoming family members, friends, and companions,” says Blumberg.

Vanessa Joseph, a temporary protected status recipient and Sinai Residence employee, is one of many workers at risk of losing her job–and her community.

Residents like 92-year-old Isobel Loring will feel the loss deeply: “If these people are not being allowed to work, there won’t be people to take care of us. These communities that have elderly people, there are no Americans that really want to do those jobs.”

Watch the full PBS NewsHour story by William Brangham, Layla K Quran, & Sam Weber: https://www-pbs-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/show/how-trumps-immigration-policies-are-affecting-caregivers-and-nursing-homes

07/30/2025

Here’s a photo of the three of them!

07/30/2025

We’re proud of Chris, too! Manda is wonderful too! We love collaborating with other state culture change coalitions!

LEADER is so proud of our President, Michelle Shank, for her participation in presenting at the LeadingAge Southeast 62nd Annual Convention and Exposition. She, along with Christopher Mulrooney of Florida Pioneer Network and Manda Mountain of Alabama Coalition for Culture Change, presented a session relative to culture change and person-directed living. Thank you, Michelle, for your dedication to LEADER and representing the Louisiana initiatives!

06/12/2025

FPN Steering Committee Chair, Chris Mulrooney, will be presenting a session on August 12th from 12:45-2 pm (CST) at the 2025 Center for Innovation Conference in St. Louis titled "Pathways to Culture Change Implementation: What Mobilizers & Administrators Can Learn from Each Other". The description reads: Person-directed living practices across the continuum of aging services should be a foundational guiding principle for all values-driven providers. Unfortunately, the concept of “culture change” is often not viewed as practical or actionable.
In 2022 and 2023, Florida Pioneer Network (FPN) conducted multiple online focus groups with Administrators and their teams across a wide diversity of communities based on licensure type (AL/NH), size (from

This Year's Must-Attend Conference Center for Innovation 2025 - Mobilize the Movement August 11 - August 14, 2025 • St. Louis, Missouri At CFI, People Are First. Always. In aging services, success isn’t measured by buildings or amenities—it's measured by

11/01/2024

FPN Chair, Christopher Mulrooney, MPS, PHD, presented a well attended session (135 people) on September 25th at the Consumer Voice Conference along with representatives from two other states that have a strong culture change coalition-long-term care ombudsman connection. The title for the session was "Building Community-What is Person-Directed Living?" Chris and his colleagues discussed what they are doing to advocate for and empower residents to live the life they choose.

09/29/2024

Residents’ Rights Month is right around the corner! Every October we honor long-term care residents and celebrate the dignity and rights of every individual receiving long-term services and supports. This year's Residents' Rights Month theme, The Power of My Voice, emphasizes self-empowerment and recognizes the power of residents being vocal about their interests, personal growth, and right to live full, enriching lives.

Visit the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care's website for resources, promotional materials, and more! https://theconsumervoice.org/events/2024-residents-rights-month

06/23/2023

11/15/2022

Come join our team at Florida Department of Elder Affairs! Last year, we assisted more than 1.2 million seniors through our programs and services. We are actively looking to fill various part-time and full-time positions across our agency. See which of our job openings could be your perfect fit at https://loom.ly/Gs0U2F4

06/08/2022

Discovering Ikigai - News from Pioneer Network.

05/11/2022

A great opportunity to learn more about the Eden path to person-directed care and culture change.

05/05/2022

Be sure to register for this series of educational programs by our sister coalition as they are all now free and should be excellent!