Western Massachusetts Elder Care Conference Taking Place Today
HOLYOKE — More than three decades after its founding, the 34th annual Western Massachusetts Elder Care Conference will bring together healthcare professionals, senior service providers, caregivers, advocates, educators, and community leaders from across New England today, June 4, at Holyoke Community College’s Kittredge Center. The conference theme for 2026 is “The Resilience Continuum: Elevating Care Across Communities.”
The conference has become one of the region’s most respected educational events focused on aging, attracting professionals from hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living communities, hospice organizations, home care agencies, senior centers, legal services, and community-based organizations. Participants can earn continuing education credits while exploring some of the most pressing issues facing older adults and those who care for them.
This year’s conference arrives at a critical time. As the population of older adults continues to grow, healthcare providers and families alike are navigating increasingly complex challenges related to dementia, caregiving, long-term care planning, workforce shortages, ageism, end-of-life decision making, and the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence in healthcare.
Among the conference highlights are sessions focused on personal stories and lived experiences of individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia; artificial intelligence and its practical applications in healthcare; supporting family caregivers and reducing caregiver burnout; hospice and end-of-life care education; legal and advocacy issues affecting nursing home residents; ageism and changing perceptions of aging; housing transitions, relocation stress, and care navigation; long-term care funding and planning strategies; and LGBTQ+ aging and community support initiatives.
“The conference exists because professionals across our region need opportunities to learn from one another, build connections, and strengthen the systems that support older adults,” said Mary-Anne Schelb, chair of the Western Massachusetts Elder Care Conference steering committee and regional director of Business Development for JGS Lifecare. “The issues we discuss here impact nearly every family at some point. Whether it’s caring for a parent with dementia, navigating a hospital discharge, planning for long-term care, or helping someone age with dignity and purpose, these conversations matter.”
The event is organized by a multi-disciplinary steering committee representing senior living, healthcare, advocacy, legal services, aging services, and community organizations throughout Western Mass.