Leaders in senior care are meeting directly with members of Congress and staff as they advocate for quality, sustainable funding and workforce.
It was the 2026 American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) Congressional Briefing on Capitol Hill.
Leaders in attendance from Good Samaritan – one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of senior care and services – included Nate Schema, president and CEO, as well as Aimee Middleton, chief operating officer, and Anna Minske, a long-term care administrator at Good Samaritan’s Ambassador location in New Hope, Minnesota.
“It’s a totally different ballgame this year,” Schema told Sanford Health News. “The last few years we’ve talked about how to recover from COVID or the status of a staffing mandate, but this year is a little different.
“There are a number of bills being discussed right now that impact our residents and caregivers, so I want to make sure their voices are heard in those conversations.”
Leaders are focusing on policies including the Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act, Train More Nurses Act and Caring for Seniors Act.
“As a nonprofit provider with more than 70% of our residents living in rural areas, we’re seeing firsthand how workforce gaps directly impact access to care for seniors who depend on us,” Schema said. “That’s why we’re advocating for practical solutions that strengthen the workforce pipeline and remove barriers.”
Focusing on quality
Minske’s senior care community has earned numerous recognitions for quality, including a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, an AHCA Silver – Achievement in Quality Award and a U.S. News Best Nursing Homes Award. She says quality at Good Samaritan doesn’t happen by accident.
“There have been a lot of good conversations around our workforce, how to better support the workforce here and around the country in skilled and assisted living facilities,” Minske said.
“We’ve seen patients come to us, maybe they need a longer stay but their insurance will no longer authorize a longer stay, so there’s been a lot of good conversation around what that looks like and how we can better support positive patient outcomes.”
Middleton hopes lawmakers understand policies in Washington, D.C., set the precedent for all Good Samaritan communities.
“I hope lawmakers hear the amazing things that Anna’s doing … and how she focuses on the culture of her team members, their job satisfaction and how that affects their residents,” Middleton said. “It’s important that they understand some of the tools and resources that we need to continue to raise the quality bar, if you will.”
Good Samaritan’s focus on quality shows.
A total of 22 Good Samaritan locations received the 2026 Bronze Commitment to Quality Award which signifies a location’s commitment to improving the lives of residents through quality care.
This distinction is the first of three progressive award levels through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program. The program honors long-term and post-acute care providers across the nation that have demonstrated their dedication to enhancing quality care for the residents they serve.
Highlighting investments into the future
Middleton said the organization has made innovative investments to enhance the resident experience, support the workforce and create a more sustainable future.
“We want members of Congress to hear about some of the investments we’re making like our partnership with the virtual care center for the My Care Line, to provide enhanced care in rural communities,” Middleton said. “Also, innovation in culinary services to influence the quality of food our residents receive.
“That’s part of the story we’re trying to tell here, hoping our lawmakers could walk alongside us and help us better improve the quality of care, food and everything our residents are very deserving of.”
View from the hill
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Posted In Leadership in Healthcare, Rural Health, Senior Services, Thought Leadership
