Dementia care is at the heart of assisted living. That’s why this year’s National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) Day attendees—a record of more than 300 assisted living professionals—lined up for the unique opportunity to learn more about what it is like to live with this diagnosis.

NCAL Day 2025 featured the Dementia Empathy Experience Program (DEEP), an interactive and immersive session that puts participants in the shoes of someone living with dementia. Through hands-on stations and expert-guided insights, they gained a deeper understanding of the cognitive, emotional, and sensory challenges residents face every day.

“Nearly half of residents in assisted living have Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementia,” said Pam Truscott, NCAL Director of Quality Improvement. “This exercise is meant to help providers better understand the challenges they face with even simple tasks—such as hanging up a jacket—and give them the understanding that empowers teams, strengthens care, and deepens their impact on residents’ lives.”

DEEP was one of the multiple sessions offered throughout NCAL Day. The morning keynote speaker, Ralph Peterson, inspired attendees and shared strategies for attracting and retaining employees. Erin Thompson, the closing keynote speaker, helped attendees explore how to overcome common obstacles—mindset, boundaries, and energy mismanagement—to create vibrant, engaged, and purpose-driven communities. 

A multitude of other education sessions were offered throughout the day. Topics included proactive management strategies, technology and improving outcomes, the health and wellness director, population health strategies in assisted living, building trust through data, and value-based care and building networks.

A highlight of the afternoon was the fireside chat on the future of assisted living. NCAL Executive Director LaShuan Bethea, Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs Jill Schewe, NCAL’s Truscott, and NCAL Immediate Past Board Chair Gerald Hamilton discussed how the assisted living customer base is changing and how providers can change with it, identified opportunities to strengthen relationships and the impact on improving care, and highlighted how the demands of the profession have changed.

“There are so many facets of assisted living that are poised to change in the near future—from a growing population who will need our care to how we deliver it,” said Bethea. “I’m excited that we get to have this conversation and engage the providers who are on the front lines of the evolving profession.”

NCAL Day is an annual education and networking event for professionals in the assisted living industry and is held on the Sunday of Delivering Solutions, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) Convention and Expo. Visit www.ncal.org to learn more about the National Center for Assisted Living.