Why I Attend Fall Finance Conference
What makes the Fall Finance Conference a valuable experience for aging services finance professionals? We spoke with Taci Damstedt, Director of Finance at Dunwoody Village and co-chair of LeadingAge PA’s Finance Affinity Group, to hear what she finds most valuable about attending the conference, what she’s looking forward to this year, and how insights gained there have benefited her work.
What do you find most valuable about attending the Fall Finance Conference?
What I find most valuable about attending the Fall Finance Conference is hearing how others approach and tackle the challenges we face, whether they stem from regulatory changes or from engaging with the greater community to develop talent and create programs that enrich the lives of our residents. Attending sessions and listening to ideas from both those who are new to our industry and those who are more seasoned is valuable as well. It gives us the opportunity to learn from each other, support those starting new programs or initiatives, and celebrate their successes as those ideas take shape and make an impact.
What are you most looking forward to about this year’s conference?
I am looking forward to reconnecting with other professionals I have met. It is always nice to see familiar faces, catch up on how things have been going within their communities, and share ideas. I also like to connect with vendors face-to-face to provide feedback and learn of future improvements to their solutions or products.
What would you say to someone who is considering attending the Fall Finance Conference for the first time?
To someone who is considering attending the Fall Finance Conference, I would encourage them to go! It is a conference focusing on Finance and its ever-changing landscape. The sessions provide opportunities to balance education and building relationships with other professionals who understand the unique challenges we face in senior living.
What have you learned at the Fall Finance Conference that has been especially beneficial in your work?
I have really enjoyed hearing from others about how listening to and implementing ideas from team members led to a happier, more engaged team, which resulted in happier and more engaged residents. The creativity and solutions shared in prior sessions were a wonderful reminder of how small ideas can make a big difference and can be budget-friendly.
What financial challenges or issues facing aging services providers are you most interested in learning more about at this year’s conference?
I am particularly interested in learning how organizations are addressing the ever-growing presence of artificial intelligence in senior living and aging services. AI is quickly becoming part of many business functions, from accounts payable automation and payroll processing to summarizing financial reports, analyzing data, and improving operational efficiency. I'm interested in hearing how other providers are evaluating these technologies, where they are seeing meaningful value, and what safeguards they have put in place around accuracy, compliance, and data security. I am interested in learning from those who have embraced it as well as those who have chosen to take a more cautious approach, and I look forward to discussing that at this year's conference.
If you’re involved in finance or business strategy at a senior living organization, join Taci and others at the 2026 Fall Finance Conference on October 7-8 in Manheim, PA. Register Here.