Washington, D.C. — One of the most visible voices for nonprofit nursing homes and aging services is preparing to exit the stage. Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge, will step down effective March 31, 2027, closing out more than two decades with the organization.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve LeadingAge for the past 10 years as president and CEO, and for 10 years before that as chief operating officer,” Sloan said in a statement announcing her departure. “Our vision of an America that values older adults and those who serve them has never been more important.”
A Legacy of Advocacy
Under Sloan’s leadership, LeadingAge has grown into one of the sector’s most influential trade associations, representing over 5,300 nonprofit aging services providers across the United States. The organization has been at the forefront of major policy battles, including the fight against the federal nursing home staffing mandate finalized in 2024.
Sloan emerged as a leading voice for nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing back against what she described as unfair characterizations of the industry. In a 2023 USA Today op-ed, she wrote that nursing homes had been “uniformly cast in the role of villain” — a narrative she argued was emotionally compelling but failed to capture the complexity of caring for vulnerable older adults during an unprecedented crisis.
Her tenure also saw LeadingAge expand its advocacy beyond traditional nursing home care to encompass the full continuum of aging services, including workforce challenges that continue to reshape the sector.
What Comes Next
LeadingAge’s board has already formed a search committee to identify Sloan’s successor. Board chair Christie Hinrichs said the committee will “undertake a thorough process, honoring Katie’s legacy and positioning the organization for continued success in service to our members and our shared mission.”
The timing of Sloan’s departure places it squarely within a pivotal period for nursing home policy. The sector is still adjusting to the risk-based survey model that took effect September 8, and providers are bracing for potential Medicaid funding changes tied to ongoing federal budget negotiations.
Industry observers say Sloan’s exit will mark the end of an era for LeadingAge, which has distinguished itself as the primary advocacy organization for nonprofit providers — a distinction that matters as for-profit chains continue consolidating market share.
Sloan leaves with a characteristically optimistic outlook. “I step down knowing that LeadingAge stands on a solid foundation, with a brilliant and important future ahead,” she said.
The search for her replacement is expected to draw significant attention from across the aging services landscape, with the next CEO inheriting an organization positioned at the center of some of the most consequential policy debates facing American long-term care.
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