Member News
February 20, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 19,2026 – The American Seniors Housing Association, ASHA, is delighted to announce that its President, David Schless, will be honored at the 12th Annual Alzheimer’s Association Vision Gala. Schless will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. The 2026 gala is hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area chapter.
“Dave has been a longtime supporter of the Alzheimer’s Association, a steadfast champion of our cause, and an advocate for people and families facing Alzheimer’s and dementia,” said Joanne Pike DrPH, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association.
“Since 2014, ASHA members have raised more than $51 million to support the Alzheimer’s Association efforts to accelerate Alzheimer’s and dementia research, drive risk reduction and early detection, and maximize quality care and support,” Pike added. “As President of the American Seniors Housing Association, Dave’s vision and ability to unite ASHA members around a shared purpose leaves a lasting legacy that will continue to transform lives well into the future.”
The Alzheimer’s Association 2026 Vision Gala will be held on Friday, May 8 in Washington, D.C. at Grand Hyatt Washington. Since its inception, this annual event has raised nearly $11 million to support vital care, services and fueling groundbreaking research to discover new treatments for Alzheimer’s and dementia.
David Schless is humbled to receive this year’s lifetime Achievement Award. “I generally prefer being behind the scenes to be perfectly honest,” said Schless, “But having been involved in the Vision Gala going way back, I view this recognition as an opportunity to engage as many of my senior living friends and colleagues as possible. The Vision Gala has long-standing ties to seniors housing and has honored a number of people over the years who I have the deepest respect and admiration for.”
“One of the great privileges of my professional life has been the opportunity to work side by side with ASHA members to raise awareness and funds to support the outstanding, multifaceted efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association,” Schless added.
For more information about tickets or sponsorship opportunities for the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2026 Vision Gala visit www.alz.org/VisionGala or contact Evan Griggs at [email protected] or 703.766.9006
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About David Schless
David Schless is President and CEO of the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA), the leading national organization representing owners and operators of independent living, assisted living, memory care, and life plan communities. He launched ASHA at age 25 under the National Multifamily Housing Council and has since helped shape national policy, research, and investment perspectives on senior living. His background spans gerontology, public policy, and long-term care research. David is being recognized in 2026 by the Alzheimer’s Association with their Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts. Dave has been selected for his longtime support of the Alzheimer’s Association, being a steadfast champion of their cause, and an advocate for people and families facing Alzheimer’s and dementia.
About ASHA
The American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) is the premier national organization representing owners, operators, developers, and investors in the seniors housing industry. ASHA advocates on federal policy, produces industry-defining research, and provides thought leadership on issues shaping independent living, assisted living, memory care, and life plan communities. Learn more at ashaliving.org
February 6, 2026
On February 6, ASHA joined with 11 other real estate associations in a letter to Congress urging the passage of the Housing for the 21st Century Act.
Click here for the letter.
January 13, 2026
On January 13, ASHA joined with the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) in a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives urging support for the Save Local Business Act (H.R. 4366), which would amend the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to clarify that an entity is only a joint employer if it directly and immediately exercises meaningful control over workers’ essential terms and conditions of employment.
Click here for the coalition's letter.
January 13, 2026
Click here to view a new Special Issue Brief entitled From Surviving to Thriving: A Playbook to Reinvent Senior Housing for Residents and Returns written by Meredith Oppenheim and Arnold Whitman.
December 15, 2025
On December 15, ASHA joined with real estate industry partners in support of the bipartisan Housing for the 21st Century Act. By updating standards, strengthening program administration, expanding financing pathways, and improving coordination and oversight across federal housing agencies, the legislation supports increased housing supply, improved access to homeownership, and appropriate consumer protections, particularly in high-cost and underserved communities.
Click here for the full letter.
December 4, 2025
On December 4, ASHA joined with the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) in a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) urging the confirmation of Scott Mayer to serve as a member on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The Board has been without a quorum since January of this year. Confirmation of Mayer would restore the Board’s ability to issue new decisions and regulations, which would benefit both workers and the regulated community by providing clarity and stability to labor-management relations.
September 26, 2025
On September 18, Representative Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), along with co-sponsors Representatives Mark Amodei (RNV), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Don Davis (D-NC, Andy Harris (R-MD), Mike Kelly (RPA), Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY), reintroduced the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act. This critical ASHA-backed legislation marks an important step in addressing chronic workforce shortages by creating a market-driven visa pilot program for year-round, non-farm jobs in occupations that do not require a college degree, including roles in senior living. The Act establishes a new H-2C visa designed to fill essential roles in a way that strengthens compliance, protects U.S. workers, enables employers to create more jobs and expands economic growth.
Key elements of the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act include:
- Market-based visa pilot system: A flexible annual cap—up to 85,000 positions--that adjusts based on economic conditions to ensure the program responds to real workforce needs.
- Employer and worker accountability: Employers must meet labor market tests, comply with E-Verify, and secure federal approval before hiring an H-2C worker. Workers must submit a confirmed job offer through the government’s hiring system.
- Full portability: Workers may transfer between approved employers with valid authorizations, protecting them from exploitation and ensuring employers can access talent when shortages persist.
- Stronger compliance tools: An electronic tracking system modeled on existing visa monitoring programs, mandatory studies on economic and labor impacts, and strict limits to ensure visas are used solely to fill workforce gaps.
- Balanced safeguards: Visas are limited in duration, renewable only under defined conditions, and do not authorize family migration, ensuring the program remains focused on meeting essential workforce needs.
ASHA continues to advocate for meaningful immigration reform to mitigate the workforce shortage in the senior living industry. Without an adequate supply of workers such as caregivers, nurses, dining staff and housekeepers, it will become increasingly difficult to meet the needs of the growing number of older adults who will require our services
Click here for ASHA's letter of support to Representative Smucker.
September 17, 2025
On September 17, the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition (EWIC), which includes ASHA as a member, sent a letter of support to Representative Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) and co-sponsors of the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act (H.R. 5494).
The legislation provides a practical solution to one of the most pressing challenges facing employers across the country. The Act establishes a new H-2C visa designed to fill these essential roles in a way that strengthens compliance, protects U.S. workers, enables employers to create more jobs and expands economic growth.
Click here for EWIC's statement.
September 4, 2025
ASHA joined with the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), LeadingAge, and the National Continuing Care Residents Association (NaCCRA) in a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Dr. Mehmet Oz on the need to address the longstanding shortages in our caregiving workforce. As the Administration’s health care leaders, the letter seeks reconsideration of the recent terminations of the humanitarian programs that have provided legal status and worker authorization, including Temporary Protected Status (TPS). We also called attention to the need to work with Congress on reform legislation that will create new and additional pathways for foreign workers so we can meet the needs of our aging population. Click here for the full letter.
September 2, 2025
ASHA joined a letter to Congress with national real estate associations and organizations representing a broad coalition of housing providers and advocates that are committed to working together with policymakers and the Administration to address America’s housing affordability crisis.
The coalition writes: "First and foremost, we must seek solutions that support increased supply—at all price points. Without investment in our nation’s housing, we will face housing instability and affordability challenges now and in the future."
Click here to read the full letter.