Kendal at Ithaca is proud to announce that Michael Youmans, Health Services Administrator, has recently graduated from the esteemed Larry Minnix Leadership Academy, presented by Leading Age National. This transformative program is designed to enhance the leadership capabilities of aging services professionals, empowering them to discover their natural talents and authentic leadership styles.
The Leadership Academy is not just about skill-building; it emphasizes reflective practice, self-exploration, and relationship-building. Participants engage in a comprehensive curriculum that explores various leadership theories, culminating in actionable learning experiences that enable them to navigate change effectively.
Throughout the year, Michael participated in site visits to diverse housing and service settings, gaining invaluable insights into how unique environments and programming are crafted across the aging services continuum. He engaged in intimate conversations with established leaders, exploring their personal beliefs and values, which have significantly influenced their leadership journeys.
In reflecting on his experience, Michael stated, “Attending Leadership Academy has been a truly remarkable experience. It has allowed me the space to reflect, learn, and grow. Academy has helped provide me with new perspectives that are hard to get through the course of normal day-to-day operations. I hope that my experiences, leadership tools, and newfound perspectives can inspire our Health Services department and continue to make Kendal at Ithaca an even better place to live and work. I am very grateful to be provided this experience!”
Action learning was a cornerstone of the Academy, prompting Michael and his fellow participants to undertake long-term projects that promote person-directed practices in their organizations or greater community. Michael’s action learning project focused on creating resident-centered living environments for individuals who are ambulatory and living with significant cognitive impairment. “I want to challenge the idea of locked units. It seems immoral to me to place people in locked units because of a medical condition. The heavily regulated nature of senior living limits the options for people who are ambulatory and significantly cognitively impaired. My hope is to create a safe, homelike environment that can be operated in a manner which places the best interests of the resident, first.”
Additionally, Michael and a team of Leadership Academy fellows were tasked with identifying a problem within aging services which lacked easily identifiable solutions. Michael and his team identified the lack of Middle Market Senior Housing as their focus. “The reality is that many people cannot afford to live in a CCRC but are also ineligible financially for affordable housing. Depending on the market, roughly 60-70% of people fall in this category. It is extremely challenging for providers to make the model work financially. Through our research, we did find a few examples of not-for-profit organizations making it work but more advocacy and effort is needed to address this growing need.”
As we celebrate Michael’s accomplishment, we recognize the importance of strong leadership in our community. His dedication to continuous growth not only benefits his professional development but also enriches the lives of our residents, staff, and the greater Kendal community. Congratulations, Michael, on this significant achievement!