IHCA Assisted Living Cabinet

The Assisted Living (AL) Cabinet of the Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA) is established to serve as a specialized advisory group to the IHCA Board of Trustees. This cabinet contemplates issues and opportunities facing the AL sector, advises the Board of Trustees on the issues and works to support IHCA's mission of advancing high-quality care across the continuum of services, specifically in assisted living.

The nomination period for IHCA’s 2026 leadership groups has ended. All nominations will be reviewed by the IHCA Executive Committee Chair. Selected individuals will be notified by November 2025, with terms beginning in January 2026. Nominations for 2027 will open in the summer of 2026.

Cabinet Purpose

IHCA's AL Cabinet exists to advise the IHCA Board of Trustees on issues, trends and policy matters affecting AL providers.

The cabinet will:

  • Ensure the voice of AL providers is well-represented within the association.
  • Inform IHCA member services as they relate to the AL sector.
  • Work to promote best practices and innovation among AL providers.  

Cabinet Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the AL Cabinet include:

  • Identifying and discussing legislative, regulatory and member service priorities for AL providers.
  • Providing input to the IHCA staff on the development of strategic plans and public policy positions.
  • Acting as a liaison between AL providers and the IHCA Board of Trustees.

Membership Qualifications

Cabinet members should:

  • Represent a licensed AL provider in good membership standing and hold a leadership role within that organization (e.g., administrator, executive director, CEO, owner).
  • Demonstrate a strong understanding of AL operations, regulations and trends.  
  • Commit to regular attendance and active participation.

Composition

IHCA's AL Cabinet will be composed of 12 members:

  • Chair (Serves on IHCA Board of Trustees; election already in process)
  • Vice-Chair (Serves on IHCA Board of Trustees; election already in process)
  • Immediate Past Chair
  • Northwest District AL Chair
  • Northeast District AL Chair
  • Southwest District AL Chair
  • Southeast District AL Chair
  • Five Director-At-Large positions

Meeting Frequency and Communication Channels

The cabinet will meet not less than one time per year, with additional meetings scheduled as necessary and convened by the cabinet chair.  

The AL Cabinet Chair and Vice-Chair will serve on the IHCA Board of Trustees and serve as the communication bridge to the cabinet. A dedicated IHCA staff liaison will support the cabinet. IHCA may use secure platforms (e.g., online member portals, email lists, and/or IHCA Communities) to share documents and updates.

Outcomes

The AL Cabinet is expected to produce the following key outcomes:

  • Strategic Influence: Provide informed, actionable recommendations to the IHCA Board of Trustees that directly share the association’s advocacy agenda, educational offerings and regulatory engagement related to AL providers.  
  • Sector Representation: Ensure the unique needs, challenges and innovations of the AL sector are consistently represented in IHCA decisions and public positions.
  • Policy Development: Contribute to creating policy statements, position papers and resources for AL providers.
  • Member Engagement: Improve member engagement through education and communication, ensuring AL providers feel supported by IHCA.
  • Collaboration: Promote cross-sector collaboration with other IHCA cabinets.  
  • Best Practices: Foster the sharing of best practices to enhance quality and compliance in assisted living.