Welcome to Pioneer Network, a national not-for-profit organization at the forefront of transforming the culture of aging and championing person-directed care. We appreciate you taking the time to learn about who we are and our journey as pioneers in this vital movement.
At Pioneer Network, our vision is clear: to cultivate a culture of aging that is life-affirming, deeply satisfying, profoundly humane, and truly meaningful. We are dedicated to creating an environment where the unique voices of elders are not only heard but actively solicited, genuinely welcomed, and deeply respected. Our primary mission is to shift elder care from a system-directed approach to one that is entirely person-directed, where flexibility and self-determination are not just ideals but lived practices. This fundamental shift is what we term “culture change,” and Pioneer Network proudly stands as a recognized national leader in this transformative movement.
Pioneer Network was established in 1997 by a small, dedicated group of distinguished professionals in long-term care. These were true pioneers, visionary leaders who recognized the need for a fundamental change in how we approach aging. They laid the foundation by developing the core mission, compelling vision, and enduring values and principles that continue to guide our work today. Over two decades later, Pioneer Network has grown into a large and diverse collective of passionate individuals spanning the entire spectrum of aging services. We are a community of people, perhaps like yourself, who resonate with the same foundational ideals set forth by our founders. Our community includes those deeply involved in senior living and long-term care settings, such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities, as well as various providers of essential services and supports for elders. We are also supported by generous individuals who work, reside in, or regularly visit these care environments.
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Pioneer Network is actively involved in several key initiatives to drive culture change forward. We host national symposia that concentrate on critical policy issues relevant to advancing culture change in aging. Our work includes public policy advocacy, where we engage with bodies like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, provide input on regulations affecting nursing homes and home and community-based services, and develop proactive policy proposals designed to accelerate the pace of culture change. Crucially, we are also committed to empowering consumers by helping them identify care and services that are genuinely aligned with our mission, vision, and core values of person-directed care.
Since 2022, Pioneer Network has proudly partnered with the Center for Innovation, working alongside esteemed organizations like The Green House Project. This collaboration strengthens our collective ability to foster innovation and expand the reach and impact of person-directed care principles across the landscape of aging services.
