About Us

Pioneers in Culture Change and Person-Directed Care

Welcome to Pioneer Network. We are glad you found us. We would like to take a few minutes to tell you who we are and how we came to be pioneers in culture change and person-directed care.

Driving change, inspiring and supporting innovation, creating opportunities for learning

Our Vision: A culture of Aging that’s life-affirming, satisfying, humane and meaningful… that’s what Pioneer Network, a national not-for-profit organization, is all about. We’re working hard to create a culture where elders’ individual voices are solicited and welcomed, heard, and respected. Our primary goal is to move eldercare to a place where all care and support are person-directed, not system-directed… where flexibility and self-determination are embraced and practiced. This concept is known as culture change, and Pioneer Network is recognized as the national leader of this movement.

Pioneer Network was founded in 1997 by a small group of prominent professionals in long-term care who were pioneers in changing the culture of aging. These forward thinkers developed the mission and vision, as well as the values and principles, that continue to guide our work to this day.  Today, Pioneer Network is a large, diverse group of passionate individuals from the entire spectrum of aging services. People, like you, who believe in the same ideals as our founders did almost 20 years ago. Most are engaged in some aspect of senior living or long-term care which includes nursing homes, assisted living, and other providers of services and supports for elders. And our generous supporters include people who work, live in, or visit these settings.

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Major Pioneer Network activities include:

  • National symposia focusing on policy issues important to advancing culture change;
  • Public policy advocacy including meetings with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, input into nursing home and home and community-based services regulations, and development of policy proposals designed to accelerate culture change.
  • Supporting consumers to identify care and services delivered in a manner consistent with our mission, vision, and values.

Since 2022, Pioneer Network has been part of the Center for Innovation alongside our partners at The Green House Project.