Skaalen 2026 Blog Planning
Overview
During the November 2025 monthly marketing call, Asymmetric and Skaalen agreed to plan blog content through June 2026. The process involves distributing the existing 2025 blog topic list to key Skaalen stakeholders for input, then finalizing a schedule that covers all three care levels: Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care.
Background
Skaalen publishes one blog post per month, rotating through their continuum of care:
- Independent Living (IL) — managed primarily through Dawn
- Assisted Living (AL) — Tammy Montalto's area
- Memory Care (MC) — also under Tammy's purview
The 2025 topic list was originally compiled in February 2025 and has been used to select monthly topics throughout the year. Completed topics are tracked with yellow highlighting in the master spreadsheet.
Planning Process for 2026
Step 1 — Distribute Topic List to Stakeholders
Dawn Zaemisch will forward the existing 2025 blog topic list (exported as a Word document) to:
- Jenny (Independent Living)
- Tammy Montalto (Assisted Living / Memory Care)
Stakeholders are asked to highlight in pink any topics they want prioritized for 2026 and return the list to Dawn.
Step 2 — Stakeholder Input
- Jenny selects topics relevant to IL
- Tammy may select up to four topics, given she covers both AL and Memory Care
- Stakeholders may also suggest new topics not already on the list
Step 3 — Leadership Review
Once stakeholder picks are collected, Dawn will run the selections by Chris and Maggie for final approval before locking in the schedule.
Step 4 — Schedule Finalization
Asymmetric will incorporate the approved topics into the content calendar, targeting coverage through June 2026. The goal is to have the schedule set far enough in advance that blog drafts can be queued and reviewed without last-minute pressure.
SEO Considerations
Blog topics are selected with SEO keyword volume in mind. High-traffic terms should be woven into topic selection where possible. A keyword flagged during the November call:
- "Sundowners" — identified as a high-volume search term relevant to Memory Care; added as a keyword target for the November 2025 Memory Care blog and worth considering for 2026 Memory Care content as well.
When stakeholders propose topics, Asymmetric should cross-reference against keyword research to prioritize terms with meaningful search volume.
Current Blog Status (as of November 2025)
| Month | Topic | Status |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | IL — "What is Independent Living?" + supporting posts | Approved with edits; pending photo review |
| October 2025 | AL — Assisted Living topic | Approved by Tammy |
| November 2025 | MC — "Signs It's Time to Consider a Memory Care Community for a Loved One" | In progress; "sundowners" added as keyword |
| December 2025 | IL — "Home for the Holidays" (tentative) | To be confirmed |
Key Contacts
| Name | Role | Involvement |
|---|---|---|
| Dawn Zaemisch | Marketing Director, Skaalen | Coordinates process; distributes list; final review with Chris/Maggie |
| Tammy Montalto | AL/MC Director | Reviews and selects AL and Memory Care topics |
| Jenny | IL Coordinator | Reviews and selects IL topics |
| Chris | Executive Director | Final approval on schedule |
| Maggie | Leadership | Final approval on schedule |
Action Items
- [ ] Dawn — Forward 2025 blog topic list (Word doc) to Jenny and Tammy; ask them to highlight preferred 2026 topics in pink and return
- [ ] Dawn — After receiving stakeholder input, review with Chris and Maggie
- [ ] Asymmetric (Melissa) — Finalize 2026 content calendar through June once approvals are received
- [ ] Asymmetric — Ensure high-volume keywords (e.g., "sundowners") are mapped to appropriate topics during scheduling
Related
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