ROSEMONT, Ill. — In an effort to create a national conversation about providing assisted living solutions for low- and middle-income seniors, Gardant Management Solutions hosted an Affordable Assisted Living summit in Rosemont the week of June 15.
Participants included the CEOs of the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), the American Senior Housing Association (ASHA), and the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC); the board chair of the Center for Excellence in Senior Living; the executive director of the National Center for Assisted Living; and the executive director of the Affordable Assisted Living Coalition.
Also participating in the summit were representatives from the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities and the National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices as well as developers, operators and representatives of financing sources and managed care organizations.
Solutions discussed for providing affordable assisted living included defining what affordable assisted living is for the low income and the middle income market and what the key characteristics of successful affordable assisted living models are; making the seniors housing industry part of healthcare reform; identifying payment sources beyond Medicaid and Medicare; and showing how affordable assisted living can slow down the spend down of assets by older adults.
A much stronger political advocacy and educational effort also is needed, attendees said.
The Summit Steering Committee will now establish work groups to move forward on the steps discussed to improve affordable assisted living throughout the industry.
“The summit participants provided valuable feedback on what needs to be done next,” says Rod Burkett, Gardant’s CEO and president.
Based in Bradley, Ill., Gardant Management Solutions, formerly known as BMA Management, is an operator focusing on affordable assisted living in Illinois.