WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) has warned Congress that if the federal government doesn’t pass another COVID-19 funding package, public health agencies and healthcare providers could find themselves less than completely prepared heading into the cold and flu season, as well as underfunded to handle another major spike in COVID-19 cases. The Washington, D.C.-based organization represents more than 14,000 nursing homes and assisted living communities across the country that provide care to approximately 5 million people each year. About 70 …
coronavirus
Exclusive Webinar Panel: Seniors Housing Development Landscape Changes Amid Pandemic, But Continues Nonetheless
by Jeff Shaw
Although COVID-19 has changed the realities of the seniors housing sector, development has adapted and forged ahead. That’s according to panelists on a webinar titled “Seniors Housing Development Pushes Forward” held Sept. 9. Presented by Seniors Housing Business and sponsored Moves for Seniors, panelists included Charlie Jennings of Harbor Retirement Associates; Bryan Schachter of Watermark Retirement Communities; Rob Leinbach of Cadence Living; Robert Burg of Moves For Seniors; Matt Johnson of McFarlin Group; and moderator Richard Swartz of Cushman & Wakefield. To view the full webinar, click here. All the developers …
Lessons learned from the Global Financial Crisis can offer a blueprint for this new recovery. By Bryon Cohron, ProMatura, and Cheri Clarke Doyle, Trammell Crow Co. The social and economic impact of COVID-19 has shocked all economic sectors in a variety of ways. For seniors housing, the impact is felt on many different levels. From the news headlines about the spread of the disease in nursing homes to financial strains felt by declining occupancy and higher operations costs, seniors housing is facing its most challenging time since the industry began. …
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has announced that assisted living facilities may now apply for funding under the Provider Relief Fund Phase II. The move comes after months of lobbying by seniors housing industry associations amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, while skilled nursing facilities received millions of dollars in governmental support, assisted living communities were left out of much of the funding. “Argentum, along with our trade association partners, have been advocating on behalf of …
Kisco Hires Patricia Gustin as Executive Director, Moves Her Into Community During Pandemic
by Jeff Shaw
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Kisco Senior Living has hired Patricia Gustin as executive director of Emerald Court, a seniors housing community in Anaheim. Following her hiring, Gustin moved into the community to ride out the COVID-19 pandemic from inside. Gustin previously worked at another Kisco community in Fresno, nearly 300 miles away. Knowing it is critical for directors to know the team members they lead and the residents they care for, she decided to move into the community to live there among the residents, according to Kisco. Since starting at Emerald …
NCAL Survey: Assisted Living Facing Same Revenue Crisis as Skilled Nursing During Pandemic
by Jeff Shaw
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Half of assisted living communities are currently operating at a loss, with 73 percent of them operating at a profit margin below 3 percent. The “frightening” revenue numbers reflect the even more dire results in skilled nursing, where more than half of communities are operating at a loss. That’s according to a recent survey by Washington, D.C.-based National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL). Respondents included 193 assisted living providers who took the survey between Aug. 8 and Aug. 10. Among other results, 64 percent of assisted living …
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) has confirmed that assisted living operators are due to receive funds from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Provider Relief Fund. The D.C.-based organization, along with other advocates for the seniors housing industry, have been lobbying and petitioning for months to make sure private-pay seniors housing would receive federal stimulus dollars in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “This morning we received the most definitive news to date about an allocation of funds from the HHS Provider Relief …
Seniors housing operators have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic through a variety of changed procedures, such as increased infection protocols, limited visitations and meal deliveries. Now, the next step is to make sure those procedures are sustainable for the long term, as the virus shows no signs of going away in the near future. “I think back to when we were first realizing COVID-19 was really going to affect us. If we all locked down for a few weeks, the curve would flatten and we could all go back to …
Survey Shows Bipartisan Support for Increased COVID-19 Funding for Senior Living Industry
by Jeff Shaw
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A new national survey, conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, shows 80 percent of voters support COVID-19 relief funding for senior living communities. The strong support is consistent across party lines and shows that three-quarters of the electorate are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports increased COVID-19 relief funding for senior living providers in the 2020 elections, according to Alexandria-based seniors housing association Argentum. “These past few months, COVID-19 has significantly impacted the residents and staff of our nation’s senior living communities, with many communities …
MCLEAN, Va. — Artis Senior Living, a McLean-based owner-operator, has partnered with Johns Hopkins physicians to launch the Artis Safety Council. The physicians, along with a cross-discipline group of Artis associates and healthcare leaders, seek to focus on maximizing the safety and well-being of residents, associates and families. For several weeks, the council has been strengthening the health and safety protocols for the challenge of COVID-19. The council will provide guidance in regard to the latest science of dealing with the new virus, along with looking ahead at other potential …