Senior living struggles to solve the $600 question
As Congress gets ready to finalize a third relief package, one of the few remaining sticking points is slowly fading.
Editors’ Columns
Take heart in older adults’ resiliency
We’ve heard a lot lately about the loneliness and isolation that some residents — and their families — are feeling during the pandemic. These feelings are real, and there are real consequences of the separation of residents and their loved ones. Nonetheless, I took some comfort in the results of a recent study.
Sound advice that couldn’t come at a better time
During a Wednesday Forum, some of the best leaders in the business shared some much-needed advice and insight. Here are a few choice cuts.
New book can help you welcome LGBT residents
Tim R. Johnston, Ph.D., senior director of national projects for LGBT elder advocacy organization SAGE, spent a year and a half working on his new book, “Welcoming LGBT Residents: A Practical Guide for Senior Living Staff.” He recently answered some questions for me about the book and its subject matter as well as his work at SAGE.
John O'Connor's Columns
The future of senior living? Listen to the old folks
I mention the unpredictability of predictions because some interesting ones have begun popping up in this sector lately.
But wait, it gets worse
We’re wading into uncharted waters that are unlikely to provide much relief. I’m referring to the 2020 election season.
Give yourself a break
Your opportunity to create some great news for your organization is literally one click away.
Please don’t feed the zombies
It’s convenient to blame many of the senior living sector’s debt woes on the coronavirus. Convenient, but not entirely accurate.
COVID-19 unleashing new labor challenges for many senior living operators
Occupancy is down, revenue is declining, and it’s anyone’s guess if or when a vaccine might be available. As if that’s not bad enough, many operators soon might find themselves dealing with an assortment of new labor-related headaches — ranging from new rules to revitalized organization efforts.
Ignore these labor developments at your own risk
Senior living operators would be well advised to heed two recent developments on the labor-relations front. One is a landmark ruling; the other is a sleeper settlement.
The calm before the (dealmaking) storm
Among other things, the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed the pace of mergers, acquisitions and other dealmaking activities. But that may soon change.
Why senior living needs to step up its game
Senior living will adapt to COVID-19 by doing away with buffets and using design that encourages social distancing. But what about the proverbial elephant in the room?
The four stages of senior living?
So will this sector be different in say, five or 10 years? Absolutely. But the sector was going to be very different, regardless of COVID-19.
It’s a bit early for a victory parade
The stock market spiked notably Monday, following news that a COVID-19 vaccine candidate has shown encouraging trial results. But before you load up on Moderna stock, it might be helpful to keep a couple of things in mind.
Have they lost their minds?
We are seeing some pandemic responses that are real jaw-droppers.
Ready to take stock of senior living?
The senior living sector might be a hidden bargain for investors.
Need something else to worry about?
I’m no expert on monetary policy and have never played one on TV. But even I am beginning to wonder if these actions might create another problem for senior living operators.
Well, that escalated quickly
Virtually overnight, many operators are finding themselves in the fight of their lives.
A good time to take stock — of you
We’re all sailing through unchartered waters, but realize that you’ll probably get through these awful challenges — and you might just emerge better for the experience.
A favor that could change senior living oversight
Assisted living operators have marketed themselves as “un-nursing homes.” But the field may have just made that position more difficult to defend.
Is senior living truly recession-resistant?
It looks like economists soon will be confirming something else that’s in the air: an economic recession.
When fair criticism goes over the line
Many media reports about senior living and care are taking on a nasty tone related to COVID-19. This week alone, I have seen stories make two very disturbing accusations.
Scapegoating the coronavirus?
There’s little doubt that the virus and bad sector financials are connected. But is the coronavirus maybe getting more credit than it deserves?
Is it too soon to put the coronavirus in perspective?
We need to give this emerging virus the respect and response it deserves. But let’s also try to keep things in perspective.
Lois Bowers' Columns
45 impressive honorees, 3 CE sessions and you
Our virtual McKnight’s Women of Distinction Awards and Forum is only one week away! Anyone can attend, and there’s no admission fee, so please join us.
The mental health toll of COVID-19 — and what you can do about it
It should come as no surprise to anyone reading this column that the pandemic has had mental health effects on workers. Recent research on the topic may surprise you, however.
Industry, lawmakers agree: Assisted living needs COVID-19 help
Now that Sens. Warren and Markey and Rep. Maloney realize what the industry has been saying to anyone who would listen for months now — that senior living operators need resources to battle COVID-19, too — it’s time for them to convince their colleagues in the Senate and House of their discovery and then put their (our, actually) money where their mouths are.
COVID caregivers, don’t forget to take care of yourselves
Results of a new survey bring potentially troubling news for those in senior living employees and the companies for which they work: Personal exposure to the coronavirus is linked with poor mental health. Fortunately, there are steps that front-line heroes and others can take to lessen the stress they might be feeling related to the pandemic, regardless of whether they have been exposed to the disease.
Technology takes center stage in senior living in 2020
Someday, when we look back on 2020, we might well say it was the year of technology in senior living.
Aging successfully is not a game
Coming this summer wherever video games are sold: A product equally offensive to both millennials and senior living residents.
This senior living president has COVID-19. Here’s what he wants you to know
Rodney Alderfer was doing everything he could to protect himself, his family and those in his workplace from becoming sick with COVID-19. He came down with the disease anyway.
Balancing safety, quality of life in the COVID-19 era
Pavlo Kononenko doesn’t think his company’s approach to battling the effects of COVID-19 is unique, but what he described in a recent blog certainly is different from media reports that portray senior living residents as lonely and isolated from fellow residents, and family members as pleading to see them after months of separation.
A veteran gives thanks for senior living heroes
As Americans paused over the weekend to remember Armed Forces members who died while serving the United States, one veteran was giving thanks to several heroes who “by their sacrifice, saved lives and catastrophe.”
Building awareness of senior living successes in COVID-19 battle
A new campaign aims to make sure more people understand the value of senior living.
Pandemic highlights value of senior living for adult children, leaders say
One of the positive effects arising from this pandemic, some industry leaders say, is a growing appreciation of senior living among people whose parents are the age of prospective residents.
3 ways COVID-19 will change senior living forever
One senior living expert recently shared with me three ways senior living surely will change, and another way it will change at least temporarily, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
‘It doesn’t have to be this way,’ owner says of COVID deaths in senior living
Tyson Belanger served three tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine. Now, as the owner of the assisted living home his parents built 44 years ago, he thinks he has the solution to winning the war on COVID-19. But it’s not cheap, and it requires sacrifice.
‘We are in this industry for a reason’
I was struck by the themes of hope, strength and togetherness that arose in some of the answers to a question we asked in a recent survey.
Coming together, right now
COVID-19 is challenging senior living operators in new and numerous ways. Companies are finding ways to help their peer organizations and let their workers know how much they are valued during these unprecedented times, however.
Quality in action
In response to my blog last week, I heard from several readers who shared the creative actions their senior living communities are taking to keep residents healthy and active socially, physically and cognitively.
Senior living rises to meet the challenges associated with COVID-19
Many, many examples exist of senior living companies taking extraordinary steps on behalf of older adults at this time. We’d love to hear your stories.
Operators using telehealth, live-streaming, video-chatting in this time of COVID-19
Senior living operators today have much more sophisticated technology at their disposal than did their predecessors, and they’re putting that technology to good use to help ensure the health and safety of residents at this time.
NIC chief economist shares 3 places to find more workers
Labor markets are tight, but data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest a few groups that senior living and care operators might want to court for new workers, National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care Chief Economist Beth Burnham Mace said Friday.
Coronavirus has reached long-term care. Prepare, don’t panic
The first reported possible outbreak of COVID-19 in a long-term care facility, and the first reported case of COVID-19 in a healthcare worker — a caregiver in that facility, were announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday. It’s time to prepare, not panic, says one senior living operator’s chief medical officer. Fortunately, many resources are available to help you.
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