News

News

Operators expected to keep more aid after HHS revises Provider Relief Fund reporting requirements in response to ‘significant opposition’

By

Lois A. Bowers

Publish Date October 23, 2020

Citing “significant attention and opposition from many stakeholders and members of Congress,” HHS has revised requirements for Provider Relief Fund reporting and broadened the definition of “lost revenue.” The move, announced Thursday, is expected to enable senior living operators to retain a greater amount of federal aid they receive as they battle the coronavirus.

‘Real’ COVID relief package must include assisted living, affordable housing: LeadingAge

By

Kimberly Bonvissuto

Publish Date October 23, 2020

Following Senate Democrats’ vote on Wednesday to block a Republican $500 billion coronavirus stimulus proposal, LeadingAge is calling for Congress to quickly provide “real relief” for older adults and their caregivers that includes not just nursing homes, but also assisted living, affordable senior housing, home health and hospice.

Proactive, long-term solutions trump legal, financial penalties in improving long-term care: Parkinson

By

Kimberly Bonvissuto

Publish Date October 23, 2020

A collective effort from long-term care providers, public health officials and lawmakers is the way to improve the quality of care in the wake of COVID-19, not legal and financial penalties, according to Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living.

Sales, marketing teams need to ‘reshape the story’ to sell senior living post-COVID

By

Kimberly Bonvissuto

Publish Date October 23, 2020

“It’s a different era we live in. It’s a different story we need to tell,” Jacquelyn King, DrPH, CEO of Activated Insights, told attendees during SMASH Week 2020.

Feds outline COVID-19 vaccine availability timeline for senior living residents, staff

By

Lois A. Bowers

Publish Date October 22, 2020

A COVID-19 vaccine should be available for assisted living community, independent living community and nursing home residents and staff members by December or January, federal officials said Wednesday.

‘Not just a nursing home issue’: COVID a challenge in affordable senior housing: LeadingAge survey

By

Kimberly Bonvissuto

Publish Date October 22, 2020

Close to 60% of nonprofit senior housing providers surveyed by LeadingAge reported confirmed COVID-19 cases in their communities, raising concerns about the more than 2.5 million low-income older adults living in affordable senior housing.

Reaching digital marketing goals requires strategic choices, experts say

By

Kimberly Bonvissuto

Publish Date October 22, 2020

Digital marketing is a multichannel universe, requiring sales and marketing teams to leverage the digital landscape for maximum return, according to a panel of experts speaking at SMASH Week 2020.

Unions representing 2 million healthcare workers say they won’t give, get COVID-19 vaccine without third-party validation

By

Kimberly Bonvissuto

Publish Date October 22, 2020

Three unions representing 2 million healthcare workers are saying that their members will refuse to receive or administer a COVID-19 vaccine without validation from independent third-party experts.

New reporting requirements create confusion, barriers to keeping Provider Relief Funds: ASHA, Argentum

By

Kimberly Bonvissuto

Publish Date October 21, 2020

After finally receiving much-needed Provider Relief Fund dollars, senior living operators are raising concerns about new reporting requirements related to the aid, saying they create confusion and potential barriers to retaining it, according to two industry trade organizations.

Creativity, adaptability will usher senior living industry through post-COVID era, expert says

By

Kimberly Bonvissuto

Publish Date October 21, 2020

It will take both a close-up look at COVID-19 effects and policies as well as a bigger-picture examination of payment and care delivery policies to get a clear view into what the future of senior living and care may look like in a post-COVID-19 world, according to Nicole Fallon, vice president of healthy policy and integrated services for LeadingAge.

Some changes will be permanent post-pandemic

By

Jim Moore

Publish Date October 21, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for several changes in the design and operation of senior housing. Many of those changes are likely to be permanent in senior housing in the future.

Senior living operator rolls out early voting plan to ensure residents retain right to vote

By

Kimberly Bonvissuto

Publish Date October 21, 2020

The coronavirus “has changed just about everything in senior living,” but a Florida-based senior living company is rolling out a comprehensive voting plan to ensure that residents of its communities retain their right to vote in the upcoming presidential election.

Reputation management can guide providers through ‘perfect storm’ created by pandemic

By

Kimberly Bonvissuto

Publish Date October 20, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has changed everything when it comes to reputational management, according to the keynote speaker at SMASH Week 2020.

Medical worker giving COVID tests returns to steal from senior living residents, police say

By

Kimberly Bonvissuto

Publish Date October 20, 2020

A woman who had helped administer COVID-19 tests at a Lewisville, TX, independent living community later returned to the community so she could steal from at least three residents, according to police.

Nov. 18 is new deadline for comments on CMS-proposed quality measures for HCBS

By

Lois A. Bowers

Publish Date October 20, 2020

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has extended the deadline until Nov. 18 for those who would like to provide feedback its proposed national quality and outcomes measures for the Medicaid-funded home- and community-based services provided for older adults and others. Comments originally were due Oct. 19.

McKnight’s 40 for 40: David Schless

By

Lois A. Bowers

Publish Date October 20, 2020

The American Seniors Housing Association traces its roots back to the early days of the senior living industry, beginning in 1991 under the auspices of the National Multifamily Housing Council. In 2000, as the senior living industry continued to grow, the group became a separate, independent association. David Schless, ASHA’s president, has led the organization every step of the way.

COVID-19 vaccine program sign-up begins today for senior living operators

By

Lois A. Bowers

Publish Date October 19, 2020

Assisted living and other long-term care communities beginning today can opt in to a federal program through which residents and staff members will be vaccinated against COVID-19 free of charge when a vaccine becomes available.

Senior living provider develops COVID-19 playbook to share pandemic lessons learned

By

Kimberly Bonvissuto

Publish Date October 19, 2020

A Virginia senior living company developed more than 225 different protocols during the pandemic and has put them into a playbook that can be used by other operators and other types of organization.

30 percent of COVID deaths in long-term care have occurred in assisted living: study

By

Kimberly Bonvissuto

Publish Date October 19, 2020

Thirty percent of long-term care-related deaths from COVID-19 in the United States have occurred in assisted living communities and other care homes, whereas 70% have taken place in nursing homes, according to the findings of a newly released international study.

Senior living providers struggle to assist residents with voting in 2020 elections

By

Kimberly Bonvissuto

Publish Date October 19, 2020

“It’s not as simple as it once was.” That is how Pennsylvania Health Care Association President and CEO Zach Shamberg summed up voting in the 2020 November election during a recent virtual press conference.