You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers.

Q: What practical options are available to enhance the flexibility of my service offering to be more competitive and financially viable without significant modification to my community?

A: Offer a unique and more flexible living arrangement for some of your independent living residents who obviously want to continue to maximize their independence but may now need some moderate additional assistance in living. They may not currently require more extensive and structured assisted living. But they could benefit from accessing additional a la carte priced assistance. I call it “catered living.”

What this means is that your residents can live as independently as their situation allows while having access
to appropriate assistance.

As with every strategic opportunity, there are challenges and cautions. Here are two: 

  1. Make sure regulations and licensing allow you to deliver catered living services. 
  2. Have a clearly documented policy as to when a resident must move to a more structured, formal assisted living setting.

If interested in additional details, send your request to [email protected] or (817) 731-4266. Jim Moore is president of Moore Diversified Services, Inc., a national senior housing and healthcare consulting firm based in Fort Worth, TX, that has been serving clients for 46 years. He has authored five books about senior living and healthcare, including Assisted Living Strategies for Changing Markets and Independent Living and CCRCs.