“Our country is at a moment of reckoning. The tragic death of George Floyd has brought systemic issues related to racial injustice, discrimination, and bias to the forefront of the national conversation. This has also jumpstarted a meaningful conversation among staff, residents, and families across senior living communities, where the share of black employees is approximately double that of the general U.S. workforce, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
“At Argentum, we will continue working every day to ensure that the senior living industry stands for racial equality and justice, and that black residents and staff are treated with dignity and respect. We encourage our members to facilitate open and honest dialogue about the role of race in their communities, and to push for meaningful change – even at a local level – that helps move our society forward.
“Additionally, numerous studies have shown that COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted minorities and the black community, and this has held true in senior living communities across the country. While we may not yet understand everything about the virus, we know that much work needs to be done to lessen health care disparities for communities that house predominantly minority residents. We are committed to working with our members to recognize and identify these disparities so that our industry can continue to take steps to eliminate them.”
— James Balda, President & CEO, Argentum
