In a recent joint address to Congress, President Biden declared a “new moment in the fight against COVID-19,” and proposed a four-part plan to support a return to normalcy. The White House plan focuses on: (1) vaccines and treatments; (2) preparing for new variants; (3) ending shutdowns at schools and businesses; and (4) international vaccination…

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.—Fil Southerland, director of health care solutions at Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Yardi, has been appointed to the Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC). The Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office announced the appointment of Southerland, along with six other members, to serve a three-year term. “I’m honored to serve…

(Alexandria, Va.) – Senior living advocates Argentum sent a letter on Feb. 17 to Congressional leaders urging quick action to target $10 billion in fresh COVID relief funds for senior living communities, half of which are losing money. Lost business during the pandemic and the steep costs of protecting residents and staff from infection, along…

(Alexandria, Va.) – Senior living advocate Argentum applauded Michigan assisted living providers on their victory following the state legislature approving bipartisan COVID relief legislation that includes $70 million in direct aid for assisted living and related care settings for older adults. After several months of legislative advocacy from the Michigan Assisted Living Association (MALA) and…

Senior living advocate Argentum joined with some 70 other trade associations and nonprofits in applauding the introduction of the bipartisan Employee Retention Tax Credit Reinstatement Act in the Senate. The ERTC has served small business and nonprofits throughout the COVID pandemic but was terminated at the end of the third quarter of 2021. The Employee…

By Kenya McCullum Worker shortages are nothing new in the senior living industry—but COVID-19 has only made the challenge more pronounced. To get to where we need to be will require a multipronged approach. One of those prongs is developing and supporting the policies that can bring an influx of talent into the field. To…

By Thomas Gresham Is ageism the reason it’s so tough to get policy and legislation for older people onto the political agenda? Do politicians understand what matters to older adults? If you want to understand why progress on crucial issues related to aging seems slow and elusive in today’s policy climate, you may have to…

(Alexandria, Va.) – Bold bipartisan legislation made necessary by the COVID pandemic would save America’s assisted living and senior living communities from financial ruin and stem a workforce shortage crisis. Introduced by Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), the SENIOR (Safeguarding Elderly Needs for Infrastructure and Occupational Resources) Act is the first…

(Alexandria, Va.) – Senior living advocates Argentum on Jan. 19 issued a new letter to President Biden urging definitive action by the Administration to do the right thing and protect the more than 2 million men and women living in assisted and senior living communities from the Omicron variant by targeting long-sought financial relief and…

(Alexandria, Va.) – Calling the situation “entirely unacceptable” and dangerous, senior living advocates Argentum penned a letter to President Biden and the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) demanding that Americans in assisted living not be “Left Behind…Again,” for vital COVID testing, vaccines, and financial relief at a time the Omicron variant ravages the…

More than 69,000 healthcare providers will get payments, but Biden Administration still has not committed to targeting relief for senior living caregivers hit hardest by pandemic. (Alexandria, Va.) – The Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it is distributing $9 billion in Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 payments for healthcare providers harmed…

(Alexandria, Va.) – American voters of all political stripes agree that President Biden should prioritize assisted living communities for COVID-19 relief and workforce solutions as caregivers for the nation’s seniors face daunting pandemic-related financial losses and staffing shortages. The findings of a new national survey released by Argentum and conducted by ReconMR (Reconnaissance Market Research)…