(Alexandria, Va.) – In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation and loneliness for senior living residents have risen as visitation from loved ones has been curtailed. Social isolation in older adults is well-documented to increase risk of premature death—as harmful as high blood pressure, according to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. But COVID-19…

Phoenix, Ariz. – Governor Doug Ducey announced the establishment of the Task Force On Long-Term Care. The task force will focus on developing recommendations and metrics on how and when visitation within long-term care facilities can be safely resumed and what steps facilities can take before then to help residents and their loved ones maintain…

Shifting industry trends and regulatory change creates new opportunities for senior living to add services, further improve quality, and overcome challenges. These can also create new revenue streams that support such improved quality. Leavitt Partners, a health care intelligence business founded by former secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt, performed…

ARIZONA AL Training Requirements – SIGNED BY GOVERNOR (SB 1244) Modifies the training program for AL communities to include training that is consistent with the training, competency and test methodology standards developed by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) for in-home direct care workers. Stipulates that the Board must prescribe rules for AL…

The Trump Administration is working to finalize a rule to make clear that long-term care communities can require residents or their families to agree—before a dispute arises—to settle complaints through arbitration rather than through litigation.  Simultaneously in Congress this week, legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate to eliminate the agreements.  Rep. Hank…

The House Education and Labor Committee approved a bill on March 6th that would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.  HR 582, was approved along party lines and would increase the federal minimum wage by 2024.  The legislation would eventually phase out lower wage levels for tipped workers and disabled workers. Currently…

As anticipated, earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would make more than a million more American workers eligible for overtime.  This proposed rule is generally referred to as the “Overtime Rule”. Under currently enforced law, employees with a salary below $455 per week ($23,660 annually)…

ARIZONA SB 1244 – Assisted Living Caregivers Training Requires that training for assisted living facility caregivers be consistent with the training, competency and test methodology standards developed by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) for in-home direct care workers. Directs the Arizona Board of Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers…