We thank Sens. Markey and Warren and Rep. Maloney for their efforts to work with key industry operators of assisted living to gain an understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, and we appreciate the findings and recommendations set forth in the Congressional report.
As a nation, the human toll COVID-19 has taken is tragic. And COVID-19 has presented, and continues to present, unprecedented challenges for older adults. As an industry, we’ll continue to work closely with Congress and the Administration to continue protecting and caring for the most vulnerable Americans who live among our communities as well as the staff who care for them.
The assisted living industry, however, still desperately needs financial assistance in the form of financial relief and added resources for PPE and testing. Assisted living operators have leveraged innovation and partnerships in procuring and securing critical PPE to protect their residents and staff, saving countless lives. But, in accordance with the report, we believe the federal government needs to take a more active role in providing these essential resources.
Additionally, we continue to believe that openness and transparency are critical to maintaining the valued trust of senior living residents, families, employees, and the public. As such, we will continue to encourage our members to work closely with state oversight agencies and to continue reporting COVID-19 data to them accordingly.
— James Balda, President & CEO, Argentum
