Member News
Check out what ASHA’s doing for the seniors housing industry by clicking on the links below. For additional information related to government affairs or advocacy, please contact Jeanne McGlynn Delgado at [email protected] and Sheff Richey at [email protected]. Questions about the Associations meetings and sponsorship can be directed to Doris Maultsby at [email protected]. For all other inquiries reach out to David Schless, ASHA president & CEO at [email protected].
April 6, 2021
The American Seniors Housing Association held a Senior Living Strong Virtual Fly-In with over 40 key members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and their staff. The meetings took place the week of March 29 and continue the week of April 5. Read more about ASHA’s Senior Living Strong Fly-In.March 18, 2021
The American Seniors Housing Association continues to press policymakers for needed financial relief related to COVID-19 costs and expense, and is also asking that the Biden Administration make available prioritized access to vaccine for new workers and residents in senior living communities. Read more about ASHA’s reaction to an announcement from the Department of Health and Human Services related to government funding for COVID testing in senior living and long-term care.February 26, 2021
The American Seniors Housing Association is calling on governors and states to ease visitation restrictions in senior living communities in the coming weeks as the overwhelming majority of residents will be vaccinated and no longer at risk of COVID-19. Read more about ASHA’s outreach to the National Governors Association and its position related to visitation.February 22, 2021
ASHA continues to advocate for independent living communities to receive prioritized access to COVID-19 vaccination clinics. Read more on this in the article from Market Watch click here.February 12, 2021
Measures taken by a senior living operator in response to COVID-19 are eligible for complete liability immunity under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act, according to a ruling Wednesday by a federal court in California. American Seniors Housing Association President David Schless said the ruling “is significant for the industry.” “Under enormously challenging circumstances, senior living providers have done their utmost to ensure the well-being of staff and residents, adhering to ever-changing guidance from national, state and local health authorities,” Schless said, “and so it is entirely appropriate that they will receive protection from liability under the PREP Act.” Click here for the full story.February 12, 2021
A California federal court ruled Wednesday that measures taken by senior living providers to protect residents from Covid-19 are eligible for complete liability immunity under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act. “The California federal court ruling is significant for the industry which has done everything in its power to protect staff and residents since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) President David Schless stated. Click here for the full story.February 12, 2021
COVID-19 didn’t do much to change opinions of potential future senior living residents, with the appeal of those communities mostly increasing in the wake of the pandemic, according to the results of a new survey. “Impacts of COVID-19 on the Seniors Housing Industry: A Study of Consumers Round 2” from the American Seniors Housing Association is the second national consumer survey of sentiments regarding senior living. It follows an initial survey conducted last summer coinciding with ASHA’s “Senior Living Today & Everyday” public relations campaign from May 2020 to January 2021. “We have been very committed to combating negative COVID-19 impact since last spring, and the new consumer research suggests ASHA’s extensive public relations efforts have been helpful,” ASHA President David Schless said. “While there is no doubt the industry’s recovery will take time, the data provides ample evidence that consumers will continue to embrace the value proposition and benefits offered by our communities across all service levels.” Click here for the full story.February 9, 2021
A group of federal lawmakers has resurrected legislation that could result in major labor law changes that potentially would exacerbate workforce challenges already facing the senior living industry, industry experts say.
The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act was reintroduced Thursday by Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA). The bill, which passed the House last February but did not advance to the Senate, has 194 co-sponsors. It would make it easier for workers to unionize and more difficult for operators to prevent it from happening, experts say.
American Seniors Housing Association President David Schless said that ASHA is working with the Coalition for Democratic Workforce, a broad-based coalition of organizations representing employers and employees in various industries “concerned with a long-standing effort by some in the labor movement to make radical changes to the National Labor Relations Act without regard to the severely negative impact they would have on employees, employers and the economy.”
“ASHA is concerned over many of the provisions in the PRO Act, which is designed to give more power to unions and union organizing,” Schless told McKnight’s Senior Living, adding that ASHA will support CDW’s efforts to educate lawmakers and the public about the “detrimental consequences of this legislation.” Click here for full story.
January 29, 2021
As states are pressured to get shots into arms more quickly, some governors and public health officials are rerouting COVID-19 vaccine doses earmarked for assisted living communities and nursing homes back to states. The governments of Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Utah are redirecting or reserving doses originally meant for long-term care facilities until those facilities use up the doses they have on hand, according to Politico. American Seniors Housing Association President David Schless said that although the federal long-term care vaccination program has experienced “fits and starts and is not moving necessarily as quickly as we would all like to see,” it is progressing. Schless said ASHA’s focus remains on advocating for vaccination for independent living residents and encouraging senior living staff members to get vaccinated. “I am going to remain optimistic,” he said. “I think we’ll see the supply of the vaccine pick up, hopefully, in the coming weeks, which will be helpful for all of us. But, certainly, we want to see these communities get these clinics scheduled so residents and staff can get back to some sense of normalcy.” Click here for the full story.January 22, 2021
One day after President Joe Biden took office, his administration released its national strategy for combating Covid-19. The 200-page plan calls for a “laser-focus” on vaccinating people at highest risk, including older adults and people in congregate settings, as well as “targeted surge assistance” to help contain Covid-19 outbreaks in assisted living. Though details are scarce, the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) is supportive of moves to expand the LTC Pharmacy Program and accelerate distribution of vaccines to residential care settings, ASHA President David Schless said. “We are concerned that by calling on states to expand eligibility to other workers and younger age groups, much like the previous administration did recently, before addressing all of senior living residents and staff, it will stress the system and threaten the scarce vaccine supply,” he noted. “This becomes more problematic when certain settings such as independent living are being left out of the LTC pharmacy plan.” ASHA also is concerned about plans for releasing more vaccine supply while maintaining commitment to the current, two-dose regimen. This approach is “dependent on moving parts working in concert,” with the risk being that second-dose supply will not be available when needed. But ASHA is encouraged by the comprehensive plan to accelerate vaccine supply and distribution and has a “simple message” to the administration: “Include all senior living in the existing LTC Pharmacy Program, including independent living. It is the most efficient and safest way to disseminate vaccine to this vulnerable population and the staff and prevent hospitalizations and demand on the greater health care system.” Click here for full story.