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 jeanne@ashaliving.org and Sheff Richey at sheff@ashaliving.org. Questions about the Associations meetings and sponsorship can be directed to Doris Maultsby at doris@ashaliving.org. For all other inquiries reach out to David Schless, ASHA president & CEO at david@ashaliving.org.
December 17, 2020
HHS received approximately 75,000 Phase 3 applicants; the percentage of those applicants that are assisted living providers is unknown, ASHA President David Schless told Senior Housing News.
“We have asked on several occasions. Our understanding is that the 88% will be derived directly from each providers Phase 3 application (through the end of the second quarter 2020),” Schless said. Full story.
December 16, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerable health status of older adults, but it also revealed the “vital role” that senior living communities play in the larger care continuum, according to a Plante Moran research report. The investigation, done in partnership with the American Seniors Housing Association, states that once the senior living industry emerges from the pandemic, assisted living providers will have a choice: go back to the status quo, which will see growing competition, increasing costs and lower occupancy, or embrace an expanded role in the healthcare delivery system. Click here for full story.December 10, 2020
The framework for a bipartisan $908 billion COVID-19 relief package, released Dec. 9, includes measures directed at addressing the struggles of assisted living and other long-term care operators.
ASHA President David Schless echoed that the senior living industry needs help now, adding that ASHA also is calling for temporary and limited liability protections for the industry “given the likelihood of legal challenges ahead that will create additional, unnecessary and unfair financial strain on this industry.” Read more.
December 2, 2020
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) panel is recommending that workers and residents of long-term care facilities, such as assisted living communities and skilled nursing facilities, should be among the first people to receive a Covid-19 vaccine when it’s available. ASHA President David Schless said the organization supports the prioritization strategy, and appreciates the complexity associated with doing so. “We are encouraged that the committee recognizes the front-line position our industry’s staff members have served during this pandemic and the disproportionate impact of this virus on seniors in our communities,” Schless said in a statement. “However, we must continue to be vigilant to ensure that all senior living communities have prioritized access to the vaccine as supplies become available.” Read more.December 1, 2020
The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, the American Seniors Housing Association, Argentum and LeadingAge released a joint statement emphasizing the need to keep long-term care residents and staff on the top of the COVID-19 vaccine priority list. Click here for more.
November 12, 2020
ASHA President David Schless writes in a letter to Congress, “While we are encouraged by the news of a vaccine on the horizon, until it is widely available to our residents and staff, we must continue to take all necessary measures to protect our communities. This public health crisis demands that federal resources be allocated to the senior living industry to ensure our ongoing ability to serve this vulnerable population.” Read more.November 10, 2020
Joe Biden “has made COVID-19 and caregiving a national priority and has announced his intention to launch a COVID-19 Task Force that will create an ‘action blueprint’ to begin implementation Jan 20.” Full storyNovember 3, 2020
ASHA sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Monday to again seek clarification about “conflicting information” posted by the department. In updated FAQs posted Oct. 28, HHS said that providers reporting use of the funds toward lost revenues attributable to the coronavirus should report actual patient care revenues and expenses for 2019 and 2020, to allow for a year-over-year calculation of change in revenue, ASHA President David Schless noted in a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar. This instruction, however, conflicts with earlier guidance that continues to be included in the Oct. 28 FAQs, which endorses “any reasonable method of estimating the revenue … had COVID-19 not appeared” and says that one way to estimate lost revenue is the “difference between your budgeted and actual revenue.” For more, read here.October 28, 2020
Series of three videos and advertisements focus on real stories from real people that promote positive resident and family experiences. The second phase of ASHA’s national public relations campaign promoting seniors housing has launched with two new videos and accompanying banner advertisements promoting the seniors housing industry. This phase builds trust in senior living communities, giving seniors and their families the confidence that the industry is making the right decisions at the right times on behalf of residents. It focuses on real stories from real people who promote positive resident and family experiences while highlighting industry expertise. These new videos feature shared perspectives from residents; a community staff member; and from a family member, who speaks to the reassurances that come with having his parents live in a seniors community. The videos are incorporated into banner ads as part of a multifaceted effort that includes digital-video advertising, online-display, paid-search, paid-social, and owned social advertising. The digital campaign leads its audience to ASHA’s Where You Live Matters site, where visitors from the paid-search campaigns can learn more about senior living and advance through the sales process. Here are links to videos:- Community Staff Member video
- Husband and wife resident video
- Adult-child influencer video
October 23, 2020
Changes in the guidance lean favorably to seniors housing operators. In response to the revised guidance, ASHA President David Schless, told McKnights, “[It] is more consistent with guidance that was previously relied upon by senior living operators.” ASHA, he added, will continue to seek clarification from HHS about other reporting guidance issued in September.