ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Four associations representing assisted living providers across the country are partnering with the National Association for Regulatory Administration (NARA) on the creation and launch of the Quality in Assisted Living Collaborative (QALC). Argentum, the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA), LeadingAge, and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) are working with NARA as part of the QALC to identify, define, and develop model guidance for assisted living. The Collaborative’s resources will be available to aid and educate providers, regulators, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
“Building a set of best practices will modernize the senior living industry, making it easier for providers to deliver on the promise of high-quality caregiving outside of an institutional setting,” said Alfred C. Johnson, board president, NARA. “This effort is a great step forward and will bring senior living communities and the residents they serve a powerful set of common principles to build on for years to come.”
The collaborative’s first product is currently in development and will include a set of recommended infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines in assisted living, a top issue coming on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic. The IPC workgroup is drafting the recommendations with the expectation for a final release in late 2023 following QALC approval.
“Longer term, this significant initiative is expected to result in greater consistency across the states,” said James Balda, president and chief executive officer, Argentum. “By working together, we will put the industry in a position to play a lead role in reshaping the way in which assisted living communities operate.”
“This effort will likely explore a number of aspects of assisted living over time, and our hope is that its recommendations will help all stakeholders, including operators, policymakers, and consumers,” said David Schless, ASHA President and CEO.
“Assisted living continues to thrive thanks in part to state-based regulation, which encourages innovation and diversity of care models that promote customized care to each resident,” said NCAL Executive Director LaShuan Bethea. “Where the QALC can assist is equipping states and providers with the latest guidance, so that assisted living can continue to evolve and deliver high-quality care.”
“Quality care is the top priority for providers who care for older adults, and QALC will help the sector collaboratively address the most urgent issues,” said Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO, LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services. “We look forward to representing our nonprofit, mission-driven members as part of this important coalition.”
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ABOUT ARGENTUM
Since 1990, Argentum has advocated for choice, independence, dignity, and quality of life for all older adults. Argentum member companies operate senior living communities offering assisted living, independent living, continuing care, and memory care services. Along with its state partners, Argentum’s membership represents approximately 75 percent of the senior living industry—an industry with a national economic impact of nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars and responsible for providing over 1.6 million jobs. These numbers will continue to grow as the U.S. population ages. Argentum’s programs and initiatives are driven by its membership. For more information about joining Argentum, please visit argentum.org/membership. Learn more at www.argentum.org.
ABOUT ASHA
Based in Washington, DC, the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) advances the interests of organizations engaged in the development, ownership, operations, and financing of seniors housing. As part of this role, ASHA works to educate policymakers about the industry and protect the interests of seniors housing owners and operators, as well as advocating for policies that benefit its residents and their families. ASHA is also engaged in national consumer education initiatives designed to help older adults, families and other influencers understand their senior living options and make empowered decisions.
ABOUT LEADINGAGE
We represent more than 5,000 nonprofit aging services providers and other mission-minded organizations that touch millions of lives every day. Alongside our members and 38 state partners, we use applied research, advocacy, education, and community-building to make America a better place to grow old. Our membership encompasses the entire continuum of aging services, including skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, affordable housing, retirement communities, adult day programs, community-based services, hospice, home-based care. We bring together the most inventive minds in the field to lead and innovate solutions that support older adults wherever they call home. For more information visit leadingage.org.
ABOUT AHCA/NCAL
The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) is the assisted living voice of the American Health Care Association (AHCA). AHCA/NCAL represents more than 14,000 non-profit and proprietary skilled nursing centers, assisted living communities, sub-acute centers and homes for individuals with intellectual and development disabilities. By delivering solutions for quality care, AHCA/NCAL aims to improve the lives of the millions of frail, elderly and individuals with disabilities who receive long term or post-acute care in our member facilities each day. For more information, please visit www.ahcancal.org or www.ncal.org.
ABOUT NARA
NARA is an international non-profit professional association founded in 1976 representing all human care licensing, including adult residential and assisted living, adult day care, child care, child welfare and program licensing for services related to mental illness, developmental disabilities and abuse of drugs or alcohol. Among our partners are providers, consumers and their families, regulators, advocates, concerned citizens, business and religious communities, policy-makers, universities, researchers, and allied professionals from the academic, technical and treatment disciplines.