Calling all Argentum Advocates: Next week's member-exclusive policy briefing will share key insights from the recent Public Policy Institute (PPI) and how we can continue the momentum from the event over the coming weeks.

Argentum's PPI is the industry's largest advocacy event, and this year 130 advocates from 35 states made their voices heard in our largest event to-date, holding 151 meetings with Congressional offices. In addition to telling the story of assisted living and reframing the narrative through the the “I ❤ Assisted Living" campaign, advocates helped to promote the SENIOR Act (H.R. 7605), the Care Across Generations Act (H.R. 6835), and the veterans assisted living pilot program (H.R. 1815, S. 495).

This month's session will share updates on our legislative priorities (including details on the brand new SENIOR Act), recent regulatory changes impacting providers, and how senior living advocates can continue the conversations from Capitol Hill to build on the momentum of PPI.

Argentum Advocates Member Briefing
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
2:00 PM ET

Senior living advocates from 35 states came together last week for Argentum's Public Policy Institute, where they held 151 meetings with Congressional offices.

Advocates sought support for the SENIOR Act (H.R. 7605), which was introduced just prior to the event by Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and includes a cost-reduction program for low-income seniors to afford assisted living as well as expansion of workforce programs to meet the growing need for caregivers.

Advocates also promoted the Care Across Generations Act (H.R. 6835) to foster intergenerational connections by co-locating childcare and senior living communities, and the veterans assisted living pilot program legislation (H.R. 1815, S. 495) to finally give veterans a choice in their long-term care.

The event included remarks from Representatives Lori Trahan, Marilyn Strickland, Annie Kuster, Debbie Dingell, and Susan Wild, and several leading female members of Congress joined the Women in Leadership (WIL) event including Reps. Claudia Tenney, Nicole Malliotakis, and Suzanne Bonamici.

Argentum released an updated edition of The Value of Assisted Living in America. The industry-leading report provides a comprehensive review of the benefits of assisted living in high resident satisfaction rates, improving quality of life, and saving Medicare and Medicaid funding along with increased workforce productivity.

Among the reports findings include:

Argentum launched a new “Standing with Seniors” website last week, designed to empower seniors, families, caregivers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders with accessible and actionable information to support informed decision-making, and policies to improve the lives of seniors.

The resource hub provides key data points available on a national, state, and Congressional-district level, including the number of communities, residents in assisted living, independent living, and memory care, the Medicare spending comparison between assisted living and skilled nursing, current and projected population over age 65, and more!

Additional resources available on Standing With Seniors include:

Earlier this week, Genworth Financial released its annual Cost of Care Survey, one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind, which found that assisted living remains the most cost-effective form of senior care.

Argentum's Public Policy Institute (PPI) is underway with more than 100 advocates joining together in Washington, D.C. this week to help tell the story of senior living.

Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MA-3) led a keynote address to promote the SENIOR Act, legislation she just introduced to increase access and affordability of assisted living and address the industry's workforce needs, which will demand more than 20 million workers across long-term care by 2040.

U.S. Representative Lori Trahan (D-MA), a lead sponsor of the SENIOR Act, speaking yesterday at Argentum's Public Policy Institute on the importance of the legislation.

Attendees are preparing to head to Capitol Hill to get their voices heard on the SENIOR Act, the Care Across Generations Act (to foster intergenerational connections by co-locating childcare and senior living communities), and the veterans assisted living pilot program legislation (to finally give veterans a choice in their long-term care).

We are calling on all Argentum Advocates to join us in our day of action by sending pre-written letters to Congress in support of these bills! All you have to do is click the buttons below, add your contact information, and click "Send message." That's it! The more messages that lawmakers receive, the more likely they are to review the legislation and cosponsor it. And with more than 100 senior living advocates on Capitol Hill this week, your messages have an outsized impact in spreading the word on the importance of our priority bills.

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Argentum is thrilled to share that our priority legislation, the SENIOR Act, has officially been reintroduced in Congress! The legislation is led by Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and is intended to address access and affordability of assisted living and the industry’s workforce needs (see our press release).

Specifically, The SENIOR Act (“Safeguarding Elderly Needs for Innovation and Occupational Resources”) would:

1. Create a cost-reduction program allowing seniors to choose assisted living care instead of costlier skilled nursing facilities that rely on Medicaid.
2. Re-target existing HHS and DOL workforce training programs like Job Corps, American Job Centers and others to offer specializations in senior care.

Calling all Argentum Advocates: Today at 2:00 pm ET, Argentum will present its monthly member-exclusive policy briefing.

What's next for assisted living following last month's Senate Aging Committee hearing? Argentum recently met with senior staffers on the committee to discuss plans for upcoming hearings and the potential for legislation impacting the industry. Today's session will share details of our continued outreach to the committee and senate offices, our grassroots campaign, and how to get involved with the upcoming "I ❤ Assisted Living" campaign.

We'll also share the latest developments on the anticipated re-introduction of the industry-leading SENIOR Act, along with updates on the Care Across Generations Act, Veterans assisted living pilot program, and more.

Argentum Advocates are invited to these exclusive sessions to hear directly from Argentum’s federal lobbyists on our current federal and state public policy efforts.

Argentum Advocates Member Briefing
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
2:00 PM ET

Today is the last day to secure hotel accommodations for the Argentum Public Policy Institute. In order to get access to the official room block for PPI, you must register for the event.

The special Presidents Day sale for the Argentum Public Policy Institute ends soon, but there's still time to take advantage of the savings. From now through February 19, we're bringing back early bird rates, giving you the opportunity to secure your spot at a discounted rate.

With recent media coverage and increased attention from lawmakers, it's more important than ever for us to tell our story and advocate for the senior living industry. Make sure at least one member of your leadership team attends the Public Policy Institute this March in Washington, DC.

>>> New: Special day-pass to attend Tuesday, March 12 for advocacy training and meetings on Capitol Hill. Community-level executive directors are strongly encouraged to attend through this exclusive rate to share their on-the-ground stories of daily life in assisted living. Register for only $250.

Columbia Cottage Linglestown welcomed staff from the U.S. Senate Aging Committee for a visit of their community near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The visit provided an opportunity to meet with residents, staff, and senior living experts to discuss the critical role assisted living plays in supporting the needs of older adults in Pennsylvania and across the country.

The visit was coordinated by Argentum, the Pennsylvania Assisted Living Association (PALA), and Columbia Cottage Assisted Living.

U.S. Senate Aging Committee staff visited Columbia Cottage near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.