Senator Capito Meets with Senior Living and Alzheimer’s Leaders

Bill and Bob Thomas (Principals) Senior Star graciously hosted a meeting in Tulsa, Okla., this week with honored guest Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) and leaders of the senior living industry and Alzheimer’s Association.

Participants representing the Alzheimer’s Association included Harry Johns (CEO), Dr. Joanne Pike (President), and Robert Egge (Chief Public Policy Officer); David Schless (President), American Seniors Housing Association; and Paul Williams (Vice President of Government Relations), Argentum.

Alzheimer’s Association participants discussed key priority legislation including the Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer's Act (S. 1125), which Capito is the prime sponsor along with Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.).

In addition to expressing support for the act, the senior living industry was recognized as an important contributor and supporter for advocacy and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association and specifically the decades long work of Bill and Bob Thomas and their families.

Senior living leaders highlighted the severe workforce challenges the industry faces during the meeting with Capito.

Argentum requested Senator Capito to support:

• expected report language related to the federal budget that will expand opportunities for participation of senior living workers among current Dept. of Labor and Dept. of Health and Human Services workforce development programs
• increase apprenticeship funding for successful programs by $200 million, which would help programs such as Argentum’s Health Apprenticeship Expansion Program (HAEP) that provides training to caregivers and nurses and produces increased retention by up to 85 percent from average industry rates of 30 percent

Thank you to Bill and Bob Thomas and the entire Senior Star team for hosting such a deeply impactful and productive meeting!