| AHCA/NCAL Issues Statement Following Release of Independent Commission Report | https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Press-Releases/Pages/AHCANCAL-Issues-Statement-Following-Release-Of-Independent-Commission-Report.aspx | AHCA/NCAL Issues Statement Following Release of Independent Commission Report | | | | | 9/16/2020 4:00:00 AM | | <p><span style="font-size:11pt;"><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong> – The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) released the following statement following the release the final report by the independent Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes (Commission) on the safety and quality in nursing homes in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.<br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br>Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL, will attend a discussion on the findings of the report tomorrow at the White House with Vice President Mike Pence, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Robert R. Redfield, some members of the Commission and other public health and senior care experts.<br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br>The following statement is attributable to Mark Parkinson:<br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br>“We are pleased to see the Commission acknowledge what we have been saying from the beginning - there must be shared responsibility with public health officials prioritizing our residents in long term care and helping facilities acquire necessary resources to combat this global pandemic. The Commission’s review and findings lay out some of the important work that is needed to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in nursing homes and further improve the quality of care we deliver.<br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br>“As we prepare for a potential rise in cases this fall, we must arm nursing homes and other long term care facilities with a steady stream of resources to ensure they have adequate tests, personal protective equipment and staff support.<br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br>“We appreciate the members of the Commission who contributed to this important discussion and look forward to working with the Administration to bring aspects of this report to fruition and keep our residents and staff safe.”</span></p><div><br></div><div><strong>ABOUT AHCA/NCAL</strong></div><div>The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (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 <a href="/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">www.ahcancal.org</a> or <a href="/Assisted-Living/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">www.ncal.org</a>.<br><br></div> | AHCA/NCAL released the following statement following the release the final report by the independent Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes (Commission) on the safety and quality in nursing homes in relation to the COVID-19. | |
| America’s Assisted Living Communities Convey Why “Caring is Essential” | https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Press-Releases/Pages/America’s-Assisted-Living-Communities-Convey-Why-“Caring-is-Essential”.aspx | America’s Assisted Living Communities Convey Why “Caring is Essential” | | | | | 9/13/2020 4:00:00 AM | | <p><span style="font-size:11pt;"><strong>WASHINGTON, D.C.</strong> – Beginning today and continuing through Saturday, Sept. 19, America’s assisted living communities are participating in National Assisted Living Week® (NALW). The national observance—which begins each year on National Grandparents’ Day—honors the individuals who reside, work and volunteer in assisted living and residential care communities with special activities and events. <br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br>Created by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) in 1995, this year’s NALW theme is “Caring is Essential,” reflecting the hard work and dedication of all the essential caregivers in assisted living communities across the country. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed much of the day-to-day life of the staff and the residents for the time being. Despite these hurdles, staff continue to provide high-quality care to residents in senior living and should be honored for the incredible work they do every day.</span></p><div><br></div><div>“With many friends and family still unable to enter the buildings due to COVID, caregivers in assisted living communities are playing an even more critical role to residents,” said <strong>Scott Tittle, Executive Director of NCAL</strong>. “This National Assisted Living Week, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of heroes working in assisted living today, we must recognize the special relationships residents have with staff and how those bonds enrich everyone’s lives.”</div><div><br></div><div>The annual observance encourages assisted living communities around the country to offer a variety of events and activities to bring together residents, staff and volunteers, while adhering to infection control requirements and precautions in place for COVID-19. Participants are asked to share their celebrations throughout the week on social media with the hashtag, <strong>#NALW</strong>. </div><div><br></div><div>For more information on National Assisted Living Week, please visit <a href="/Education-Events/Pages/NALW.aspx" target="_blank">www.nalw.org</a>.</div><div><br></div><div><strong>ABOUT AHCA/NCAL</strong></div><div>The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (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<a href="/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank"> www.ahca.org</a> or <a href="/Education-Events/Pages/NALW.aspx" target="_blank">www.ncal.org</a>.<br><br></div> | Beginning today and continuing through Saturday, Sept. 19, America’s assisted living communities are participating in National Assisted Living Week®. | Caregivers commemorate National Assisted Living Week® |
| AHCA/NCAL Renews Call For Residents, Staff In Long Term Care Facilities To Receive Prioritization For COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution | https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Press-Releases/Pages/AHCANCAL-Renews-Call-For-Residents,-Staff-In-Long-Term-Care-Facilities-To-Receive-Prioritization-For-COVID-19-Vaccine-Distr.aspx | AHCA/NCAL Renews Call For Residents, Staff In Long Term Care Facilities To Receive Prioritization For COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution | | | | | 9/2/2020 4:00:00 AM | | <p><span style="font-size:11pt;"><strong>Washington, D</strong></span><span style="font-size:11pt;"><strong>.C.</strong> – The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and assisted living communities across the country, reiterated its call today for long term care facilities to receive prioritization for distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine.<br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br>At a public listening session organized by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) convened to solicit comments on its Discussion Draft of the Preliminary Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine, AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson stressed the importance of getting a vaccine to long term care providers who have been on the front lines of the pandemic protecting one of our nation’s most vulnerable populations.<br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br>“Long term care was forgotten at the start of the pandemic, but we cannot be forgotten now,” Parkinson said. “Members of our country’s greatest generation and the brave men and women who keep them safe deserve our support. Ensuring long term care residents and staff are among the first to receive a vaccine when it becomes available will help mitigate the risk and prevent further deaths.”<br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br>NASEM’s final study will provide recommendations to the National Institutes for Health (NIH) and the Center for Disease (CDC) as they consider initial allocation once a vaccine is available for use. A recent <a href="https://www.axios.com/who-gets-coronavirus-vaccine-first-4ff87ff8-39d7-49d6-8d25-fa2307119235.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top" target="_blank">Harris survey</a> of more than 1,900 Americans revealed that the vast majority of Americans support providing the vaccine to high-risk individuals first. This includes seniors and those who care for them.<br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br>While long term care providers have taken unprecedented action to protect those in their care, research shows that a high rate of spread in a community is all but certain to lead to outbreaks in nursing homes and assisted living communities. “As long as the virus is a threat to the general public, it is a threat to our residents and staff,” Parkinson added. “If we can vaccinate long term care residents and caregivers first, they will be less at risk in the event we see a rise in cases within our communities.”<br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br>AHCA/NCAL will continue to work closely with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, NIH and CDC to ensure those who most urgently need the protection of a vaccine are able to access it as soon as possible.<br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br>For more information, please visit </span><a href="/Survey-Regulatory-Legal/Emergency-Preparedness/pages/coronavirus.aspx" target="_blank" style="font-size:11pt;">www.ahcancal.org/coronavirus</a><span style="font-size:11pt;">.</span></p><div><br></div><div><strong>ABOUT AHCA/NCAL</strong></div><div>The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (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 <a href="/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">www.ahcancal.org</a> or <a href="/Assisted-Living/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">www.ncal.org</a>.<br><br></div> | AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson stressed the importance of getting a vaccine to long term care providers who have been on the front lines of the pandemic protecting one of our nation’s most vulnerable populations. | |
| NCAL Issues Statement Following HHS Announcement On Funding For Assisted Living Communities | https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Press-Releases/Pages/NCAL-Issues-Statement-Following-HHS-Announcement-On-Funding-For-Assisted-Living-Communities.aspx | NCAL Issues Statement Following HHS Announcement On Funding For Assisted Living Communities | | | | | 9/1/2020 4:00:00 AM | | <strong>Washington, D.C.</strong> – The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) released the following statement following today's announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding funding for assisted living facilities as provided by the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.<br> <br>The following statement is attributable to Scott Tittle, executive director of NCAL:<br> <br>“This financial aid is welcome news for the tens of thousands of assisted living providers and the hundreds of thousands of seniors they serve. For six months, assisted living caregivers have been diverting significant resources to help acquire personal protective equipment, testing, and additional support for staff. Funding from the federal government will help ensure assisted living providers continue these efforts to keep their residents and staff safe as well as remain a reliable long term care option for their local communities. Coupled with today's news that rapid, antigen tests are being delivered to assisted living communities across the country, we greatly appreciate HHS for recognizing the importance of supporting our long term care sector during this crisis."<br><div style="text-align:center;"><br></div><div style="text-align:center;">###<br></div><div style="text-align:center;"><br></div><div style="text-align:left;"><strong>ABOUT AHCA/NCAL</strong><br><br><p>The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (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 <a href="http://www.ahcancal.org/">www.ahcancal.org</a> or <a href="http://www.ncal.org/">www.ncal.org</a>.<br></p><br><br><br></div> | Scott Tittle, executive director of NCAL, comments on the announcement from HHS regarding funding for assisted living facilities as provided by the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. | |