Talk of EFCA Compromise Surprises Senate Democrats

By Paul Williams, Senior Director of Government Relations, ALFA
This week at the AFL-CIO conference, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) announced that a compromise for the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) had been worked out in the Senate, and predicted the legislation would be passed by the end of the year. This caught several key Senate democrats [...]

Community Living Assistance Services and Supports

An ALFA-backed long-term care insurance initiative included in H.R. 3200, America’s Affordable Healthy Choices Act of 2009 – better known as the House health care reform legislation, has recently come under fire from the life insurance industry.
The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) plan, a long standing measure crafted by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), [...]

Hospice Care Funding Under Review

ALFA Update recently reported that the federal government is reviewing its funding streams for hospice care services nationwide. This is of particular interest to senior living providers that currently provide hospice care or are looking to expand their scope of services to include hospice care in the near future.
A CNN video looks at the state [...]

Social Media Gets Profitable

New research shows that companies with the highest levels of social media activity averaged an 18 percent jump in revenue over the past year.
The study, conducted by social media platform Wetpaint and digital consulting firm Altimeter Group, looked at the largest U.S.-based companies and scored their social media activity based on their levels of interaction [...]

Social Media Spread

The Chicago Tribune ran an article today that talks about cities in Illinois that are using Twitter as a reverse 911 system for the city to send information to residents. Cities are using the platform to communicate road closings or construction, missing persons, gypsy moth spraying, and other information to residents who sign up for [...]

Watching for Signs of Stress

Business management experts agree: The recession is taking an emotional toll on executives and their employees. And while assisted living continues to make a strong showing amid tight economic times, execs and their staff may be affected in various ways. Author John Baldoni recommends watching for these three signs of stress, courtesy of Harvard Business Publishing:
1. [...]

Bersani Answers Consumer Questions about Assisted Living

Maribeth Bersani, ALFA’s SVP of Public Policy, discusses assisted living on a popular Washington, D.C. television program.

Grand Finale at the ALFA Conference

The State of the Industry session (ballroom, level 3) is among the many “grand finales” – but the highlights throughout this week have been many – check them out on this blog – video, photos on Flcker. Very cool to know the senior living business is on the cusp of innovative communications and information exchange, [...]

Strategy and Innovation-Packed Wednesday Afternoon

Standing room only sessions at the ALFA conference – because folks are getting the info they need to meet their greatest challenges. Comment on what you attended today – and your best solutions. Don’t miss the State of the Industry panel discussion tomorrow morning – it’s a can’t-miss for sure.

2009 ALFA Hero Awards Ceremony

Heroes are found in senior living communities across the country. They are the executive directors, staff members, nurses, frontline caregivers, and volunteers who do more, give more, and personify the spirit of excellence in senior living care.

Everyone knows at least one hero — someone in assisted living who has shown extraordinary courage and leadership — [...]