ENGAGE - Issue 1

A MESSAGE FROM OUR Board Chair

shelley esden , President and CEO Sonata Senior Living

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Florida Senior Living Association’s magazine, ENGAGE, and our ENGAGE 2022 Senior Living Conference!

As the Chair of this Association and a senior living operator, I want to thank you for being engaged with our industry, especially over the past few years. It’s fair to say we’ve never seen anything like what we’ve just been through, but I also believe we are poised for a future like no other.

As we step boldly into that future, I encourage you to look to this magazine and this membership as not just a resource, but also a source of inspiration and a reserve of experience. We want to help people understand this industry that we have embraced as our passion and often as our life work. We are here to celebrate each other, our team members and above all, our residents.

To that end, please tell us your stories. Ask us questions. Reach out to us for assistance. Let us be your advocates and your greatest champions.

Look for important information on regulatory updates, tips on how to effectively engage public officials, resources for building a strong and connected team, and much, much more. We truly are here to serve you.

I hope you are reading this at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, getting ready for an exciting and engaging week among your colleagues and peers. But if not, let us know how we can help you access the education and inspiration we’re getting ready to experience.

Above all, let’s boldly seize that future. Together.

Look How Far We’ve Come

For the first edition, we wanted to share a brief history of FSLA, including our many accomplishments to date. We have accomplished much in our short nine years, and we still have a lot to do.

In 2011 and 2012, the Miami Herald released a 6-part investigative series, “Neglected to Death” focusing on the state’s oversight of assisted living and the mentally ill that resulted in closures, punishment of violators and the beginning of tougher laws and regulations. In the wake of this, several community executives recognized the need for a state association to focus on senior assisted living, memory care and independent communities.

At the same time, another issue facing senior providers was that Florida needed an organization to focus on passing legislation, improving and updating burdensome regulations, and creating an attractive state for seniors to live and retire.

Argentum — a national senior living association — and its board of directors graciously agreed to help Florida providers begin a new chapter organization, and FL ALFA was established with approximately 180 communities and founding board members. James McFaddin from Southern Group was hired as the outside lobbyist, and Gail Matillo was hired in January 2013 as the Executive Director.

In 2014, Argentum selected six states to serve as “power” states, which meant Florida increased its dues and hired two new staff. Additionally, the association was gifted with another organization, the Retirement Housing Council, which is now the Florida Senior Living Institute, a 501(c)3 organization.

So, the association got busy and got things done.

In 2015, ALF legislation passed that had been presented to the legislature since 2011, and one success in the bill was allowing nurses to practice within the scope of their licensure. The rule also allowed standard assisted living facilities to admit residents that needed oxygen, colostomy care, or anti-embolism stockings.

In January 2016, the association changed its name to Florida Argentum; in 2018 another name change to Florida Senior Living Association brought the organization to its current level of recognition with communities, legislators, and industry professionals.

In 2016, the association passed a fire and life safety bill which updated design concepts including wider hallways, hallway benches, memory care updates, fire resident doorways, and longer corridors. The next year, the association secured an additional $5 million in state funding for Medicaid Assistive Care Services to provide extra money to low-income residents.

In 2018, FSLA worked with the Agency for Health Care Administration to pass a bill that would prevent unlicensed ALFs from operating in the state; this also helped reduce much of the negative press about ALFs. In 2019, we assisted with passage of a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) bill which improved early signs of CCRC solvency; gave the Office of Insurance Regulation authority to remove management; and revised minimum liquid reserves and withdrawals from reserve account. And, we were successful in negotiating additional provisions for ALFs in the generator statutes and rules.

In 2020, FSLA passed legislation that allowed assistive devices to be used in ALFs. Until this time, ALFs could not take advantage of new medical technologies that they could use in their homes. Now, ALF residents can use the latest technologies to help them remain independent. The following year in the midst of the pandemic, FSLA worked to pass limitations of COVID-19 liability to prevent meritless claims and ensured ALFs were excluded from the ban on COVID-19 passports.

FSLA also received two grants -- a grant through the Agency for Health Care Administration to provide both train-the-trainer and staff infection control training to all ALFs; and a second grant in partnership with TruMont and MyCNAJobs, to provide home health aide training to new or existing staff. And the big news of 2021 was the purchase of our headquarters building at 2292 Wednesday Street in Tallahassee.

In 2022, FSLA worked to extend the limitation of COVID-19 liability for health care providers, advocate for relief from the workforce crisis, and the need to reduce increasing insurance premiums. FSLA also received $500,000 from the state budget to train CNAs in all ALFs.

FSLA has been very successful and built a strong reputation as a trusted resource. Membership has grown to more than 460 communities and industry partners and employs six full-time staff, two part-time staff, an intern and four outside consultants.

Though FSLA’s efforts have been very successful, and we have built a strong reputation and presence in Florida as a trusted resource for senior living, there is much more work to be done.

FSLA is passionate about helping its members and we are dedicated to providing you the resources you need to care for the greatest generation and those to come.

Stay connected, follow us, and get more engaged on Florida Senior Living Association’s journey to Boldly Define the Future of Senior Living.