PUBLIC POLICY
Advocates Argentum For You
Leading the Way in Massachusetts As baby boomers begin to retire, states are looking for innovative ways to meet the chal- lenges that come with an aging population. Massachusetts is one of the leaders on this front and earlier this year became the second state in the country to join AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities—an initiative aimed at making communities more livable for older adults. To further their age-friendly initiatives,
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed Executive Order 576 establishing the Governor’s Council to Address Aging in Massachusetts. The Council is comprised of leaders in the aging fi eld including Tom Grape, chairman and CEO of Benchmark, who serves on the Argentum Board of Di- rectors. The Council’s goal is to “improve public awareness of and access to services for older adults and caregivers and…lever- age innovation and technology to support aging in communities.” In September, Gov. Charlie Baker and Sec. Alice Bonner, Mas- sachusetts Executive Offi ce of Elder Aff airs, joined senior living leaders at Argentum’s Chief Executive Summit in Boston to dis-
Senior living leaders met with Massachusetts government offi cials at the 2018 Argentum Chief Executive Summit. Pictured (L to R): Loren Shook, president, CEO & chairman, Silverado; Pat Mulloy; Gov. Charlie Baker; Sec. Alice Bonner; Tim Buchanan, president & CEO, Legend Senior Living; James Balda, president & CEO, Argentum; Bruce Mackey, president & CEO, Five Star Senior Living; Tom Grape, chairman & CEO, Benchmark; Randy Richardson, president, Vi; and Brad Klitsch, senior vice president of market development, Direct Supply.
cuss the progress of age-friendly initiatives across the Commonwealth. In addition, Massachusetts is taking the lead on passing innovative dementia training legislation. In August 2018, Gov. Baker signed H.4116 An Act relative to Alzheimer’s and related de- mentias in the Commonwealth into law. According to a press release from Gov. Baker’s offi ce, the new law strengthens the Commonwealth’s age and dementia friendly initiatives by: • Creating an advisory council and an in- tegrated state plan to eff ectively address Alzheimer’s disease;
• Requiring content about Alzheimer’s and related dementias be incorporated into physicians, physician’s assistants, registered nurses, and practical nurses continuing medical education programs that are required for the granting or re- newal of licensure;
• Allowing doctors to share an Alzhei- mer’s diagnosis and treatment plan to a family member or legal personal repre- sentative within the existing framework of federal and state privacy laws;
• Requiring hospitals that serve an adult population to have an operational plan in place for recognizing and managing individuals with dementia within three years of the laws’ enactment; and
Argentum Public Policy Institute and Fly-In
March 5–6, 2019 | Washington, DC Join industry professionals to discuss issues and solutions to the most important legislative and regulatory trends at the state and federal levels, and advocate for critical senior living issues on Capitol Hill. Learn more at
argentum.org/ppi
54 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
• Requiring elder protective services case- workers to be trained on Alzheimer’s disease.
This law was applauded by advocates for seniors throughout the country and con- sidered a model piece of legislation. While Massachusetts is certainly a leader in sup- porting age-friendly communities, many more states will be looking for examples in the years to come for how to also address their aging populations.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
