December 17, 2023 Washington, DC – Katie Smith Sloan’s, president and CEO of LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, including assisted living, response to the Washington Post’s ”Memory, Inc.” exploration of assisted living (12.17.2023).

“Assisted living is an essential option for many older people who need some services and supports to live safely and as independently as possible, including for those living with dementia and in need of memory care. As the number of older adults grows, so too will demand for these services. Older adults and families need and deserve a strong national aging services system that supports and sustains providers of high-quality assisted living, including adequate and well-trained staff.

To be clear, LeadingAge has no tolerance for bad care, and quality is a top priority for our nonprofit, mission-driven members. Our association has participated in multiple efforts to build sector consensus on assisted living quality measures and other topics. Our engagement in  those, as well as our advocacy, educational and research efforts to improve care throughout  aging services, are ongoing and, given the stresses of our country’s current approach to long-term care financing, increasingly urgent.

Assisted living will continue to evolve with our country’s changing needs. Regulations, staffing needs and training requirements must evolve with them. Our elected officials and other stakeholders must prioritize policies to support older adults and the professionals working in aging services to ensure equitable access to high-quality care in assisted living as well as other care settings.”