Summary
In this episode, host Jerry Vinci discusses the critical role of assisted living in the long-term care system, highlighting its cost-effectiveness and the high satisfaction rates among residents. He addresses the challenges faced by the sector, including outdated public policy, a significant workforce crisis, and the urgent need for more assisted living units to meet the growing demand. Vinci advocates for policy changes to support assisted living as essential infrastructure for aging well.
Takeaways
- Assisted living saves Medicare and Medicaid billions each year.
- It supports over 1.4 million older adults in the U.S.
- Assisted living is often overlooked in policy discussions.
- The average assisted living resident is 85 years old.
- Assisted living costs significantly less than nursing homes.
- Public policy is misaligned with the realities of care.
- There is a growing demand for assisted living units.
- The caregiver shortage is a critical issue in senior care.
- Training programs for caregivers are not scaling fast enough.
- Policy changes are needed to support the assisted living sector.
