What's Happening?
Senior living and skilled nursing executives have formed the Seniors Housing CEO Imperative, a new initiative aimed at addressing workforce challenges in the industry. The group plans to convene in January in Phoenix, coinciding with the American Seniors Housing Association's
annual meeting. The initiative seeks to create a virtual grants coordination network to help providers access over $3 billion in federal, state, and local workforce funding that is currently underutilized. Lynne Katzmann, CEO of Juniper Communities, emphasized the need for leadership development to tackle workforce issues. The initiative includes leaders from major senior living operators such as Benchmark Senior Living and Leisure Care, and aims to unify priorities and establish a sustainable platform for leadership growth across the care continuum.
Why It's Important?
The initiative is significant as it addresses the ongoing workforce shortages in the senior living and care sector, exacerbated by the pandemic and the increasing demand from aging baby boomers. By accessing available grant funding, the industry can enhance its workforce development efforts, potentially improving service delivery and care quality. The collaboration among top executives signifies a shift towards a more coordinated approach, which could lead to more effective solutions to workforce challenges. This effort could benefit providers by streamlining grant application processes and offering technical assistance, ultimately strengthening the industry's capacity to attract and retain talent.
What's Next?
The Seniors Housing CEO Imperative plans to set unified priorities and introduce a platform for leadership growth at scale. The January meeting will feature speakers like Jim FitzGibbon, former president of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, discussing talent attraction and retention strategies. The initiative aims to scale its model across one million industry employees, leveraging a virtual grants coordination network to identify funding opportunities and streamline applications. Pilot projects are already underway, with some showing positive signals from funding judges. The group intends to collaborate with trade organizations to create a focused push following the January meeting.
Beyond the Headlines
The initiative highlights the ethical and practical need for improved workforce conditions in senior living, as the sector faces increasing demand and staffing challenges. By unlocking existing funding, the initiative could lead to long-term improvements in workforce development, benefiting both employees and residents. The collaboration among industry leaders may also set a precedent for similar efforts in other sectors facing workforce shortages.
