Senior living’s challenge of omission and commission
By
John O'Connor
Sep 22, 2022
Long-term care could be made better with funding from Congress. But for now, it appears we’ll have to settle for a congressional commission.
How to improve senior living? Don’t just count the ways
By
John O'Connor
Feb 10, 2022
A new report offers so many specific ways assisted living can be improved. Any single item by itself can help. Collectively, they could significantly change the face of senior living — for the better.
Senior living’s grand illusion needs a reality check
By
John O'Connor
Dec 02, 2021
Senior living suffers from a grand illusion problem. Even in 2021, many of its practitioners insist it is primarily in the hospitality — rather than the healthcare — sector.
Senior living’s slide into the welfare class
By
John O'Connor
Sep 03, 2020
The push for support for assisted living from Uncle Sam is intensifying. But as any skilled care operator will remind you, Uncle Sam tends to be a very demanding business partner.
Why skilled care’s pain could be senior living’s gain
By
John O'Connor
Feb 15, 2018
If you can deliver post-acute care at a lower cost than the skilled care joint down the street, you just might find yourself swimming in a very nice new revenue stream.
Feds promise to enhance industry oversight in wake of GAO report
By
John O'Connor
Feb 09, 2018
Responding to a report that cites lax state oversight, federal officials said they will begin to monitor potentially dangerous incidents at senior living communities more closely.
Medicaid, the Trojan horse of senior living
By
John O'Connor
Feb 08, 2018
Like the citizens of Troy who failed to realize a hollow wooden horse contained something terrible, senior living operators have ignored the real threat Medicaid might unleash: federal rules and regulations.
This new ‘opportunity’ might have a bad aftertaste
By
John O'Connor
Oct 06, 2016
If this field is not going to hold its bad actors accountable, then you can bet that it’s just a matter of time until someone else steps in.
On the path to additional oversight?
By
John O'Connor
Aug 04, 2016
Assisted living operators increasingly are serving residents with severe physical and cognitive challenges, are accepting Medicaid dollars and are getting into trouble while doing so. In other words, they...
Meet your new foe, same as the old foe
By
John O'Connor
Jul 28, 2016
Assisted living got where it is today largely by promising to do a better job than nursing homes. That same strategy — under admittedly different circumstances — also may be the key to future success.