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While we may think of housing and senior care dwelling in distinct silos, a long-term care researcher says those should be torn down given compelling evidence on the influence of residential stability on long-term care needs. Nurse and researcher Marissa Bergh sat down with McKnight’s Long-Term Care News Senior Editor Kimberly Marselas to discuss her team’s findings, which underscore how the built environment and economic pressures often force families into making difficult nursing home placement decisions. Her review of 25 years of research suggests that for many older adults, the move to a nursing home is less a medical necessity and more a consequence of financial and physical housing failures. Bergh highlights three primary pathways through which housing impacts institutionalization: the financial asset of homeownership versus the strain of renting, the physical mismatch between declining mobility and inaccessible home designs, and the compounded inequities faced by marginalized communities. While homeownership often acts as a "financial reservoir" to pay for in-home help, renters are frequently priced out of their communities exactly when they need stability most, notes Bergh, a PhD candidate at the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. She points out that waitlists for affordable senior housing in some cities stretch up to eight years — a timeline that doesn’t align with the rapid health changes of an aging population. This "anemic supply" of housing often forces seniors to live in clinical settings they don't necessarily require. "When we talk to families and caregivers, this was not avoidable for them," Bergh explains. "This is sort of a last resort: They couldn't care for their family members as much as they wanted to. There just weren't the resources there." Repeated too often, that scenario fills nursing home beds that are increasingly in demand by hospitals and a growing number of seniors with complex health needs. Bergh urges clinicians to move beyond basic screenings for homelessness and begin identifying "proximal risks" like housing affordability and minor accessibility needs. Skilled nursing providers can play a role by learning about their short-term patients’ housing needs and suggesting resources such as rent-freeze or home modification loan programs. She says such solutions might help change some seniors’ long-term care trajectories. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Glee McAnanly, president and CEO of FirstLight Home Care, is no stranger to franchise businesses. Prior to coming to FIrstLight five years ago, she worked her way up at ServiceMaster, a home service business. Working for a home care franchise is not so different, she said, as instead of taking care of the home, she is helping take care of the person inside the home. She also is not a stranger personally to taking care of older adults. Her first brush with care was when she was in college; her grandmother came to live with her family. To help set FirstLight apart, she is looking for franchise owners who have the capacity to be successful. This entails having both business sense and an emotional connection to home care. Innovation is also important to the company, and the company is piloting a number of technology programs including in the area of remote patient monitoring. In the next five to 10 years, the company will be more involved in skilled care. It also is putting an emphasis on disease-specific care, including dementia care. It is rolling out a pilot in Florida pertaining to the (Guiding and Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model in the next few months. Notes: Follow us on social media: X: @McKHomeCare Facebook: McKnight's Home Care LinkedIn: McKnight's Home Care Instagram: mcknights_homecare Follow FirstLight Home Care on social media: LinkedIn: FirstLight Home Care X: @FirstLightCare Facebook: FirstLight Home Care Instagram: firstlighthomecarenationalShow contributors:McKnight’s Home Care Editor Liza Berger; Glee McAnanly, president and CEO of FirstLight Home Care Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"Strategic kindness" is an underused leadership approach that can foster loyalty and respect and increase efficiency, creativity and job satisfaction in the workplace, according to Linda Cohen, who has work experience in senior living and is the author of the book “The Economy of Kindness: How Kindness Transforms Your Bottom Line.” In this podcast episode, she shares how senior living providers can benefit personally and professionally by implementing this strategy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The SCAN Foundation has committed nearly $8 million over three years for the Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab, a nonprofit endeavor that will focus on advancing public policies at both the state and federal level to help improve access to care for low-income older adults and people with disabilities, Tim Engelhardt, executive director of the lab, said. Among the public policy work the lab will address on the state and federal levels are improving the healthcare system’s cost and complexity — two issues that often prevent older adults and people with disabilities from accessing care. In particular, the lab aims to streamline enrollment processes. He cited Virginia, where those who receive Supplemental Social Income (SSI) have to apply separately for Medicaid. This administrative burden taxes applicants, their families and government officials, he said. A total of 12 million people in this country are dual-eligible — on Medicare and Medicaid. This heterogeneous group consists of low-income older adults and people with disabilities who have, on average, high rates of disability and chronic illness and need significant supports to live in the community. About half of people in HCBS programs are dually eligible, he noted. Follow us on social media: X: @McKHomeCare Facebook: McKnight's Home Care LinkedIn: McKnight's Home Care Instagram: mcknights_homecare Follow The SCAN Foundation on social media: LinkedIn: The SCAN Foundation X: @TheSCANFndtn Show contributors: McKnight’s Home Care Editor Liza Berger; Tim Engelhardt, executive director, Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you’re navigating rising managed care penetration, paperwork burdens, mounting denials, and shrinking margins, this is a must-listen on how clinically guided AI can reduce burden, protect patient care and maintain financial stability. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Comfort Keepers CEO Natalie Black talked about a range of issues for the podcast. Besides the importance of supporting family caregivers, Black talked about Comfort Keepers becoming a fully franchised home care model last year. She also welcomes legislation in states that regulate home care as it raises the playing field. Meanwhile, the workforce shortage remains the biggest challenge for major personal care franchisor. “Having a reputation as a good employer is just as important as having a reputation as a good provider,” she said. Among the workforce issues Black is paying close attention to is the Department of Labor’s proposed companionship exemption rule. If finalized, it would mean certain home care workers would be exempt from federal overtime and minimum wage requirements in the Fair Labor Standards Act. The industry has changed a lot in the last 10 years, Black said. It’s fast-paced, there is a lot of competition and there is new technology to incorporate into operations. Going forward, she sees more opportunity for specialization in the vein of the company’s new Positive Pathways program, a person-centered approach for caring for clients with Alzheimer's and dementia. In the future, there is the possibility of more specialization around respite services, post-acute care and post-procedural care, she said. Follow us on social media: X: @McKHomeCare Facebook: McKnight's Home Care LinkedIn: McKnight's Home Care Instagram: mcknights_homecare Follow Comfort Keepers on social media: Facebook: Comfort Keepers Home Office LinkedIn: Comfort Keepers Instagram: comfortkeepersofficial Show contributors: McKnight’s Home Care Editor Liza Berger; Natalie Black, CEO, Comfort Keepers Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Paul Boethel joined Watermark Retirement Communities as CEO in April. Now he joins McKnight's Senior Living to talk about the organization's goals and accomplishments over the past several months, which have been guided by two themes: increasing pace and shifting to a people-centric and data-centric focus. He also provides insights into changes in marketing, ownership involvement and resident preferences in senior living; Watermark's plans for 2026; and, longer term, how senior living will change "dramatically" in the future. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rita Mabli has spent almost 50 years of her career at United Hebrew of New Rochelle and has been CEO for more than 30 of them. Mark Sanchez began working in senior living at the age of 14 and currently is the administrator of United Hebrew's nursing home, having served as an administrator-in-training under Mabli. Now, as Mabli plans to step into a senior adviser role and Sanchez prepares to succeed her as president and CEO, they discuss mentorship, succession planning and the ways senior living has changed over the years. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We will explore how resident-expressed interests, gathered through the TSOLife interview process, can inform and shape personalized wellbeing strategies in senior living communities and how Primrose leverages this data to create personalized experiences that promote their six dimensions of wellness among residents. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Triangle Healthcare Consulting Services provides licensure and immigration support for internationally educated healthcare professionals. It’s a solution that has helped ease the healthcare workforce crisis in the past — and could do so again today. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Expectations for success in senior care are shifting. While metrics like census and compliance still matter, they no longer tell the full story in a landscape shaped by workforce challenges, evolving reimbursement models, and increasing pressure to deliver a more personalized, transparent experience for residents and families. In this live conversation, industry leaders will explore how organizations are rethinking performance for the future. From aligning with value-based care and redefining KPIs to engaging families more effectively and supporting leaner care teams, this session will highlight strategies that position providers for long-term success. We’ll also look at how technology like AI is helping organizations move from reactive operations to more proactive, outcome-driven care.  Listeners will gain practical insights they can apply right away to refocus priorities, sharpen performance and prepare for what’s ahead in 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stan Szpytek, president of Fire and Life Safety Inc., is a former deputy fire chief and fire marshal who has been advising senior living organizations for years, but when he recently was on the other end of an emergency, as a potential victim, he said, "It gave me a wave of empathy that I never thought I would experience." In this Newsmakers podcast, he shares that experience as well as best practices that senior living communities can use to prepare for any type of emergency and to decorate for the holidays in a safe way. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Success in post-acute care depends on more than meeting CMS requirements—it’s about closing documentation gaps, following up within 7–14 days to prevent readmissions, and keeping both outcomes and contracts strong. In this episode, our guests break down the latest compliance expectations, share practical strategies for aligning clinical and administrative teams, and highlight how technology can help standardize documentation, reduce risk, and strengthen payer relationships.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This special live podcast event at the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo in Las Vegas is a dynamic, high-level conversation on the future of long-term care. Our panelists sat down to explore the biggest challenges — and opportunities — facing the industry today. From workforce and funding to managed care and innovation, this timely discussion spotlights how we can move forward, together. From regulatory reform and Medicaid funding to workforce resilience and pharmacy innovation, this session covers the top issues shaping the industry and the opportunities ahead for collaboration. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Florida is the state most often hit by hurricanes, and with roughly 700 nursing homes, year-round emergency planning and preparedness training are imperatives. Building on a dramatic weather year in 2024 — three major storms made landfall, including two in the same area, back-to-back — the Florida Health Care Association this month published a new resource for its members and long-term care providers much further afield. The Emergency Preparedness in Long Term Care report acknowledges that three major hurricanes and resulting evacuations put providers’ emergency planning responsibilities “to the test.” But time-sensitive decisions using predetermined procedures and solid communication plans developed months before those emergencies were critical, said co-author Kristen Knapp, FHCA’s senior director of strategy and communications. “All emergencies are local, so those relationships with your local emergency managers, your local utility providers, those are so critical during blue sky experiences, when there's not a storm threatening,” she tells McKnight’s in this podcast episode, recorded at the American Health Care Association’s annual convention in Las Vegas. Storms aren’t the only thing the report examines and offers tips on. It addresses proactive preparation, training implementation and important considerations such as transfer trauma that providers in any state can use to enhance their own emergency planning efforts — for a range of natural and manmade events. “One of the things that happened this past year is a significant power outage. … You need to be prepared for that. You know, we have tornadoes, we have wildfires in Florida. There's cybersecurity threats,” she says. “Making sure that you are training your staff, that your comprehensive emergency preparedness plan that your facility has is inclusive of other emergencies besides a hurricane is really critical.” Listen in for more tips on preparing, a day-by-day strategy to get ready for a predicted weather threat, and more insights on helping residents and staff weather any kind of storm, both physically and emotionally. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.