CEAL@UNC

CEAL@UNC has published its second guest column in McKnight’s Senior Living, titled "Balancing the Equation: Person-Centered Employment Practices in Assisted Living." This piece highlights a key question: Why are the core principles of person-centeredness—including quality of life, privacy, choice, dignity, inclusion, and independence—not consistently applied to those who work in assisted living communities? The article offers concrete recommendations to provide the same respect to staff that is given to residents, including: individualized training and growth plans, flexible scheduling, fair compensation, and recognition. CEAL@UNC is grateful to McKnight's Senior Living for the opportunity to continue to advance the well-being of those who live and work in assisted living. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gCT7QFsa

CEAL@UNC recently highlighted tools to promote evidence-based care and how to use them as part of VOICE PA's Lunch and Learn series. These tools: a consumer checklist for medical and mental health services, and a measure of person-centered practices in assisted living are available at theceal.org. CEAL@UNC thanks VOICE PA- Voice of Inspired Change for Elders for this opportunity.

CEAL@UNC submitted commentary on the Aging in The United States: A Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging, developed by the Administration for Community Living. This framework “lays the groundwork for a coordinated effort — across the private and public sectors and in partnership with older adults, family caregivers, the aging services network, and other stakeholders — to create a national set of recommendations for advancing healthy aging and age-friendly communities that value and truly include older adults” Through its comments CEAL@UNC asks the Administration to highlight the critical role of assisted living in the aging landscape through this National Plan. CEAL@UNC is proud to be a leading voice in assisted living and continue to promote awareness and excellence in assisted living. Read the full commentary here: https://lnkd.in/eKkjw4ky

HRC Foundation and SAGE Present Long-Term Care Equality Index to CEAL@UNC Strategic Advisors Dan Stewart, Deputy Director of The Aging Equality Project at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, and Sherrill Wayland, Senior Director of Special Initiatives and Partnerships at SAGE, delivered an insightful presentation on LGBTQ+ inclusion in assisted living. Their discussion highlights the critical need for inclusivity in assisted living and the role of the Long-Term Care Equality Index in promoting equitable and inclusive long-term care communities. https://lnkd.in/efnyTk_f

McKnight's Senior Living published a column written by the national Center for Excellence in Assisted Living (CEAL@UNC) providing a new unifying definition of assisted living. The adoption of a common definition of assisted living is important to shape practice and policy, guide research, and educate consumers. CEAL@UNC thanks McKnight's for broadly sharing the common definition.

CEAL@UNC's leadership and Advisory Board recently met with staffers for the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging to discuss potential actions to advance well-being in assisted living. Thank you to the Center for Innovation for including this visit in your newsletter, and to supporting CEAL@UNC as an Advisory Board member!

Join this free lecture to see our Executive Director, Sheryl Zimmerman, and advisory board member CFI's Susan Ryan, present about Green House Nursing Homes!

Dr. Sheryl Zimmerman, Executive Director of CEAL@UNC, was featured on the front page of McKnight's January/February issue. She spoke with McKnight's about the transition to CEAL@UNC, emphasizing increased capacity while maintaining the same mission: advancing the well-being of the people who live and work in assisted living through research, practice, and policy. Read the issue here: https://lnkd.in/e8CWCNy2

Please join The Gerontological Society of America's (GSA) Assisted Living Special Interest Group (AL-SIG) for their regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, February 22nd from 1:30pm-3pm EST. The AL-SIG will discuss the January 25th Senate Special Committee on Aging Meeting on "Assisted Living Facilities: Understanding Long-Term Care Options for Older Adults": https://lnkd.in/gx4dzwyZ Sheryl Zimmerman, Executive Director of CEAL@UNC, will be discussing the hearing and CEAL's statement for the record: https://lnkd.in/e5Mx2vBt Register for the meeting here: https://lnkd.in/dxebQXwb

CEAL@UNC submitted a Statement for the Congressional Record related to the January 25, 2024 Senate Special Committee on Aging Hearing "Assisted Living Facilities: Understanding Long-Term Care Options for Older Adults." Learn more and read our statement here: https://lnkd.in/e5Mx2vBt