The Assisted Living Federation of America, which advocates for excellence in senior living, applauds President Obama’s remarks in the State of the Union speech highlighting the need to hire veterans and support working families caring for children. We hope that as a nation we can also make progress on supporting those members of our growing aging population and the families who love and care for them.

In 2013, the Commission on Long-Term Care submitted a report to Congress with recommendations for expansion of private savings incentives and access to workplace savings options along with reforms and improvements in the private long term care insurance market. “We support public policy initiatives that increase access to private-pay solutions for funding long term services and supports and stand ready to work with the Administration and Congress to come together to develop workable and common sense reforms to address the needs of our nation’s aging population,” ALFA President and CEO James Balda said.

“The state of our nation is changing at a remarkable pace, including the makeup of its population that will affect the fabric of the United States for decades to come,” Balda said. “The swelling ranks of the nation’s older adults are creating a complex array of opportunities and challenges for issues including healthcare, lifestyle choices, healthy aging, and long-term care financing.”

By 2040, aging baby boomers will push up the U.S. population aged 80 and over to 28 million, more than three times the number in 2000, according to a 2014 study from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies and the AARP Foundation. Many of these boomers today are looking for options in places to call home for their parents and in a decade or two, perhaps for themselves.

Currently, more than 735,000 seniors live in senior living communities where they can get the assistance they need when they need it while maintaining their privacy, dignity, and respect with the assistance of a professional, caring staff. A 2013 poll shows that 94% of assisted living residents say they are satisfied or very satisfied with the overall quality of life in their community.

“While senior living communities are working for many people today, there are challenges in providing long term services and supports (LTSS). For example, finding a way to pay for these services is a growing concern for older adults, persons with disabilities and their families,” Balda said. “Anything we can do to expand private pay options that will alleviate growing pressure on Medicare and Medicaid is well worth pursuing and in the interest of all Americans.”

About the Assisted Living Federation of America

Since 1990, ALFA has advocated for choice, accessibility, independence, dignity, and quality of life for all seniors. ALFA’s programs promote business and operational excellence designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurism in the field of senior living. Visit ALFA’s website at www.alfa.org.