by Jeannee Parker Martin, President and CEO, LeadingAge California
Finally, the NEXT NORMAL is here. From a year bound by COVID-19, we are coming out of a dense coastal fog – one where masks were ubiquitous, and gatherings and short visits to see loved ones are prohibited. Our conversation has moved to “are you vaccinated?” and “when can you come for a visit?” We are delighted by this progress and hope as we move into the summer months.
And despite COVID-19, we’ve had some major successes as we settled into our Next Normal – our 2nd virtual Annual Conference which had more attendees than 2020, a new on-demand learning center with conference sessions posted for all members to experience, and the Governor’s recommended budget which includes housing, care and services for older adults. We couldn’t be more thrilled to leave the fog behind and enter our Next Normal.With 60 years behind us, LeadingAge California looks forward to the next 60 – in partnership with your organizations. We will continue to assess how housing, care and services for older adults will evolve in the years ahead and how we can be poised to assure that policy, regulations, workforce, and reimbursement reflect this coming evolution. Home and community-based services will start to take center stage – home health, personal care services, CalAIM, PACE and new innovations to allow individuals to stay in their home setting will be more prevalent, with new and evolved funding mechanisms likely to follow.
We are excited by this future, and we respect our past – that led us to this exciting 60th Anniversary milestone.
Thank you for all you have done – many of your organizations for more than 60 years – and will do in the future to leverage the strengths of your staff, your volunteers, your residents, and new innovations to assure the best quality of life for each of your residents.
