Heart of the Matter Blog

Our members have shown that when facing the challenge of confronting the senior services workforce crisis, there is power in numbers: 110 of our provider member organizations have come together to implement a bold new strategy to positively influence and promote senior living careers in Pennsylvania.

It was a pleasure watching the 2020 Olympics recently. In addition to televising the action, there were many features that told you more about the athletes and their backgrounds. Some had overcome tremendous adversity during their journeys to become Olympic athletes. Their resilience to prevail over life's challenges is admirable.

It's been a crazy year and a half. Most of you are thinking that's putting it lightly, as we know our members have all rolled with the punches and adapted as quickly as possible to continue providing quality care and serve their communities. Our team at LeadingAge PA have made it our top priority to listen with attentive ears and open hearts to understand the needs and provide the right resources at the right time.

Ziegler recently priced $297.03 million of tax-exempt bonds for Enso Village, a new community in Healdsburg, California, sponsored by The Kendal Corporation--headquartered in Pennsylvania--and the San Francisco Zen Center. Despite the pandemic and the challenges of the past year, the Kendal team was able to garner significant attention among prospective residents and hit 95% pre-sales in a record nine months!

I see you. You are reading the sign on the door that says "No Visitors effective March 13, 2020."

When social distancing became a priority, outdoor venues provided critical opportunities to safely gather in small groups. At RLPS Architects, we have been pleased to see communities taking a more deliberate approach to activating and extending the use of outdoor spaces--for dining, gathering, and wellness.

I knew from a very early age I wanted a career where I could help others. While I went to college with the goal of working with young children and families, a human development and family studies course began the discussion about the benefits of working in senior living and I had a lightbulb moment: I was meant to work with older adults.