Eager to share solutions and best practices with other senior living professionals? ALFA Exchange can help …

There’s never been a successful CEO that focused only on the company’s end product, says Fabrizio Freda, CEO of cosmetic company Estee Lauder. Rather, truly effective company leaders must see everything in one big picture, including employee satisfaction, peripheral consumers to your product, and how strategies now set your company up for the future …

The U.S. birth rate has declined for the second year running and experts believe the recession is to blame. The 2009 rate was the lowest in a century and may affect the caregiver resources …

The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, of which ALFA is a member, continues to monitor actions by the National Labor Relations Board. Of particular interest is The Dana Corp. decision. If reversed by the NLRB, then employees could lose the right to a secret ballot vote if they choose to challenge recognizing a union in their workplace …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has decreased its estimate for how many Americans will die in an average flu season – from the typically referenced 36,000 to 24,000 …

Social media use continues to grow dramatically across all age groups – but in the past year, the number of social seniors has increased most, according to the latest findings from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project. Individuals 65 and older increasingly are tapping social networking sites daily to connect with friends and family – a trend that also will influence what residents expect from their communities …

Leading senior living companies opened the c-suite door to women long ago. Now, those with the most skill and savvy hold some powerful reins – despite ongoing challenges. Six leading women in the business weigh in on their experiences and strategies for success …

There’s still time to register for a Webinar series from the Center for Excellence in Assisted Living (CEAL). The first of four Webinars takes place Sept. 29 and focuses on promoting excellence in assisted living through effective workplace practices. Each Webinar is an hour long and registered participants are eligible for 1 CEU …

A new Medicare effort that attempts to make it easier for seniors to pick prescription plans may result in 3 million seniors switching coverage options during this fall’s open enrollment season …

The Affordable Health Care Act signed into law by President Obama earlier this year is entering the implementation stage. Over the next few months regulations will be drafted and consumers will begin to see some tangible outcomes …

Summer is coming to a close, and the fall hiring season is about to start. The ALFA Career Center is a tool designed to connect managers seeking talent and professionals seeking employment in senior living. Visit ALFA.org/Jobs today ...

The National Association of Realtors released its existing homes sales report on Aug. 24 and the findings were staggering. What do these findings mean for the senior living market?

Provider companies and caregivers nationwide have been closely watching the case of an Indiana nursing home resident who did not receive care after a fall because she had issued specific instructions about the race of her caregivers …

ALFA’s State Legislative & Regulatory Tracking Service allows members to receive up-to-the-minute e-mail alerts about state-specific legislative news and regulatory developments affecting the senior living business …

From securing appropriate power-of-attorney documents to working with an ombudsman, providers have several strategies in place for helping residents with important decisions regarding their care. Three senior living executives weigh in on their best courses of action when a vulnerable resident with little family support needs their help ...

If your company – or even your part of the company – can tackle the four critical factors needed to implement a successful business strategy focused on sustainability, then get going, says Adam Werbach, global CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi S. Ultimately a company’s CEO and executive leadership are key to long-term success, but “many of the best efforts start renegade,” Werbach admits …

As the economic environment begins to look more positive, company leaders must make sure the get the balance right – says Mark Foster, group chief executive of Global Markets & Management Consulting, Accenture – between continuing the tough measures the downturn forced and the forward-thinking measures that will spur company growth. And among the most important strategies is spending more time with your management team ...

Laura is the CEO of a regional assisted living company with several communities, all built in the late 1990s. Recently, a couple of new, high-end communities have come to town and Laura is worried her communities may pale in comparison. Plus, she's noticed a slight dip in occupancy rates. Is this reason enough to renovate? Two senior living executives weigh in...

ALFA continues to work with The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace to oppose EFCA and keep it from passing in the remaining days of the 111th Congress, including any lame duck session that may occur after the November 2 2010 election. However at least 4 states are taking action to ensure that if the federal bill should pass, their state law would prohibit card check.

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) Training Institute will present a free Webinar, “Promoting Mental Health and Preventing Suicide Among Older Adults,” on September 14 …