Standards for Senior Living

The challenge: More people are living longer, needing more care, and expecting and deserving the best possible quality in senior living. As senior living grows, so do the risks of not meeting these needs. What action can both reduce these risks and advance quality?

Argentum’s solution: Voluntary industry standards. Our vision for the industry calls for taking prudent, positive steps to address operational issues that can directly impact the resident experience and quality of life as well as industry reputation, long-term growth, and profitability. 

 

“Standards development activities are among the most common and most beneficial activities carried on by nonprofit organizations and associations.”

-Jerald Jacobs, Author, The Association Law Handbook

Argentum’s Approach

Since 2015, Argentum has pursued a path toward industry standards. Our pilot program showed the industry support for independent standards called for moving forward. In 2018, Argentum established the Senior Living Standards Commission. That same year, the group made the decision to pursue status as an accredited developer with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Using this approach ensures:

  • Participation is open to all interested stakeholders;
  • A balance of interests is sought;
  • Consensus must be reached by representatives from materially affected and interested parties in an environment that is free from dominance by any party;
  • Standards are required to undergo public reviews, during which any member of the public may comment; and
  • There is an appeals process through the standards developer to address procedural concerns.

Download White Paper

“A Collective Voice on Quality: Voluntary Industry Standards”

This white paper provides information on the need for standards and definition of performance standards; an enumeration of standards’ uses and benefits; and the rationale for using American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation.

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“A standard is a documented agreement, established by a consensus of subject matter experts and approved by a recognized body, which provides rules, guidelines, or characteristics to ensure that materials, processes, and services are fit for their purpose.”

Uses and Benefits of Standards

Benefits of developing voluntary, consensus-based standards are many, but they include:

  • Self-empowerment and avoiding inappropriate government regulation
  • Senior living personnel, not outsiders, will be the subject matter experts developing standards
  • We can address standards that will have the greatest beneficial impact first
  • As the industry evolves, it is far easier to change a standard than a regulation
  • Standards can effectively reduce insurance burdens
  • The development process itself can bring the industry and stakeholders together with a collective voice

Senior Living Standards Commission & Work Groups

Senior Living Standards Commission

General Interest

  • Sheela Stevens (Chair)
    Consultant
    Stevens Consulting, LLC
  • Kathy Fiery
    Vice President, Assisted Living
    Health Care Association of New Jersey
  • Gayle Kvenvold
    President and CEO
    LeadingAge Minnesota
  • Chris Laxton
    Executive Director
    AMDA

Operator/Owner

  • Sue Coppola, RN, BS, CHC
    SVP Resident Care
    Sunrise Senior Living
  • Kathy Greene
    SVP Programs and Services Integration
    Silverado
  • Mary Sue Patchett
    EVP Community and Field Operations
    Brookdale
  • Bernard Wheeler-Medley
    SVP Licensure & Compliance
    Belmont Village Senior Living

Industry Supplier

  • JoAnne Carlin
    VP Clinical Risk Services
    Willis Towers Watson
  • Denise Wassenaar
    VP, Clinical Regulatory Affairs and CCO
    MatrixCare

Emergency Preparedness Work Group

  • Sheela Stevens (Chair)
    Consultant
    Stevens Consulting, LLC
  • Susan Anderson, Esq.,
    Director of Assisted Living Public Policy
    LeadingAge Florida
  • Michel Augsburger
    Chairman and CEO
    Chancellor Health Care, Inc.
  • Kenita P. Hill, MSA, CPHRM, LNHA, LPN
    VP of Operations
    ServarusRM
  • Dan Kosmicki
    VP/Director of Risk Management
    Life Care Services, LLC
  • Diana Martinez
    VP of Public Policy
    Texas Assisted Living Association (TALA)
  • Mike Matias
    National Director of Emergency Power & Large Loss Drying
    ServiceMaster
    (Alternate: Chris Brewer, National Director of Sales, ServiceMaster)
  • Scott Reitz
    Director of Quality Enhancements
    Eclipse Senior Living
  • Mark Roberts
    VP
    Evac+Chair
  • John Schulte (Staff Liaison)
    VP, Quality Improvement
    Argentum
  • Chad Worz
    Executive Director & CEO
    American Society of Consultant Pharmacists

Medication Management Work Group

  • Cece Credille (Chair)
    SVP, Quality Services
    Enlivant
  • Linda Anstotz
    Sr. Director of Operational Risk Management
    Brookdale
  • Labinot Avdiu, Pharm.D., F.A.C.A.
    CEO
    Medication Management Partners
  • Kenita P. Hill, MSA, CPHRM, LHNA, LPN
    VP of Operations
    ServarusRM
  • Juliann Navarette, MS, RN
    VP, Clinical Practice
    Sunrise Senior Living
  • John Schulte (Staff Liaison)
    VP, Quality Improvement
    Argentum
  • Sheela Stevens
    Consultant
    Stevens Consulting, LLC
  • William Vaughan, RN
    VP, Education and Clinical Affairs
    Remedi SeniorCare
  • Dana Wentlejewski, MS, OTR/L
    Regional Director
    FOX Rehabilitation
  • Chad Worz
    Executive Director & CEO
    American Society of Consultant Pharmacists

Memory Care Work Group

  • Maria Nadelstumph (Chair)
    VP of Organizational Development & Program Excellence
    Brandywine Living 
  • Rita Altman
    SVP, Memory Care & Program Services
    Sunrise Senior Living
  • Kim Butrum
    SVP Clinical Services
    Silverado
  • Patrick Doyle
    Corporate Director of Memory Care Services
    Brightview Senior Living
  • Rory English PT, DPT, GCS
    Senior Regional Director of Operations
    FOX Rehabilitation
  • Juliet Holt Klinger
    Senior Director – Dementia Care
    Brookdale
  • Liz Jensen, RN MSN, RN-BC
    Clinical Director
    Direct Supply, Inc.
  • John Schulte (Staff Liaison)
    VP, Quality Improvement
    Argentum
  • Sheela Stevens
    Consultant
    Stevens Consulting, LLC

Quality Improvement Task Force

  • Maribeth Bersani (Staff Liaison)
    COO
    Argentum
  • JoAnne Carlin
    VP Clinical Risk Services
    Willis Towers Watson
  • Lisa Cooney
    General Counsel
    Five Star Senior Living
  • Sue Coppola, RN, BS, CHC
    SVP Resident Care
    Sunrise Senior Living
  • Kathy Greene
    SVP Programs and Services Integration
    Silverado
  • Gayle Kvenvold
    President & CEO
    LeadingAge Minnesota
  • Maria Nadelstumph
    VP Organizational Development & Program Excellence
    Brandywine Living
  • Mary Sue Patchett
    EVP Community & Field Operations
    Brookdale
  • Michael Pochowski, MPPA
    CEO
    Wisconsin Assisted Living Association
  • Beth Sampath
    Senior Director of Quality Resident Services
    Benchmark
  • John Schulte (Staff Liaison)
    VP, Quality Improvement
    Argentum
  • Kimberly Severns-Jones
    Director of Quality Outcomes
    Eclipse Senior Living
  • Sheela Stevens
    Consultant
    Stevens Consulting, LLC
  • Bernard Wheeler-Medley
    SVP Licensure & Compliance
    Belmont Village Senior Living

Sign up using the form below to receive news and updates on the standards development process. For more information or to participate in Argentum’s quality initiatives, contact John Schulte at 571-527-2623 or jschulte@argentum.org.