Now available: NCAL has released new exclusive resources aimed at supporting efforts to expand affordable assisted living options it developed in partnership with certified public accounting and business advisory firm Plante Moran.

• You can use these tools to explore the feasibility of growing affordable assisted living opportunities.

The details: The suite of new resources includes:

• An executive summary highlighting important data about the growing senior population, a summary of key operating data, and potential development characteristics of the assisted living market landscape in relation to assumptions that may be used in expanding assisted living services. 
• State-specific data (for every state and the District of Columbia) that includes market characteristics, unemployment trends, wage rates, and Medicaid waiver data.
• The Assisted Living Operating Proforma and Financial Feasibility Analysis Model to help assess the viability of expanding affordable assisted living offerings (in Excel format).
• A user guide with specific instructions on how to effectively utilize the Assisted Living Operating Proforma and Financial Feasibility Analysis Model.

• A white paper titled, The Importance of Expanding Affordable Assisted Living Options and Proposed Solutions, outlining challenges to offering more affordable assisted living for low- and middle-income seniors and offering solutions, such as utilizing state grants/programs and properly funding Medicaid.

Why it matters: The changing needs of a growing senior population necessitate a focus on affordable housing.

• Nationally, the 80 and over population is forecasted to grow over 9 percent between now and 2027; in Virginia the 80+ population is expected to grow 12 percent over the same period.
• The number of unpaid caregivers will on average decrease over the next five years, resulting in the increased need for paid caregiving in an appropriate long term care setting such as assisted living.