CALA News & Views | Issue 46 | Relationships

With more than one-third of the California legislature new to Sacramento, and the redistricting process that redrew district boundaries, efforts to educate legislators and their staff about senior living is more important than ever. Since Election Day 2022, CALA members have continued to build relationships and work with their representatives to foster productive and meaningful relationships. The best way to do this is through hosting your legislator for a tour of your community. Tours allow the legislator to see the positive impact that your community has on older adults, their families, team members, and the broader community. Legislative visits not only demonstrate the positive impact that Assisted Living and your community have but help to provide context for CALA’s legislative and advocacy efforts. Tours allow legislators and their staff to see the impact of potential and current legislation that affects senior living. They also allow your legislator to understand what makes this model of care unique and essential. These tours are just the starting point for the relationships between CALA member communities and their respective legislators. In fact, after most legislators have visited a member community, they have reached back out to the Executive Director and CALA with questions about aging and long-term care services.

2022 Election is Unique Not only is there an influx of new state

legislators at the Capitol, but there are also new legislative districts at play. The 2022 election was unique because many of the incumbents who were running had new district boundaries, in addition to new district numbers. This happens every 10 years after the US Census because districts throughout California are evaluated and changed to ensure that there is adequate representation in government.

Still early in the session, many CALA members have already hosted their new legislators at their communities. Cogir of Sonoma hosted Senator Bill Dodd in January where he visited with residents, heard from staff members, and learned about the chef’s program working with the local Boys and Girls Club to train and recruit new kitchen staff. Assemblymember Chris Holden also visited a CALA member community, Merrill Gardens at Rancho Cucamonga , to learn about Assisted Living and the challenges with the Department of Social Services Guardian background check system. As the legislative session picks up speed, members can amplify our message by participating in CALA’s advocacy events and keeping up to date with our Advocacy Action Center , which houses the tools to look up your legislators and invite them to tour your communities, urge elected officials to support or oppose CALA’s priority legislation, participate in Advocacy Day and Day in Your District, and so much more. Do your part today and invite your legislator to visit your community to begin fostering these important relationships.

If you have any questions or want to get involved further, she can be reached at maddie@caassistedliving.org .

CALA NEWS & VIEWS I ISSUE 46 | APRIL 2023

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