CALA News & Views | Issue 51 | Impact

As members, you help further CALA’s advocacy goals by partnering with your association to help educate policymakers on the value of Assisted Living by participating in our advocacy events and tours throughout the year.

Advocacy Day brought nearly 100 CALA members to Sacramento to meet with approximately 70 legislative offices. CALA members effectively communicated to legislators the differences between rental housing and Assisted Living and were effective in shaping conversations around rate increase caps and refusal of services that were part of SB 1406 at the time. Your voice was heard! Day in Your District was another successful event with 85 CALA members visiting their senators or assemblymembers at their local district offices. During summer recess, state legislators are in their district offices which allows CALA members to visit and help build upon relationships made during Advocacy Day and other events throughout the year. Legislators learned more about Assisted Living generally and specifically about the CALA members in their district and the residents they serve. This year, CALA held our first ever Federal Day in Your District . For these federal visits, in addition to educating federal representatives about Assisted Living, Memory Care and Continuing Care Retirement Communities, CALA amplified Argentum’s voice by focusing on the value of Assisted Living, workforce challenges, meeting the growing demand of older adults and asking representatives to join the 21st Century Long-Term Care Caucus. In fact, Congresswoman Julia Brownley joined the caucus a few hours after meeting with CALA members! According to Kyle Loeber, Argentum's public policy manager , " CALA's inaugural Federal Day in Your District event was a huge success and Argentum is grateful to

have supported their campaign. CALA and Argentum prepared both congressional staff and participating CALA members to create opportunities for productive discussions about the value of senior living as America's population rapidly ages.” Early this year, five state legislators visited CALA member communities and one federal representative is visiting before the end of the year. CALA also invited members of the Senate and Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committees to attend Veterans Day celebrations at CALA member communities in their districts, which resulted in several additional community visits. Tours often result from CALA’s advocacy events as legislators hear from CALA members about their communities and their residents and want to experience Assisted Living firsthand. If you are interested in hosting your legislator in your community let us know by emailing Sabrina Estrada, CALA’s advocacy engagement specialist. Together, our voices are amplified and impactful. Thank you to all the CALA members who continue to be strong advocates for senior living!

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