CALA News & Views | Issue 53 | CALA at 30

RESIDENT-CENTERED CARE

OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS

Like our members, CALA has consistently focused on ensuring that residents are at the heart of our work. Over the years, CALA has successfully advocated for policies and legislative changes to ensure that older adults receive care in the least restrictive environment, allowing them to age in place whenever possible. Key accomplishments early in CALA’s 30 years include significant changes in hospice care, allowing residents to remain in Assisted Living communities when they enter hospice and eliminating the need for exceptions regarding prohibited conditions like total care (if the conditions were addressed in a hospice care waiver). CALA has also made substantial progress in dementia care, advocating at CALA’s formation for legislation allowing secured perimeters in Assisted Living and more recently collaborating with the Alzheimer’s Association on legislation to strengthen medication training requirements and establish specialized dementia training for caregivers. Additionally, CALA’s efforts to update California’s building codes have led to enhanced safety for residents with dementia. CALA has been instrumental in advocating for flexibility in the Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver program to allow more inclusion of residents with dementia and to incorporate safety measures such as delayed egress and secured perimeters. This work continues today as CALA supports new Medi-Cal programs like CalAIM Community Supports, working to strengthen collaboration between Assisted Living providers and managed care health plans to ensure residents’ needs are met and more people can access Assisted Living. As Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) were added to CALA's membership, the strength of CCRC subcommittee members has greatly contributed to CALA’s advocacy successes. CALA provided the foundation needed to lessen the negative impact of a bill intended to incentivize fast repayment of entrance fees for CCRC contracts but without helping locate a buyer, would have resulted in higher fees for existing and future residents. Recently, CALA prevented a harmful provision in legislation that could have disrupted CCRC contracting, instead ensuring residents receive appropriate rights documentation. Whether working with legislators, regulators or other stakeholders, CALA’s advocacy focuses efforts to ensure strength and viability of the CCRC model for current and future residents, working to ensure flexibility, innovation and strong consumer choice.

While providing high quality essential care and support, Assisted Living communities must also operate effectively and efficiently, and for 30 years CALA has advocated for policies that make it easier for providers to do just that. In addition to working with the Department of Social Services (DSS), CALA regularly communicates with other state agencies to voice concerns and seek solutions that streamline operational processes for members. CALA has played a crucial role in strengthening emergency preparedness for RCFEs. Through advocacy and collaboration, CALA built on experience, tapped broad expertise and successfully promoted a new standard for comprehensive disaster planning for RCFEs and CCRCs. CALA members contributed to several emergency preparedness resources to help with preparation and consideration of various types of emergencies that can be accessed from our Emergency Preparedness webpage. CALA also played a vital role on the California Department of Aging’s Access Policy Workgroup, advocating for residents’ rights to in-person visits during emergencies—reinforcing that visitor access should be protected with the same safeguards used for staff. CALA stood firm against legislation that would have opened the door to increased frivolous litigation and higher care costs across the state. A major milestone was achieved with the reform of the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), which culminated in legislation to reduce lawsuit abuse by introducing a right to cure, limiting who can sue, capping penalties and establishing a one-year statute of limitations. This underscores the importance of thoughtful legal reform – balancing the need to protect vulnerable individuals while preventing exploitation of the system.

CALA NEWS & VIEWS I ISSUE 53 | AUGUST 2025 10