McKnights Senior Living

A coalition of senior living, healthcare and veterans organizations collectively provided their continued support in a letter sent Thursday to House and Senate leadership for an assisted living pilot program geared toward serving veterans.

The American Seniors Housing Association, Argentum, LeadingAge and the National Center for Assisted Living signed a letter advocating for the Expanding Veterans’ Options for Long Term Care Act. The bill would establish a three-year pilot enabling some veterans to have their care needs met in an assisted living community rather than a Veterans Affairs home.

The associations previously voiced their support for the bill, which was reintroduced earlier this year after going nowhere last year. The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health held a hearing this summer on the bill, which received the support of the US Department of Veterans Affairs — with conditions. 

The VA indicated that having the authority to provide assisted living services would help the agency find a place veterans who need such services but don’t qualify for nursing home care. But a VA representative testified that the agency would need more time and resources to implement the program.