Alexandria, VA (June 30, 2023) On June 28, Argentum convened a coalition of workforce organizations, educators, and policymakers for the first grassroots workforce development event of its kind.
The job center and community college staff “Day of Discovery” at Brightview West End a senior living community in Rockville, MD, brought together workforce organizations from across the region to learn more about the numerous career opportunities in senior living, as well as professional development benefits for employers and career opportunities for job seekers, in federal and state apprenticeship programs, such as the Healthcare Apprenticeship and Expansion Program (HAEP) currently managed by Argentum.
Participants included representatives from Job Corps, Worksource Montgomery, Montgomery College, Prince George’s Community College, Employ Prince George’s, the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services, Maryland Department of Labor, CASA, Virtual Apprentice, HomeWell Care Services, Management & Training Corporation, as well as representatives for U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
“The senior living industry is in the midst of a workforce crisis, and we are committed to working with our partners to address the challenge of filling the millions of jobs that will be needed to care for an aging population,” said Argentum President and CEO James Balda. “Our Day of Discovery event was a great opportunity for workforce organizations to learn more about the rewarding careers that are available in senior living. We are grateful to Brightview West End for hosting this event and to all the organizations that participated.”
The Day of Discovery event featured a variety of speakers and activities, including an overview on the future of the senior living workforce and the diverse career opportunities, tours of Brightview West End, a residential senior living community that offers independent living, assisted living and memory care, and roundtable discussions on apprenticeships, training programs, and other workforce development resources. Argentum will use the feedback from this event to develop additional workforce development programs and resources.
“We are committed to working with our partners to create a pipeline of qualified workers for the senior living industry,” said Ashante Abubakar, Argentum’s Vice President of Workforce Development. “Our Day of Discovery event was a great first step in this effort, and we look forward to continuing to work with our partners to address the workforce crisis.”
Argentum’s broader workforce efforts are focused on meeting the current senior caregiver shortage of some 400,000, which is projected to grow to more than 20 million workers by 2040. Earlier this year, Argentum unveiled a three-year strategic vision to guide these efforts. The plan calls for: expanding and promoting career pathways and pipelines through strategic partnerships, culminating in apprenticeships, incumbent worker training, and recruitment and retention; engaging the “total career opportunity” through supportive programs for workers; and advancing policy solutions to expand the workforce pipeline and enhance retention.
Argentum also continues to lead public policy efforts to address the industry’s workforce needs, working with congressional lawmakers to reintroduce the SENIOR Act, legislation to bolster the senior living workforce and address access and affordability of senior living, which is expected to be reintroduced this summer. Additionally, Argentum continues to work with lawmakers on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to secure program funding for the Department of Labor’s Employment & Training Administration, Job Corps, and the HRSA Health Workforce.
About Argentum
Argentum is the leading national association exclusively dedicated to supporting companies operating professionally managed, resident-centered senior living communities and the older adults and families they serve. Since 1990, Argentum has advocated for choice, independence, dignity, and quality of life for all older adults.
Argentum member companies operate senior living communities offering assisted living, independent living, continuing care, and memory care services. Along with its state partners, Argentum’s membership represents approximately 75 percent of the senior living industry—an industry with a national economic impact of nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars and responsible for providing over 1.6 million jobs. These numbers will continue to grow as the U.S. population ages.
Contact:
Michael Keegan
Manager, Media and Public Affairs
ARGENTUM | Expanding Senior Living
1650 King Street, 6th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-599-7412 | [email protected]
