Category Archives: Public News

An Important Message from KSLA's President, Brian Durbin - KSLA & KAHCF/KCAL Enter into Strategic Partnership

Dear KSLA members,

 

I am pleased to announce an exciting initiative that will provide our members with continued quality support and enhanced resources as we all work together to navigate the rapidly changing regulatory environment for Kentucky Senior Housing providers.

 

Several months ago, Rebecca Pfalzgraf our Executive Director, and Adam Mather, former Kentucky Inspector General and current President, KAHCF/KCAL, discussed the possibility of forming a partnership between our two associations with the intent of creating a strategic and unified voice for advocacy, representation, and resources for our members as we navigate this challenging regulatory transition. Immediately following that discussion, Rebecca brought the proposal to the KSLA Board of Directors for consideration and discussion. It is on behalf of the KSLA Board of Directors that I write to you today to share more information about this unique and exciting partnership.

 

While KSLA continues to provide exceptional value to our membership as a stand-alone organization, your KSLA Board sees significant value and an unprecedented need for a single, unified voice on behalf of providers, given the unique challenges and regulatory complexities on the horizon. KSLA and KAHCF/KCAL, along with our other coalition partner, have worked collaboratively for several years on SB-11 legislature and regulatory reform, proving that a formal partnership can be beneficial for both organizations, and more importantly, our members. After all, any initiative that is best for assisted living in Kentucky should be a common initiative for any Kentucky assisted living association. That being the case, the KSLA Board felt it would be prudent to have an open and honest discussion to explore the potential benefits of a partnership, as well as any potential concerns.

 

Over the next several months, the KSLA board met several times, with and without KAHCF/KCAL staff, board and executive team members, to discuss what such an arrangement might look like. Throughout those discussions, our guiding principle was that the outcome of any partnership must add value for our provider members. We also felt it was critical that Rebecca continue to provide the leadership and oversight of this new collective group, and we were very pleased that KAHCF/KCAL agreed. So, our research continued.

 

Rebecca conducted additional due diligence by contacting Argentum to discuss how the partnering of our two associations could affect our relationship with them, as they are our national affiliate. Paul Williams, Argentum’s Vice President of Government Relations, said that Argentum often works in partnership with AHCA/NCAL (KAHCF/KCAL’s national affiliates) on joint initiatives. This relationship is one that they value, and whose joint activities have been beneficial to KSLA and other Argentum state partners and their members.

 

Mr. Williams gave Rebecca the names of three Argentum state partners whose state associations had combined with NCAL state associations. Rebecca contacted each one of those state partners to discuss how the combining of their associations with their NCAL counterparts has worked. During their discussions, those state partners confirmed what the KSLA Board of Directors had begun to suspect: it CAN be done, and it can be done WELL!

Some of the benefits of a partnership that those state partners shared with Rebecca included:

  • KSLA providers will only pay for one state membership, but they’ll receive the benefits of both state Associations
  • More educational opportunities
  • Combining resources and personnel presents a stronger, more unified front for legislative and regulatory advocacy
  • More opportunities for members to increase engagement by serving on committees
  • A more extensive conference experience with educational tracks specific to assisted living
  • Opportunity to participate in two national industry advocacy days in Washington D.C.
  • Additional association staff and resources to support initiatives on behalf of assisted living providers

In terms of next steps, the KSLA Board of Directors has unanimously voted to move forward with a strategic partnership, beginning today, and for at least the next 6 months as we work together to navigate the regulatory road ahead. We expect this partnership will go well and, assuming it does, we’ll evaluate how to best continue to work together on behalf of our providers across the Commonwealth.

 

As of today, Rebecca has assumed the role of Vice President of Assisted Living at KAHCF/KCAL and will work alongside the KAHCF/KCAL staff to be 100% dedicated to KSLA and KCAL providers on matters pertaining to assisted living. She will also continue to provide support to those apartment-style, private pay personal care homes that were unable to convert to ALC licensure.

 

Moving forward, Rebecca and the KSLA Board of Directors will periodically solicit feedback from KSLA members regarding the quality of services our members are receiving. KSLA exists to support your needs and thus, the feedback you provide will be very valuable as we evaluate how this strategic partnership is working, and if our members are experiencing the value of the combined resources and support that we anticipate with this change. We encourage you to contact Rebecca or a member of the KSLA Board with your questions or concerns (or your positive feedback!). See the contact information for the KSLA Board below, or you can reach Rebecca at Rebecca@KentuckySeniorLiving.org or 502-938-5102.

 

The KSLA board of directors is comprised of nine seasoned and highly invested senior living professionals, with a combined 204 years of experience in the industry that we love. We believe it is critical that there be continuity of KSLA leadership involved in all board activities pertaining to a partnership between the two associations. As such, we are excited and committed to continuing to serve on a combined assisted living Board of Directors, and on behalf of all KSLA providers. We appreciate your continued support of KSLA and the work you do on behalf of seniors across the Commonwealth. We will continue to work very hard to represent and support your needs through this transitional time in our industry. 

 

Sincerely,

Brian Durbin, President, Kentucky Senior Living Association

 

KSLA Board of Directors Roster

July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

 

President

Brian Durbin

President, Arcadia Communities, LLC

(O) (502) 357-7030

(M) (502) 777-0821

(E) brian.durbin@lunsfordcapital.com

 

Vice President

Jim Britt

Executive Director, Charter Senior Living

(O) (270) 842-5433

(M) (615) 877-0300

(E) ed@charterbowlinggreen.com

 

Secretary

Bailee Roberson

Executive Director, BeeHive Homes of Grayson County

(O) (270) 971-1232

(M) (270) 922-6607

(E) bailee@beehivehomes.com

 

Treasurer

Sara Shaw

Executive Director, The Forum at Brookside

(O) (502) 245-3048

(M) (502) 773-5852

(E) sshaw@5ssl.com

 

Immediate Past President

Susan Matherly

Executive Director & Systems Manager, McDowell Place of Danville

(O) (859) 239-6613

(M) (859) 516-8176

(E) smatherly@emhealth.org

 

Member-At-Large

Staci Dennis

Regional Vice President, Morning Pointe & The Lantern

(M) (502) 487-1437

(E) sdennis@ihpllc.com       

 

Member-At-Large

Kendell Stratton

Regional Director of Nursing, Morning Pointe

(O) (502) 226-5888

(M) (502) 220-2311

(E) kstratton@ihpllc.com

 

Member-At-Large

Lauren Sword, BSW, LNHA, CNA

Executive Director, Magnolia Springs Lexington

(O) (859) 410-6575

(M) (859) 314-2868

(E) swordlauren@mslexington.com

 

Member-At-Large

Conjuna Collier

Senior Vice President, Risk Management, Masonic Homes of Kentucky

(O) (502) 259-9627

(M) (859) 230-8999

(E) ccollier@masonicky.com

 

Associate Director

Hannah Bruenderman Primavera

Home Care Director, Nazareth Home

(M) 502-938-1226

(E) hbruenderman@nazhome.org

Results of 2024 Board of Directors Election

At this year's conference, our nominating committee chair, Bailee Roberson, Bee Hive Homes of Grayson County, shared information about some recent shifts to our Board of Directors. And, delegates from provider communities elected a new at-large director to the KSLA Board.

 

Effective July 1, 2024, this will be your KSLA Board of Directors:

 

President: Brian Durbin, Arcadia Communities

Vice-President: Jim Britt, Charter Senior Living of Bowling Green

Treasurer: Sara Shaw, The Forum at Brookside

Secretary: Bailee Roberson, Bee Hive Homes of Grayson County

Immediate Past President: Susan Matherly, McDowell Place at Danville

At-Large Director: Staci Dennis, Morning Pointe

At-Large Director: Lauren Sword, Magnolia Springs Lexington

At-Large Director: Conjuna Collier, Masonic Homes of Kentucky

At-Large Director: Kendell Stratton, Morning Pointe

Associate Director: Hannah Bruenderman, Polaris Pharmacy Services

 

I'm thrilled to have a strong, knowledgeable, active and invested Board of Directors, and look forward to working alongside them, continuing our good work for the betterment of senior living in Kentucky!

Congratulations to Our Award Winners!

I'd like to thank extend a special thanks to Synchrony Health Services for sponsoring our Awards Luncheon this year and congratulate the following award winners from the KSLA Conference:

Resident Lifetime Achievement Award: Joe Harlan, Charter Senior Living Bowling Green

Provider Lifetime Achievement Award: Brian Durbin, Arcadia Communities

Outstanding Newcomer Award: Leslie Hunter, Charter Senior Living of Bowling Green

Outstanding Facilities Staff Award: Cristy Winkler, Morning Pointe

Outstanding Caregiver Award: Latrice Hubbard, Morning Pointe

Outstanding Activities Staff Award: Kathy Granger, Charter Senior Living of Bowling Green

Leadership Award: Dawn Pittman, Morning Pointe

Outstanding Business Office Staff Award: Lesley Stephens, Sayre Christian Village

Outstanding Clinical Staff Award: Jason Armstrong, Masonic Homes Shelbyville

Outstanding Dining Services Staff Award: Cortney Pendleton, Charter Senior Living Bowling Green

Meet PPL Therapeutic Services, PLLC

At PPL Therapeutic Services, PLLC, we are Kentucky’s premiere provider of mental and behavioral health services to residents in senior living communities such as yours. Our clinical staff includes psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed marriage and family therapists, and licensed psychological clinical counselors. These practitioners provide exceptional, face-to-face care to residents in their senior living communities.

 

Unlike our out-of-state and ultra-large corporate competitors, we specialize in one thing: In-Home, Mental and Behavioral Health Services for your residents.

 

We have been sponsoring members of KSLA for several years because we recognize and support the important work you do for your residents, and we want to help you by sponsoring training opportunities and other activities such as conference events.

 

But we want to help your residents too! Some examples of how we can provide care for your residents include:

  • We can provide counseling to residents who may be experiencing feelings of depression or are struggling during the transition to their new home in senior living.
  • We can help residents who are dealing with issues of grief or the loss of a loved one.
  • We can assist residents who may feel anxious or worried and are having difficulty dealing with changes they may be experiencing.
  • We can provide medical oversight for psychotropic medications, working to ensure the resident is on the lowest dose of medication necessary.

 

But don't just take our word for it, Click Here to hear from Joe Guy, Executive Director from Magnolia Springs Florence, as he shares his experience with PPL.

 

Let's talk about how we can assist you and your residents by bringing mental and behavioral health services to your residents in 2024!

 

Jeffrey L. Hicks, PhD, HSP

President/Licensed Psychologist

Email Dr. Hicks

Phone: 502-262-2887

 

Tish Stewart, RN, Licensed Nursing Home Administrator

Vice President of Operations

Email Tish Stewart

Phone: 502-552-2962

 

Bob White

Former Kentucky Senior Living Association Executive Director

Email Bob White

502-727-7469

Meet PPL Therapeutic Services, PLLC

Meet PPL Therapeutic Services, PLLC

At PPL Therapeutic Services, PLLC, we are Kentucky’s premiere provider of mental and behavioral health services to residents in senior living communities such as yours. Our clinical staff includes psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed marriage and family therapists, and licensed psychological clinical counselors. These practitioners provide exceptional, face-to-face care to residents in their senior living communities.

 

Unlike our out-of-state and ultra-large corporate competitors, we specialize in one thing: In-Home, Mental and Behavioral Health Services for your residents.

 

We have been sponsoring members of KSLA for several years because we recognize and support the important work you do for your residents, and we want to help you by sponsoring training opportunities and other activities such as conference events.

But we want to help your residents too! Some examples of how we can provide care for your residents include:

  • We can provide counseling to residents who may be experiencing feelings of depression or are struggling during the transition to their new home in senior living.
  • We can help residents who are dealing with issues of grief or the loss of a loved one.
  • We can assist residents who may feel anxious or worried and are having difficulty dealing with changes they may be experiencing.
  • We can provide medical oversight for psychotropic medications, working to ensure the resident is on the lowest dose of medication necessary.

But don't just take our word for it, Click Here to hear from Joe Guy, Executive Director from Magnolia Springs Florence, as he shares his experience with PPL.

Let's talk about how we can assist you and your residents by bringing mental and behavioral health services to your residents in 2024!

Jeffrey L. Hicks, PhD, HSP

President/Licensed Psychologist

Email Dr. Hicks

Phone: 502-262-2887

Tish Stewart, RN, Licensed Nursing Home Administrator

Vice President of Operations

Email Tish Stewart

Phone: 502-552-2962

Bob White

Former Kentucky Senior Living Association Executive Director

Email Bob White

502-727-7469

From the CDC: Get 4 Free COVID-19 Tests

Every U.S. household can order 4 more free COVID-19 self-tests.

Self-tests (also called at-home tests and over-the-counter tests) are one of several tools that protect you and others by reducing the chances of spreading COVID-19.

Self-tests can be taken at home or anywhere, are easy to use, and produce rapid results.

You can place an order:

  • Online at COVIDTests.gov
  • By calling 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489)
  • By calling or emailing the Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) at 1-888-677-1199 or DIAL@usaginganddisability.org (for people with disabilities)
Louisville Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Louisville Walk to End Alzheimer's

Sign your team up to walk in the Louisville Walk to End Alzheimer's on Saturday, October 14th! The event opens at Louisville Slugger Field at 9 a.m., and the ceremony begins at 10 a.m. To learn more, register, or donate, click here.

CDC Revises COVID-19 Guidance

The CDC has issued revised COVID-19 guidance to include recommendations for testing, isolation, and other mitigation strategies.

 

The agency still recommends testing in high-risk settings, to include long-term care facilities, irrespective of vaccination status. Additionally, individuals who are symptomatic or have a known or suspected exposure should test.

 

Isolation Guidance

  • Anyone who is symptomatic or tests positive should isolate for five or more days, wear a mask, and avoid contact with high-risk individuals.
  • Individuals may stop isolating after five days if no symptoms develop or if symptoms are improving and have not had a fever for 24-hours.
  • In addition, the guidance also states that “Regardless of when you end isolation, avoid being around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 until at least day 11.”

 

It also recommends continuing to wear a mask through day 10 or after two sequential negative tests 48-hours apart.

The Kentucky Senior Living Association Announces the Promotion of Rebecca Pfalzgraf to Executive Director

The Board of Directors of the Kentucky Senior Living Association (KSLA) is excited to announce the promotion of Rebecca Pfalzgraf from Director of Communications and Member Services to Executive Director. Rebecca has been with KSLA for more than four years. In her time with KSLA, she has provided top-notch support to the KSLA leadership and members in several areas including organizational management, communications, event planning, and member advocacy.

 

Rebecca brings over 30 years of customer relations experience and 20 years of organizational management experience to her new position, the last 4+ years being with KSLA. Each year during her time at KSLA, she has taken on a larger role in the planning and execution of the KSLA annual conferences under the direction of Bob White, former Executive Director, now retired.

 

In her new role, and in addition to her current responsibilities, Rebecca will be responsible for the management of all KSLA daily operations; technical and advocacy support of KSLA members; providing educational opportunities to KSLA members; growing the KSLA membership; and collaborating with industry leaders and representatives from state agencies including working to promulgate regulations related to the recently passed SB-11 legislation.

 

Rebecca’s first day in her new position was July 1, 2022.

Welcome New Members!

KSLA is pleased to welcome these two new Associate members:

 

Mullaney's, a Guardian Pharmacy

Mullaney's, a Guardian Pharmacy

Mullaney’s Pharmacy is dedicated to delivering the highest possible level of care to residents of assisted living facilities. Their team includes pharmacists, licensed pharmacy consultants, certified pharmacy technicians, registered nurses, billing experts, and experienced medication couriers. Your contact is Tom Mullaney, President, 513-587-6201, 513-543-8285, TMullaney@Mullaneyrx.com.

 

Senior Benefits Alliance

Senior Benefits Alliance

Senior Benefits Alliance is committed to excellence. Since their beginning, they have been working hard to ensure their clients receive the best possible services in Kentucky and Indiana. Their team of professionals offer unparalleled support and expert advice. Learn more about what they do by contacting Paul Kraft, Owner, 866-990-8581, 502-939-483, PKraft@SeniorBA.org.

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