On Tuesday (4/28), Rep. Stanley attended the 2026 Assisted Living Advocacy Day, where Massachusetts Assisted Living Association and all their members came to the State House and engaged with legislators and staff on what assisted living is (and is not), where it fits on the continuum of care for older adults and how it helps them age in place.
While it was great to see so many providers from across the state, the event was somewhat bittersweet as it will be Senator Pat Jehlen last as co-chair of the Aging and Independence Committee.
A lot has happened in the last 12 months for assisted living in MA:
- Implementation of last session’s Long-Term Care Reform Law (Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024)
- Assisted Living Residences Commission released our final report after holding 16 meetings and 2 public hearings
- The Executive Office of Aging & Independence release proposed regulations to strengthen emergency preparedness and allow ALRs to provide basic health services
- The MA AGO released proposed consumer protection for residents of ALRs
Throughout it all, Mass-ALA has been a valuable partner and will continue to be as the Committee introduces a bill implementing some of the legislative recommendations from the ALR Commission (H.5376/S.3057) and continue to push for legislation making assisted living more equitable and accessible for low-income individuals (H.791/S.474).
The conversations demonstrate the importance of collaboration as we work to support residents, empower caregivers, and strengthen assisted living communities across Massachusetts. Rep. Stanley looks forward to continuing this work together!