In 2010, professionals and hiring managers within the assisted living and memory care industries can expect to see some interesting changes and developments. Many of these trends are heavily influenced by current economic conditions, which are decidedly less than favorable. Others reflect changing beliefs and sensibilities when it comes to the way that senior citizens enter and live through their golden years. With the United States Census Bureau estimating that over 100 million Americans will be age 50 or over by 2010 – indeed, they will make up more than one-third of the population – assisted living-related topics are more relevant than ever.

In this report, a close examination of the current job outlook and overall growth for the assisted living industry will be outlined. An overview of which jobs will be in demand – and which will not be – will be included. Factors that affect the growth – or lack thereof – of the industry will be taken into consideration. Finally, an in-depth look at the top trends in assisted living and memory care for 2010 will be included in order to give working professionals and hiring managers within the industry a chance to stay abreast of possible developments.

Section One: Hiring In The Assisted Living And Memory Care Industry In 2010

With unemployment rates approaching record levels in many parts of the United States, it is not surprising that the assisted living industry has experienced a few shifts in terms of which jobs are in demand – and which are not. Assisted living facilities are businesses with very specific requirements in order to stay afloat; certain jobs and positions are integral and simply cannot be eliminated. At the same time, many other jobs are relatively expendable and can be pared back to help keep assisted living facilities solvent.

In-Demand Positions In The Assisted Living Industry In 2010

The elderly require special accommodations and services; that is reflected by the continued need for topnotch geriatric physicians at many assisted living facilities. Although not all facilities keep such professionals on staff, more and more of them are choosing to do so. Doctors who specialize in treating the elderly, then, can expect to see many opportunities over the ensuing years. The need for quality healthcare for senior citizens isn’t going to dissipate, and assisted living and memory care facilities are going to need to continue offering such benefits to their customers well into the future.

As the Medicare system becomes more convoluted and confusing, Medicare billers are going to be more in demand than ever in the assisted living industry. Many times, such professionals may combine the skills of a Medicare biller with those of a general social services counselor in order to provide dual benefits to the facilities they work at. A Medicare biller who can assist the residents of an assisted living facility with their billing inquiries and eligibility questions will be very in demand and should expect to be able to take their pick from several different job opportunities.

Less In-Demand Positions In The Assisted Living Industry In 2010

As always, there is an ebb and flow when it comes to many jobs within the memory care and assisted living industry. Due to the fact that many facilities are tightening their belts with the current economic crisis, for instance, community relations professionals who were once highly in demand within this industry may find fewer opportunities in the upcoming year. While important, community relations is not an integral part of functioning of an assisted living facility, so many facilities will be paring back on such positions in order to save money.

Another position that may see a decline in the upcoming year is activity director. Assisted living facilities optimally offer several activities to keep their residents happy, healthy and active. In order to promote those aims, the role of activity director has been a rather prominent one in assisted living and memory care facilities for some time. As such places try to keep their heads above water financially, though, many are having employees juggle the responsibilities of several different positions; as a result, the position of activity director is being phased out at many facilities.

Section Two: Assisted Living Industry Expected Growth In 2010

For all intents and purposes, the assisted living and memory industry should continue to experience rapid growth well into 2010. This is largely spurred on by the increasingly aging population, and by the fact that assisted living facilities offer a great option between full-blown nursing care facilities and less structured independent living facilities. Healthcare reform – which may or may not happen in 2010 – could play a huge role in whether or not exponential growth continues or begins to wane. Industry insiders are eagerly watching developments concering the healthcare reform issue.

One of the biggest issues for many assisted living facilities is the high turnover rate that is so endemic in the industry. Residents who fall and injure themselves or who become increasingly ill or frail often move on to full-fledged nursing homes, and their vacancies must be filled quickly. In 2010, though, the fact that approximately 1/3 of the population will be over the age of fifty means that this turnover rate is largely mitigated; there should be a steady stream of residents for many memory care and assisted living facilities, and growth should continue accordingly.

Section Three: Assisted Living Industry Trends In 2010

As always, there are several emerging trends to keep an eye out for within the assisted living and memory care industry in 2010. Many of them are spurred on by economic conditions, but others have been prompted by changing ideas about the way that senior citizens should expect to live out their golden years. By staying abreast of what sorts of trends will matter in the upcoming twelve months, working professionals, hiring managers and others within the industry can be better prepared and better able to cope with the many changes that are bound to arise.

There are eight key trends to look out for in 2010; they include:

1. Rapid Growth – For the assisted living industry, the steadily aging population of the United States means that growth should continue to be rapid. It will become easier and easier for those who wish to move into assisted living facilities to find one that will work for them. In the past, assisted living facilities weren’t terribly common; today, they are practically becoming ubiquitous. With that increased popularity comes a broader range of choices, which will only serve to boost the industry even more.
2. Affordability – A major challenge that will continue to plague many assisted living and memory care facilities is the issue of affordability. Depending on what happens with the Medicaid and the Medicare systems, the industry may have to come up with new ways to make its facilities affordable to a greater number of people. At the same time, such facilities must take care not to pare back their services too much.
3. Partnerships – More and more assisted living facilities are choosing to partner up with area hospitals and nursing homes in order to provide a broader swath of services at more affordable rates. This trend should pick up steam in 2010, as cash-strapped consumers look for good places for their elderly parents to live. By joining forces, assisted living facilities and nursing homes or hospitals can enjoy a mutually beneficial arrangement, sharing the burden of caring for their charges.
4. Medical Model Is Obsolete – For the most part, the traditional medical model of the assisted living facility has been phased out. Today’s seniors expect to live in aesthetically pleasing surroundings and do not want to feel like they are living in a hospital. Although some older facilities may maintain this model, they will gradually begin disappearing over the next few years – and brand new facilities will completely avoid the medical model arrangement.
5. Public Trading – More and more assisted living and memory care companies will look to boost their profitability by going public. IPOs within the industry have been happening with increasing frequency, and this trend should hold steady over the next couple of years. The effects that this phenomenon will have on the quality of such facilities remains unclear.
6. Larger Is Better – In order to bring in enough income to stay in business, assisted living facilities will become larger and larger over the next year or two. Larger facilities have a larger number of beds and higher maximum capacities; they also have the benefit of providing larger rooms for their more discerning residents. Today’s seniors are demanding more perks in their assisted living facilities, and roominess is high up on many of their lists.
7. Population Segregation – The segregation of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients from the rest of the population within an assisted living facility is already well established. In 2010, this trend will deepen and should become the standard within the next few years. Dementia patients and Alzheimer’s patients require drastically different levels of care than other residents, so it makes sense to house them in separate sections within a single facility.
8. Onsite Ancillary Services – Keeping as many features and services in-house as possible is an increasingly common goal for many assisted living facilities. As such, many of these facilities are offering on-site physical therapy and other key medical services for their residents. In this way, residents can enjoy the convenience of not having to make frequent trips back and forth to the hospital or clinic. This arrangement is beneficial for the facility, too, since it doesn’t have to transport residents nearly as frequently.

Assisted Living In 2010: Bigger And Better

Overall, the assisted living and memory care industry will enjoy a great deal of expansion and growth throughout 2010. Improved services for the residents of these facilities will be a common theme throughout the year, and larger accommodations will also become par for the course among many of them. Senior citizens who require a bit more care than independent living facilities offer will have more options than ever before in terms of assisted living. With the increasing and continued growth of the industry due to the aging population, the job outlook generally remains quite good for the industry as well. Although a few positions may see a decline, the vast majority will hold steady or may even increase in demand. As a whole, the future looks very bright indeed for the assisted living and memory care industry in 2010.

Sources:

http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/reports/indepth.htm

http://www.alfapublications.org/alfapublications/20100102#pg14

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Booming+trends+in+senior+housing:+to+meet+the+emerging+needs+of+the…-a0170194029