Episode 12:1 James Balda on Argentum’s Policy Advocacy and Innovative Workforce Solutions

James Balda is President & CEO of Argentum, a national trade association representing about 75% of professionally managed senior living communities in the U.S. Learn about the association’s non-stop advocacy and workforce efforts, and the grant from the Department of Labor to develop apprenticeships for 7,000 industry workers, resulting in 80% retention rates.

About James

James Balda is President and CEO of Argentum, the leading national trade association serving companies that own, operate, and support professionally managed senior living communities in the United States.

Throughout the pandemic, he has led the organization’s focus on critical political advocacy and action including obtaining first-in-line COVID vaccine status for assisted living residents, relief funding for senior living providers, and introduction of congressional legislation supporting providers and a strong senior living workforce, putting him on The Hill’s 2021 Top Lobbyist roster.

In 2015, when Balda joined Argentum—then known as the Assisted Living Federation of America—he directed a comprehensive rebranding of the organization and new key imperatives to reflect the greater scope, choice, and innovation on the rise in senior living. Prior to this, Balda served in several roles at the National Restaurant Association, where he was responsible for advancing the association’s business development, insurance, and financial services product strategy. Before this, he was senior vice president of membership and professional development at America’s Health Insurance Plans. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Maryland.

Key Takeaways

• Argentum provides members with professional development and training programs such as the Emerging Leaders, Women in Leadership, Executive Director Leadership, and Certified Director of Assisted Living.
• Since senior living is historically regulated at the state level, federal lawmakers failed to provide federal financial relief prioritization for vaccines and testing during COVID. Argentum and sister associations rallied and educated lawmakers, leading to the creation of the Elder Relief Fund.
• More technology companies are entering the senior living and aging services space. Solutions such as telehealth, smart homes, and wearables for monitoring and fall prevention are becoming ubiquitous.
• Increasingly we will see partnerships between healthcare companies and senior living communities, whether hospital systems, Medicare Advantage plans, or physicians’ groups, to improve quality of life and help residents age in place.
• Argentum projects the need for 1.2 million new hires over the next 10 years. Approximately 250,000 are new jobs; the rest is replacement for staff leaving the industry. Senior living competes with restaurants, retail and healthcare. Retention is critical.
• The senior living industry will be challenged with the issue of affordability. Some providers are coming up with innovative ways to address the middle market segment.