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About Helen Hunsinger

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So far Helen Hunsinger has created 29 blog entries.

Getting to Know Staff Needs

This article is the first of a five-part series Become a Great Senior Living Leader by the TALA Workforce Development Committee. Stay tuned each week for the next in the series.  

Let’s start off by stating the fact that we all want to be truly seen and truly known.  The workplace is no exception.  Famous psychologist, Abraham Harold Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs[1] lists five basic needs for all humans:

  1. Self-Actualization
  2. Self-Esteem
  3. Love & Belonging
  4. Safety & Security
  5. Physiological needs

Four of the five relate [...]

By |2024-02-13T16:21:31-06:00February 9th, 2024|
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TALA Achieves Great Place to Work Certification for 4th Consecutive Time

TALA has been recognized for the January 2024-January 2025 year as a Great Place to Work®, an internationally respected workplace culture authority.

TALA President and CEO Diana Martinez said, “Being recognized with the Great Place to Work (GPTW) certification is an honor. The team at TALA is the backbone of this organization, being certified as a great place to work means TALA employees feel working at TALA is a positive and enriching experience. This is the fourth certification in a row that TALA has received [...]

By |2024-02-05T15:14:52-06:00February 5th, 2024|
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Measuring Workforce Health: Finding Insights in Payroll Data

The workforce is a topic at the forefront for most senior living operators as operators determine the best way to balance labor and business priorities without compromising on resident care. Measuring workforce health quantitatively can be challenging, particularly because payroll data can be complex. However, there are a few simple and actionable ways to use payroll data to measure workforce health by using three key performance indicators (KPIs).

KPI 1: New Hire Turnover Within 90 Days

Definition: the number of employees who leave less than 90 days [...]

By |2023-11-30T16:20:04-06:00November 29th, 2023|
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Insights from Recent TALAHour: Successful Integration of Independent Living into Assisted Living, with Pi Architects and Civitas Senior Living

Senior living is much more complex, varied, and creative than ever, and residents and their families expect diverse and numerous amenities. Innovation and flexibility are keys to thriving in this evolving market, and both come into play with the successful integration of independent living into assisted living, the topic of a recent TALAHour webinar hosted by Misty Powell, Chief Program Officer/Co-Founder of Civitas Senior Living, and Greg Hunteman, President of Pi Architects. The two hosts, both TALA members and frequent collaborators on several projects, [...]

By |2023-11-15T16:42:22-06:00November 15th, 2023|
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2024 Conference: Theme Announcement and Exciting Changes

The 2024 Annual TALA Conference and Industry Expo (#tala2024) will include some changes to continue to build value and excitement for attendees, exhibitors, and speakers.

First, you may have noticed the name change: TALA decided to make the former “Trade Show” into the “Industry Expo.” This name change reflects the significance and involvement of TALA’s incredible Industry Partners in the Industry Expo. TALA is extremely grateful for your continued support.

This year’s conference will feature a new app that has a simpler user interface and much easier [...]

By |2023-10-18T14:20:45-05:00October 18th, 2023|
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Emergency Preparation and TALA Member Benefits

A benefit that long-term care communities have in Texas is the ability to be registered for priority power restoration following a loss of power. Under Texas Utilities Code 38.072, Assisted Living communities and other types of long-term care have the same status as priority power restoration that a hospital has.

However, to be considered for priority power restoration, an Assisted Living community, including smaller-sized four or five-bedroom homes, must be listed as either a commercial or business customers with their utility providers.

Assisted Living communities (ALs) in [...]

By |2023-09-27T17:07:12-05:00September 27th, 2023|
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TALA Launches Leadership Development Series

TALA is excited to announce the launch of a new online Leadership Development Series (LDS). The LDS was created to support new and existing senior living employees as they transition into a supervisory leadership role. The series will build a foundation for employees that do not have previous leadership or management experience and is specific to the senior living industry.

The LDS is structured so that participants can complete the program in their own time. The program is broken into four main modules covering leadership basics, [...]

By |2023-09-07T10:12:29-05:00August 17th, 2023|
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Sweltering Summer Doesn’t Deter TALA Heroes

TALA members have been busy this summer, keeping residents engaged in activities and offerings while beating the heat. While the heat has limited time spent outdoors, it has led to creative themed solutions that still capitalize on the summer season.

At Legend of Fort Worth, 2023 TALA Hero Activity Director winner Andrea Loman has put together a myriad of summer-themed life enrichment. Residents took time to make customized, intricate door signs for their front doors. Loman also keeps residents physically active, despite the outside temperatures, and [...]

By |2023-08-09T16:03:24-05:00August 8th, 2023|
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Long Term Care Costs and Why Assisted Living Still Cost-Efficient Option

Numerous recent articles have shared the costs of Long-Term Care, how people are paying for it, and how many cannot afford Long Term Care (LTC). The main source of much of this information is a 2023 analysis by the National Council on Aging and the LeadingAge LTSS Center at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Many national news outlets have picked up this story, however there are several other factors to consider when looking at the landscape of the industry and how it may change. What [...]

By |2023-07-12T14:25:54-05:00July 12th, 2023|
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The 88th Legislative Session by the Numbers

If you’ve been following political news in the Lone Star State, then you are aware that the 88th Legislative Session has concluded. It was a wild one to be sure. The House expelled a sitting colleague, Representative Bryan Slaton. The Texas House sent articles of Impeachment for the Texas Attorney General to the Texas Senate for that chamber’s consideration, and the Governor called members back for a special session a mere three hours after the regular session concluded.

Legislators filed more bills this session [...]

By |2023-06-29T09:37:22-05:00June 28th, 2023|
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