Business View Magazine - March 2016

90 Business View Magazine - April 2016 Business View Magazine - April 2016 91 2 | Florida Assisted Living Association Florida Assisted Living ssociation | 3 by Pat Lange The Florida Assisted Living Association (FALA) is a strong, uni- fied, professional organization representing the owners and op- erators of assisted living facilities (ALFs). ALFs give residents the freedom to live as they choose, but offer extra support and care when needed. ALFs provide loving, safe, happy homes for those who cannot entirely care for themselves and need assistance with activities of daily living. ALFs allow residents to feel protected and secure, provide wholesome foo d, offer transpor tation to shopping and appointments, monitor medical needs and facilitate social interaction. FALA is the voice of ALFs in Florida, serving as an advocate to protecting their members’ mission, oversee collective initiatives and promote their interests and goals. Our membership is comprised of facilities ranging in size from those who care for a few individuals to those that care for hundreds. We represent more than 600 assisted living facilities and adult family care homes and more than 175 associate mem- Promoting excellence in assisted care communities The Florida Assisted Living Association (FALA) was founded some 25 year ago when three regional associations - the Suncoast Adult Care Association (St. Pe- tersburg/Clearwater), the Florida Residential Care Association (Orlando), and the Adult Care Association of Florida (Broward County) - along with many inde- pendent facility owners, decided to join forces to create one statewide trade association to represent Florida’s Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs). According to Shad Haston, FALA’s current Chief Executive Officer, “They found they needed advocacy at the state level as it relates to rules and regulations that were being promulgated upon the industry, and they wanted to have a voice in Tallahas- see.” Today, FALA is a pro- fessional organiza- tion representing th owners and opera- tors of assisted living and adult family care homes in the State of Florida. Its mem- bership includes for profit and non-profit facilities ranging in size from 4 to 475 beds. Its mai priority is to assist its members in providing the highest quality of care for their residents. It does so by promoting best practices in operations, encouraging high standards, lobbying on behalf of the industry, and keeping its member up to date on the Agency fo Health Care Administration’s (AHCA) rules and regulations. FALA is also is the leading provider of quality education and training for assisted living professionals. Haston came on board in 2014, with broad experience and expertise in the area of assisted living laws and procedures. For several years before his pres- AT A GLANCE WHO: The Florida Assisted Living Associa io WHAT: professional organization representing the owners and operators of assisted living facilities WHERE: Tallahassee, Florida WEBSITE : www.falausa.com