About SALA

SALA was founded in 2004 as the Small Assisted Living Alliance as the result of a vision of the Chairman of the board. The Chairman envisioned creating an organization to represent the needs and interests of the small assisted living provider who serves 16 or fewer persons. To this end, SALA was incorporated in 2005 with the intention of becoming the premier service provider to and proponent of small assisted living facilities.

To date SALA has been asked to provide testimony on proposed legislation and has been invited to participate on the Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities, and the Assisted Living Forum.

Our management team consists of the board of directors, officers of SALA, and employees working closely with the executive director. In addition, a professional lobbyist is employed to keep us apprised of legislative activities and to help us affect desired outcomes. Ultimately the executive director may have to add additional staff to the Alliance management team.

“Maryland is likely to become more crowded and a whole lot grayer over the next 25 years, according to the latest census projections – a trend experts say could challenge the state’s ability to house and support its increasingly dependent population.

Projections released by the U. S. Census Bureau foresee Maryland’s population reaching 7 million by 2030, an increase of nearly 33 percent and significantly more growth than predicted by state planners.

At the same time, census projections show the number of Marylanders 65 or older is expected to double by 2030 to about 1.2 million, or nearly one of every five residents.

As the ranks of older residents grow, the demand for human services, health care, and transportation oriented to the elderly is going to grow by leaps and bounds.”

The Baltimore Sun papers, April 21, 2005

Presently, the state of Maryland has 1167 licensed assisted living facilities with 16 or fewer beds serving in excess of 6,000 persons.

Our main financial growth strategy is membership. A large membership base provides revenue from dues, referral fees, website advertising, training, and technical assistance. It also positions SALA as the true representative of Maryland’s small assisted living facilities.

By 2007 SALA’s goal is to have every small assisted living facility in the state of Maryland as a member. At this point, SALA will extend its services to Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.