The arrival of the 2020 Census may mean more work for administrators who will be responsible for ensuring residents are counted correctly during this year’s campaign.

The Census Bureau will conduct the Group Quarters Advance Contact process to ensure all seniors are “counted as accurately as possible,” LeadingAge explained.

Seniors who live in nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities and inpatient hospitals should be counted as group quarters and should be counted together. Seniors who live at home, or in senior housing, assisted living or the independent living section of a life plan community should be counted individually.

The Group Quarters Enumeration process takes place in three phases and runs through March. It includes phone interviews with Census Bureau representatives and possible site visits. 

Providers also will have to schedule an appointment for an official count. 

LeadingAge warned that providers will have to do their part to ensure residents are counted accurately during this year’s 2020 census. Not doing so could have implications on the amount of federal funding allotted to senior services.