Florida ranks last in the latest national scorecard evaluating long-term services, compiled by AARP. There are 50 other states (D.C. is included) ranked higher than we are, even though we are home to the largest population of seniors in the entire country.

Stating I am embarrassed hardly captures what all of us should be feeling. Please don’t say you are surprised. COVID has had the effect of shining a light on Florida’s issues, but many of the root causes for our abysmal ranking existed long before this pandemic.

If there is a silver lining, perhaps it will be in how our state and federal governments react to the pandemic. But they cannot fix this problem alone. Industry leaders need to step up and actually put into place many of the initiatives they have talked about for years.

Now they have to. Why? It is hurting their profits. According to an industry trade newsletter, McKnight’s Senior Living, the senior housing sector “is experiencing its largest drop in occupancy on record.” They are well aware that families are reluctant to move a loved one into any senior living community during COVID, so they are committed to doing what it takes to instill confidence in the public again.

Many industry leaders have expressed their sorrow and genuine heartbreak for all the deaths, family pain and suffering brought about by COVID. Scott Tittle, executive director of the National Center for Assisted Living, told McKnight’s Senior Living, “Not only has it been traumatic to lose so many residents and colleagues, it has been exhausting — physically and emotionally — battling this virus day in and day out.”

But as they say, follow the money. Argentum, a leading national trade association, and other industry leaders are already hiring more PR firms and extra lobbyists to deal with what leaders perceive as bad press and the coming wave of legislation.

“I have no doubt the industry will begin to see legislation introduced to try to further regulate senior living at both the federal and state levels, so we’ll need to have our antennas up to anticipate this well before it happens,” said James Balda, president and CEO for Argentum. It is well known the senior living industry is hoping to be shielded from liability for COVID claims nationally.

But let’s stay optimistic. We now have three crucial groups motivated to finally make a difference: politicians, industry leaders and advocacy groups. For once, everyone agrees we must take action.

Forty percent of all COVID deaths nationally have been in senior living facilities. The industry acknowledges they need to improve, and they are doing it for the sake of their residents, staff and, to be honest, profits.

We need a strong healthy senior living industry to provide care and housing for the millions of seniors and their families who need it, and they can’t do it alone. But if you are going to give the industry some financial relief (and, yes, their costs have skyrocketed during COVID), make sure it comes with real accountability, requiring improvements in caregiving and staffing ratios.

Politicians know they have to get more involved, especially in Florida. Without legislation requiring long-term care facilities to buy generators after Hurricane Irma, do you think facilities would have? No.

Legislation must come into play, requiring more oversight and real protection for seniors. If you want seniors’ votes, then pay attention.

Many advocacy groups have found a powerful voice. They proved they could turn the tide at the state level when they forced a change to the visitation rules in long-term care communities so desperate families could visit their isolated (and dying) loved ones. Let’s give them the support they need, personally and at the state and federal levels.

Additionally, until we raise salaries for front-line long-term care “heroes,” we will continue to have problems. Pay them a living wage of $15 to $20 an hour. Many have to work multiple jobs, and this contributed greatly to the spread of COVID.

Offer better career paths with access to more education. Partner with local colleges and universities to create new programs, subsidized for our “heroes.”

If we want to be prepared for the next disaster, now is the time. We all need to work together to ensure a better future for our seniors.

They are our mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, friends and colleagues, our wisdom keepers. They deserve more from their government, the industry and us.