One of the few growth areas of the economy is the eldercare industry. Driven by the rapidly expanding senior population in the United States, profit and nonprofit eldercare organizations are racing to keep up with the demand for new or expanded nursing homes, assisted and independent living facilities, adult daycare and dementia centers, and rehabilitation centers.

Among the thousands of insurance professionals across the country providing insurance programs covering the unique risks of these organizations and their operations, few have recognized the potential financial impact to their eldercare facility clients of failing to insure pollution risk and exposures.

Although there are several reasons for this oversight, the most common is simply failing to recognize pollution as a risk management issue to eldercare facilities. Pollution risk is traditionally perceived as a problem faced by industrial companies that use or generate hazardous materials that could contaminate soil and water resources, and potentially injure surrounding populations. But eldercare facilities can present an even greater risk and loss exposure to their owners than a manufacturing plant, refinery or waste disposal site that is closely monitored through a loss control program.