** High Priority **
NEWS FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE U.S. SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING
April 29, 2003
Contact: Jeff Schrade
202-224-8710
ASSISTED LIVING "FINAL REPORT" IS JUST A BEGINNING, CRAIG SAYS
381 page report offers 110 recommendations
(Washington, DC) At a hearing today regarding assisted living
facilities, the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
called a 381 page "Final Report" on the industry a valuable first step,
but only a beginning.
The second step, Senator Larry Craig said, will be for interested
people to review the document and see how the recommendations could help
state governments deal with this new and growing industry. The report
is available on the Internet at http://alworkgroup.org
"I feel much more needs to be done. This report does not provide a
uniform set of model rules and regulations for health care services in
assisted living. However, it demonstrates the diversity of opinion on
what needs to be done to make the industry safer," Craig said.
There are now over 30,000 assisted living facilities nationwide, which
house nearly one million people. Those facilities, which offer a
transitional phase between living at home and living in a nursing home,
are regulated by state governments, with no federal mandates.
In 2001 the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing to
gain a better understanding of the emerging assisted living industry,
and the report received today came about as a result of that hearing.
The document was produced by the Assisted Living Workgroup whose
membership included nearly 50 organizations representing industry
representatives, consumer advocates, long term care professionals, as
well as regulators and accrediting bodies.
"Rather than Congress jumping in with a mandate, this time we asked
those with opposing viewpoints to examine these issues and see what
agreements they could reach. This group took on a tough job, meeting
for eighteen months to hammer out an extensive report," Craig said.
"When I asked our witnesses what was left out, they all agreed that it
covers nearly every base."
The Workgroup developed 110 recommendations which were agreed to, and
21 additional recommendations they did not agree to, all of which are
included in the report. Those recommendations include everything from
pricing to staffing levels to medication management.
"Hopefully this report will cause the various states to see what
recommendations they may want to implement to improve the health and
safety of the facilities in their communities. When our committee
revues this issue again, it will look at the improvements that have
taken place because of this report," Craig concluded.
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Jeff Schrade, Communications Director for the Chairman
U.S. Senator Larry Craig, U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
Washington, DC 20510
Direct: 202-224-8710 Fax: 202-228-2258
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