|
Assisted
Living
Federation
of
America
Senate
Aging
Committee
Affirms
Importance
of
Consumer
Choice,
Flexibility
in
Assisted
Living
Assisted
Living
Federation
Announces
Model
State
Act
WASHINGTON,
April
26,
2001
--
Today
the
Assisted
Living
Federation
of
America
(ALFA)
joined
the
Senate
Special
Committee
on
Aging
at
a
hearing
to
discuss
the
ongoing
evolution
of
assisted
living
and
the
important
role
that
it
plays
in
the
continuum
of
care
for
the
nation's
elderly.
``ALFA
was
pleased
to
hear
that
our
ongoing
initiatives
leading
the
way
to
enhance
quality
of
care
and
consumer
understanding
of
assisted
living
are
right
in
line
with
the
focus
of
the
committee,''
said
Karen
Wayne,
President/CEO
of
ALFA
after
the
hearing.
Senator
Larry
Craig
(R-ID),
Chairman
of
the
Senate
Special
Committee
on
Aging,
applauded
the
assisted
living
model
as
an
appropriate
alternative
that
offers
many
benefits
to
senior
citizens,
including
his
own
family.
``My
inlaws
are
currently
living
in
an
assisted
living
community.
I
am
grateful
they
live
in
a
good
environment
and
receive
quality
care.
The
goal
of
this
hearing
is
to
make
sure
all
residents
receive
high
levels
of
care,''
he
said.
During
the
hearing,
committee
members
agreed
that
the
integrity
of
the
assisted
living
model
needs
to
be
maintained
where
consumers
have
choice
and
flexibility
in
their
day
to
day
lives
and
affirmed
the
industry's
long-time
assertion
that
each
consumer
deserves
individual
choice.
``I
don't
think
we
need
to
set
up
a
sort
of
one-size-fits-all
model,''
said
Senator
Ron
Wyden
(D-OR).
In
his
opening
remarks,
Wyden
expressed
support
for
the
development
of
a
model
state
act
to
provide
a
baseline
of
consumer
protections.
At
the
same
time,
the
Senator
reiterated
that
he
felt
Congress
should
be
cautious
to
avoid
making
the
same
regulatory
mistakes
that
were
made
in
nursing
homes.
A
model
state
act
is
exactly
what
ALFA
has
been
pursuing
as
part
of
its
``Informed
Choice''
campaign,
as
ALFA
representative,
Margaret
Thompson
of
Thompson-White
Associates,
outlined
in
her
testimony
to
the
committee.
Through
its
``Informed
Choice''
campaign,
ALFA
has
developed
a
model
disclosure
act
to
be
utilized
by
states
as
they
revise
their
regulations.
In
addition,
ALFA
is
identifying
some
of
the
best
existing
state
regulations
from
across
the
U.S.
to
be
introduced
as
``best
practices''
guidelines
at
its
upcoming
summit
of
state
regulators
later
this
year.
ALFA's
goal
through
these
initiatives
is
to
bring
about
a
better
understanding
of
the
assisted
living
model
and
more
consistency
in
disclosure
and
regulations
without
restricting
senior's
right
to
make
their
own
lifestyle
choices.
``All
50
states
regulate
assisted
living.
ALFA
is
partnering
with
the
states
to
bring
about
better
understanding
of
the
model,''
Thompson
said.
In
addition
to
disclosure
and
best
practices
for
states,
ALFA's
Informed
Choice
campaign
addresses
key
areas
such
as
affordability;
training
and
certification;
medications
management;
and
staffing.
``We
were
pleased
by
the
level
of
the
committee
members'
understanding
of
our
model
and
we
will
continue
to
work
with
them
to
address
our
mutual
goals,''
said
Wayne.
The
Assisted
Living
Federation
of
America
(ALFA)
represents
7,000
for-
profit
and
not-for-profit
providers
of
assisted
living,
continuing
care
retirement
communities,
independent
living
and
other
forms
of
housing
and
services.
Assisted
living
residences
offer
a
unique
combination
of
housing,
24-hour
personalized
assistance
and
access
to
healthcare
in
a
homelike
setting
for
the
frail
elderly
and
others
who
need
help
with
activities
of
daily
living,
such
as
bathing,
dressing
and
medication
management.
ALFA
members
embrace
a
10-
point
philosophy
of
care
promoting
residents'
independence
and
choice
in
their
day-to-day
lives.
|