Coverage of aging is supported in part by AARP Arizona
On Thursday, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing about the state of assisted living across the U.S., from the cost to the quality of care. Arizona is home to roughly 2,000 assisted living centers and group homes. Lawmakers heard testimony from caregivers, advocates and providers.
When they first emerged in the 1980s, assisted living was intended for older adults who wanted a congregate setting with some support, like housekeeping or meal preparation.
Richard Mollet — executive director of The Long Term Care Community Coalition, a nonprofit that aims to improve long-term care — testified before members of Congress, including U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona.
Today, "assisted living facilities now care for people who have the same needs and vulnerabilities as nursing home residents. Assisted living residents are actually older on average than those in nursing homes. Approximately 40%-70% of assisted living residents have Alzheimer’s disease or some other cognitive impairment," Mollet said.
Kelly talked about the long-term care legislation being considered in Arizona but then asked, "so Arizona can’t be the only state facing these challenges?"
Kelly is referring to recent reports of abuse, neglect and even the death of a resident in Arizona.
"So should the federal government maybe consider having a role here in providing oversight for assisted living facilities?" Kelly asked.
Kelly also talked about how the Aging committee formed an assisted living workgroup 20 years ago.
"And this workgroup was tasked with coming with recommendations for best practices in assisted living facilities to ensure a more consistent quality landscape across states. The result was a 380 page report with a lot of recommendations," he said.
Kelly asked if anything had come of that report. Mollet told Kelly that nothing has happened at the federal level and some states are not inclined to take action either. He added that it’s time for the federal government to step in.
