Another Voice / Elder care
Assisted living facilities should be licensed by Albany
Updated: 07/14/08 6:37 AM
Licensing is an important form of protection. We expect that the physicians who perform open heart surgery, the lawyers who protect our rights and the contractors who build our homes are properly licensed. Doesn’t it make sense that those we entrust to care for our aging loved ones when they can no longer live at home have a license as well?
Our association, the Empire State Association of Assisted Living, is dedicated to strengthening New York’s assisted living industry and promoting the best interest of providers and our elderly residents. Since the 1970s, our licensed member residences have worked hard with the New York State Department of Health to develop regulations that will ensure the safety of all assisted living residents.
In 2004, following many discussions with our members, the Legislature adopted a comprehensive reform package, which required unlicensed assisted living facilities to comply with stricter regulations and frequent inspections. Today, all state-licensed residences provide consumers with a room, meals, ongoing supervision, personal care services, medication assistance, case management, activities, laundry and housekeeping. Those who do not meet these state regulations are subject to stiff fines and the possibility of closure.
But consumers must beware. Some facilities are still not in compliance with the new state licensing standards — a few even avoid obtaining licensure all together. This is why it is important for consumers to ask residence management hard questions about what services they provide, and what licenses they hold in order to provide them. Consumers also should ask to see a current state inspection report. All too often residences claim that they offer “assisted living services” but in reality they provide nothing more beyond three meals per day and minimal supervision, not meeting the state’s requirements.
What’s more, many times consumers assume they are moving into a licensed residence, because that’s what they are led to believe by the residence, when in fact only the service company that contracts with the residence is licensed. This means that the residence itself is not regulated or overseen by the state and could be operating illegally.
Today, with the construction of so many new residences designed for the elderly being completed, it is critical for those considering assisted living to educate themselves as to what services are offered at each individual residence — and make sure the residence itself is licensed by the Department of Health. And for those not licensed, we urge the state to take swift action.
We wouldn’t knowingly let our children get in a car with an unlicensed driver, so there is no reason to put the care of our senior citizens into the hands of an unlicensed assisted living operator either. So ask questions and be a good listener for the response.
James E. Connelly owns Tonawanda Manor and is treasurer of the board of directors for the Empire State Association of Assisted Living.
