More and more seniors and their families are turning to assisted living as an alternative to nursing homes when they need residential care and monitoring. Unfortunately, despite this growing need, and the billions of dollars in personal and public funds spent on assisted living care, too many assisted living residents experience abuse, neglect, exploitation, and even death every year, due to the absence of federal standards of care for assisted living and weak standards at the state level.
The substandard conditions in assisted living have garnered more attention in recent years. Below are links to articles and reports on assisted living.
- ProPublica: Maine Rarely Sanctions Residential Care Facilities Even After Severe Abuse or Neglect Incidents
- New York Times: Extra Fees Drive Assisted Living Profits
- New York Times: Facing Financial Ruin as Costs Soar for Elder Care
- KFF: The Affordability of Long-Term Care and Support Services: Findings from a KFF Survey
- GAO: Elder Abuse: Federal Requirements for Oversight in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities Differ
- GAO: Medicaid Assisted Living Services: Improved Federal Oversight of Beneficiary Health and Welfare is Needed
- Washington Post: Senators challenge assisted living industry over wandering deaths, poor care ($)