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Response/Solution to Better Care for the
Elderly…PA
Assisted Living Consumer Alliance gains in
wake of proposed regulatory changes to
Assisted Living Facilities
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/
-- Nearly a dozen state-wide and local
organizations have joined the Pennsylvania
Assisted Living Consumer Alliance (PALCA)
since the July announcement of the
Alliance's formation.
Dozens of individuals
have likewise joined the Alliance's efforts
to ensure that proposed licensing rules
safeguard the care of elderly and disabled
residents.
The Alliance, which has now
grown to nearly 30 groups, is urging the
Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare to
revamp key components of its proposed
assisted living regulations.
The regulations prompted more
than 200 public comments, reaction from
legislators and comment from the Independent
Regulatory Commission. The final regulations
are scheduled to be released in early 2009.
"Our burgeoning membership
indicates just how critical the new
regulations are to thousands of
Pennsylvanians," said Alissa Halperin,
Senior Attorney and Deputy Director of
Policy Advocacy at the Pennsylvania Health
Law Project, the organization leading
PALCA's efforts.
"We are forging ahead with
one united voice. The rules must be
strengthened to guarantee that assisted
living residences fulfil their promises to
our most vulnerable citizens."
After reviewing the proposed
assisted living regulations this summer, the
Alliance identified numerous shortcomings
that would deny residents basic consumer
protections.
For instance, the draft rules
do not establish a minimum number of
training hours for direct care staff and
they do not require facilities to develop a
care plan before a resident moves in and
starts payment.
Some other ways in which
the proposed regulations fall short include:
-- They propose far too
few staff members on duty to meet residents'
needs
-- They allow resident
living space that is far too small
-- They omit essential
residents' rights that should be afforded to
all consumers.
-- They provide consumers
with no right to challenge a facilities
decision to kick them out.
-- They make no requirement
for all hallways and common areas to be
wheelchair accessible.
-- They take away a
resident's right to continue to use or
otherwise choose their own healthcare
providers, such as their doctor or
psychiatrist.
About 50,000 people in
Pennsylvania currently live in facilities
that may call themselves assisted living
facilities.
Assisted living has emerged
in the past generation to house people who
are not so sick that they require a nursing
home.
However, residents generally
need help with bathing, dressing, medication
management and other basic care needs.
Currently, Pennsylvania
regulations lump assisted living facilities
together with a wide range of homes for the
elderly and disabled.
With funds from The Pew
Charitable Trusts, the Pennsylvania Health
Law Project has drawn together a broad
coalition of Pennsylvania organizations
since January.
The grassroots movement also
has attracted support from numerous
individuals and families.
"Our goal has been to make
sure that the people most affected by the
new regulations can help shape them,"
Halperin said.
"We believe Pennsylvanians
deserve quality assisted living facilities
that deliver appropriate and adequate care."
The eleven newest
organizations to become alliance members
include:
Aid for Friends -- Serves the
needy and isolated shut-ins, primarily the
frail elderly, in the five-county Greater
Philadelphia area, with free daily
home-cooked meals delivered weekly by
volunteer visitors. The organization also
provides shut-ins with free outreach
services. (www.aidforfriends.org)
The AIDS Law Project of
Pennsylvania -- Protects the rights of those
affected by the AIDS epidemic. It is still
the nation's only independent
public-interest law firm dedicated to AIDS
and HIV. (www.aidslawpa.org)
Elder Connections -- Helps
families recognize and understand the
quality-of-life issues surrounding the care
of elderly family members; identify
solutions that best reflect the wishes,
resources, and capabilities of the family;
and acquire the tools, contacts, and support
to put those solutions into practice. (www.elder-connections.com)
Eldernet of Lower Merion and
Narberth -- ElderNet provides free services
and information on housing/alternative
living facilities, nursing care and
emergency assistance to older or persons
with disabilities with low or moderate
incomes, who live in Lower Merion or
Narberth, PA. (www.eldernetonline.org)
Jewish Social Policy Action
Network -- Conducts research and informs the
public on issues ranging from equality and
opportunity for women and men. The
organization also protects the
Constitutional liberties of Jews, other
minorities, and the underserved. (www.jspan.org)
Mental Health America
Allegheny County -- Provides programs and
services in the Pittsburgh area to support
the health of mind and body. The group also
works to eliminate the stigma of mental
illness and addiction. (www.mhaac.net)
National Nursing Centers
Consortium -- Represents nurse-managed
health centers serving vulnerable people
across the country. The Consortium helps
provide quality health care services to
vulnerable populations and to eliminate
health disparities in underserved
communities. (www.nncc.us)
Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition
-- The Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition seeks
to educate state government officials about
the issues and concerns of Jewish
Federations and assists local communities in
public policy advocacy. (www.pajewishcoalition.org)
Pennsylvania Mental Health
Consumer Association -- Promotes and
supports recovery from mental illness
through advocacy and education to eliminate
stigma and discrimination. (www.pmhca.org)
SeniorLaw Center -- SeniorLaw
Center protects the legal rights and
interests of seniors in need, providing free
legal services, community legal education,
professional training, advice, information
and referral services, and advocacy. (www.seniorlawcenter.org)
United Way of Southeast
Pennsylvania -- United Way of Southeastern
Pa improves people's lives by mobilizing the
caring power of donors, volunteers and
communities. (www.uwsepa.org)
For more information about
the Pennsylvania Assisted Living Consumer
Alliance and to view the work of all of the
Alliance members, click on
www.paassistedlivingconsumeralliance.org.
Source:
Pennsylvania Assisted Living
Consumer Alliance
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