Monday, May 11, 2015

ALFA and Senior Living Public Policy

One issue that seems to be highly important in today’s society is care for senior citizens once they are no longer able to care for themselves. There are multiple options for senior care, one of which is assisted living. Assisted living facilities are typically communities in which each person has their own house or apartment so they feel as though they still have control and the staff help with the activities required in daily life such as cooking, bathing, or getting dressed, although some facilities are buildings similar to a hospital when the patients have rooms and the staff are a little more involved than those in the communities. ALFA, the assisted living federation of America, is a federation that is committed to educating senior living and assisted living communities and businesses throughout the country of the regulations and licensing requirements of their state. They also monitor the assisted living statutes in each state and maintain contact information with each licensing organization so that care providers have easy access to information needed to comply with laws and regulations and also so that they can provide care for their residents. Assisted living is mainly regulated on a state level, but some things are still regulated at a federal level such as creating legislation that’s in the best interest of older Americans. ALFA is particularly concerned with developing policies that ensure effective and accessible long term services for and protect seniors from financial, physical, and emotional abuse. As well as encourage progress in fighting diseases that affect the senior population. The main goal of this organization is to make sure that seniors everywhere have a choice to dignity, independence, quality of life and affordable services and supports.
 Assisted living is a long term care option preferred by many people and their families because of resident choice, dignity, and privacy. Assisted living communities provide 24hr staffing and services including daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and medication administration. Most assisted living communities provide additional assistance for people with Alzheimer’s and other mental diseases. In 2012 the federal government continued releasing data from the first nationally representative survey of assisted living facilities. The studies found that there were 31,100 facilities with 971,900 licensed beds serving 733,400 residents. This shows how assisted living has progressed over the years to accommodate more residents who have greater needs.  37 percent received assistance with ADLs (activities of daily life) and 42 percent had Alzheimer’s or other dementias. In 2012 18 states reported making regulatory, statutory, or policy changes regarding assisted living communities 

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