At a recent Senate hearing, Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) called for greater transparency in the assisted living industry, noting significant concerns with workforce shortages, prohibitive costs, and a lack of transparency about the adequacy of care.
In his opening remarks at the hearing titled “Assisted Living Facilities: Understanding Long-Term Care Options for Older Adults,” Casey cited letters he sent to three of the largest corporate owners of assisted living facilities, demanding transparency about their workforce issues and cost structures. He also spoke out about the exorbitant cost and hidden fees charged by many assisted living facilities, calling for greater transparency and accountability in the industry.
“We have an obligation to ensure that all Americans have access to the quality care they need to age with dignity,” said Chairman Casey. “Unfortunately, what I heard today makes clear that we have a long way to go when it comes to guaranteeing the level of care that older Americans in assisted living facilities deserve. We must do better by the residents of these facilities and their families and ensure that safe and affordable care are widely available.”
The hearing also examined ways to address the workforce shortage in the assisted living industry, including increasing the minimum wage for assisted living workers, improving training and development opportunities, and addressing the stigma associated with long-term care. The Government Accountability Office was also called upon to conduct a study of how much federal money is spent on assisted living facilities, the cost of assisted living services, and how available and transparent that information is to families.
Source: www.casey.senate.gov