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. 2015 Apr;55(2):199-209.
doi: 10.1093/geront/gnu179. Epub 2015 Mar 5.

Policies to protect persons with dementia in assisted living: déjà vu all over again?

Brian P Kaskie  1 , Matthew Nattinger  2 , Andrew Potter  2
Affiliations

Policies to protect persons with dementia in assisted living: déjà vu all over again?

Brian P Kaskie et al. Gerontologist. 2015 Apr.

Abstract

Continued growth in the number of individuals with dementia residing in assisted living (AL) raises concerns about their safety and protection. In this Forum, we review current AL practices relevant to residents with dementia and present a rationale for examining the government role in protecting these individuals within this context. Since public oversight of AL is currently a state prerogative, we assess states' regulatory activity across 3 domains closely related to safety and protection of persons with dementia: environmental features, staffing, and use of chemical restraints. We then step back to consider the state policymaking environment and assess the feasibility of developing a minimum standard of regulations from one state to the next. This Forum concludes with a historical comparison between the contemporary AL market and the nursing home care market prior to the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987, and we discuss how an increased amount of federal interest could improve existing state efforts to protect persons with dementia residing in AL.

Keywords: Federalism; Health policy; Nursing Home Reform Act; Residential care.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Overall rigor of state dementia policies for assisted living: statutes and regulations through 2013.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Administration on Aging. (2006). Long-term care ombudsman report: FY 1998 with comparisons of national data FY 1996–98. 9-9-2004. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging.
    1. Alzheimer’s Association. (2009). Dementia care practices: Recommendations for assisted living residences and nursing homes. Washington, DC: Alzheimer’s Association.
    1. Alzheimer’s Association. (2014). Public policy agenda Retrieved January 21, 2015, from http://www.alz.org/advocacy/take-action.asp
    1. Assisted Living Workgroup. (2003). Assuring quality in assisted living: Guidelines for federal and state policy, state regulation, and operations. Washington, DC: U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging.
    1. Boehmke F. J. (2008). Subverting administrative oversight: Campaign contributions and nursing home inspections. Annual Conference of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL.

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