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For Immediate
Release
7/25/07
Contact:
Amy Bolze
(717) 787-8524
Vance's Assisted Living Legislation Becomes Law
HARRISBURG – Sen. Pat Vance's (R-Cumberland/York) legislation defining and
licensing assisted living facilities has become law after the Governor signed
the bill today.
"This new law will allow Pennsylvanians to make educated decisions about
their own care or the care of a loved one and better understand the limitations
of a specific facility," Vance said. "Currently, there is some confusion about
what kind of care different personal care homes provide. By creating a specific
assisted living licensure process, it will be easier to identify the differences
between facilities."
The law defines assisted living residences and the services that may be
offered. This includes additional requirements for facilities caring for those
with cognitive impairments such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease. In
addition, the law sets minimal standards for regulation of the industry by the
Department of Public Welfare and supports the philosophy that individuals should
be permitted to age in place. Each facility also will be subject to unannounced
inspections. Finally, facilities not licensed under the act will be prohibited
from using the term assisted living, thereby eliminating a large amount of
confusion in the marketplace.
Under current law, facilities offering long term care services are either
licensed as personal care homes or nursing homes. With a few exceptions,
personal care homes are permitted to admit residents who require personal care
services, but not health care services. Nursing homes serve the other end of
the spectrum and provide care for the most vulnerable of the population.
Assisted living residences will be permitted to provide a level of care between
the two.
Vance's district includes all of Cumberland County and Carroll, Fairview,
Franklin, Monaghan, Warrington and Washington townships and Dillsburg,
Franklintown and Wellsville boroughs in York County.
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