I am Reverend Dean Painter, President and CEO of the Eaton Terrace Group which owns and operates an assisted living residence and Section 8 congregate housing and independent living program for the elderly in Lakewood and Denver, Colorado. Twenty-five percent of our members provide assisted living. Our members were providing assisted living long before the term became part of the long-term care vernacular. The report of the General Accounting Office, which is the subject of this hearing, was requested to look at quality and consumer protection issues in assisted living. The four state reviews included interviews with state licensing officials, ombudspersons, adult protective services staff and Medicaid fraud control units, if applicable, and an examination of reports of on-site surveys and inspections conducted by state licensing staff.
Variety is Good .
The GAO indicates that assisted living facilities exhibit a great degree of variety, which extends across states, within states and within local communities. Variety also exists in state regulatory requirements, services provided and type of physical structure. The number and variety of options give consumers the choice they need in determining what is most appropriate to their circumstances. The varying needs of assisted living consumers necessitate a range of responses. The level of family support that may or may not supplement services differs.