A bill that should help enable seniors to enjoy higher levels of support in assisted living communities and avoid unnecessary moves to institutional environments received praise from the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA).
Signed by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal last week, the law creates a new assisted living licensure category for communities with a resident capacity to accommodate 25 or more seniors and will expand the types of services seniors may receive beyond what is currently allowed in personal care homes.
These services, among others, will include medication administration by specially trained aides and assistance for residents who have mobility challenges.
“Thanks to Governor Deal and the General Assembly, Georgia’s seniors and their families can now benefit from the services offered by assisted living instead of being forced to move to institutional settings when they need more assistance,” said Richard P. Grimes, president and CEO of the Assisted Living Federation of America. “Georgians will now have more choices and greater peace of mind when selecting senior care for themselves or their loved ones.”
The bill passed the Georgia Senate on March 14, 2011 and the Georgia House of Representatives on April 12, 2011. Senator Johnny Grant (R-Milledgeville) was the prime sponsor of the bill in the Senate. State Representative Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta) sponsored the House companion legislation.
