Florida Lawmakers Reverse Course and Call for Tougher Assisted-Living Regulations
Just months after proposing a series of bills that would loosen regulations of assisted-living facilities and strip away residents' rights, state legislators in Florida are now calling for tougher regulation of assisted living facilities. This reversal comes after a newspaper investigation revealed that nearly one resident per month dies of abuse and neglect in Florida assisted-living facilities.
Several months ago, several legislators had proposed nearly two dozen bills that remove important regulations, including portions of the residents' bill of rights. This is despite the fact that assisted-living facilities, which house more than 80,000 residents in Florida, already have less stringent regulations than nursing homes.
However, an investigative series by the Miami Herald revealed widespread abuse and neglect which resulted in an average of one wrongful death per month in the state's assisted-living facilities. Public outcry over the investigation led legislators to kill those bills and, in some cases, completely reverse their positions. The newly-proposed bills call for tougher regulations, more thorough inspections, increased fines, and greater training for staff and administrators.
This story highlights one of the biggest problems with nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and group homes. Residents' families often assume government regulations and inspections will prevent abuse and neglect and that the government will punish or shut down facilities with poor records. However, this is often not the case. The best way to prevent abuse and neglect remains vigilant detection by family members and family members taking legal action if necessary.
