Our voice is your voice — the National Association advocates for business owners just like you in every state.
Every state in the country sets and follows its own regulations and licensing standards. Unlike nursing homes, assisted living homes are not regulated by the federal government. While that brings certain freedoms with it, it also means that business owners need a voice in advising lawmakers and providing direction in legislation that elevates the standard of care in a responsible and sustainable way.
The Residential Assisted Living National Association plays the vital role of advocating for residents and providers in city, county, and state governments while simultaneously advising and helping business owners in meeting the regulatory requirements laid out by their state.
The truth is that each new regulation introduced by a state means additional expenses for the RAL business owner. This translates to higher charges for the residents. Because of this, it is important that lawmakers be educated on the impact of their work and that the legislation is in the overall best interest of every resident.
Just how tricky can state legislation be? Here are a few examples of why our members rely on us.
In some states, Senior Housing Communities that provide only housing, housekeeping, and meals are not required to obtain a license.
Most states list assistance with activities of daily living, housekeeping, meals, and assessments as minimum essential services that a Senior Living Facility must provide.
Some states include services such as shopping trips, help with doctor appointments, and money management to the list of minimum requirements.
In some states, at least 25 hours of training for caregiving staff is a must, while some states have no minimum training requirements.
Some states require a minimum resident-to-caregiver ratio.
We need you in our ranks! Our work is never complete and we’re counting on people like you to help us.
The rights of the residents and the rights of the RAL business owners also differ from state to state.
More than half of the states (29 of them) changed their regulations and policies for Assisted Living Homes between June 2017 and June 2018.
Most regulation changes were related to staffing, particularly minimum training and background check requirements.
Florida, New Hampshire, and North Carolina made changes to minimum administrator qualifications or training.
Oklahoma now requires special training for caregivers on Alzheimer’s and dementia-related care.
Louisiana mandated an evaluation of whether the caregivers are competent to provide assistance with activities of daily living.
We are stronger together and your success is what drives us forward!