ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Assisted Living Federation of America, which advocates for excellence in senior living, applauds state partner the Texas Assisted Living Association for its success in advocating for meaningful assisted living legislation at the Texas Capitol.
TALA recognized the prior law posed a significant barrier to resident choice and was pleased to work in particular with lawmakers Texas State Rep. John Zerwas (R-Richmond) and Senate sponsor State Sen. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio) to change the law.
“We are extremely fortunate to have gifted legislators to work with to enhance the assisted living industry in Texas. The assistance of our membership and board members was invaluable to the passage of this legislation,” said TALA President and CEO Gail Harmon. “The new language gives peace of mind to residents seeking to know their move-in date and plan accordingly.”
The measure enables operators in good standing with the state to allow residents to move in as soon as the licensure process is complete. “I enjoyed working with TALA on legislation that will ensure licensing of communities is completed in a manner that supports residents and their families’ ability to plan,” said Dr. Zerwas.
Prior to this measure, assisted living communities were required to have no more than three residents move in after the first state inspection and before the second inspection could occur. Often there was a significant passage of time between the inspections, creating uncertainty for families waiting for their loved one to move in while requiring a fully staffed building with few residents.
“The passage of this bill reflects the hard work and dedication to advancing excellence in senior living by the Texas team,” said Belmont Village Co-Founder and President Patricia Will, who also serves on the ALFA and TALA boards. “The Texas Assisted Living Association’s ability to communicate effectively with lawmakers and work with senior living champions shows a true passion for raising the bar for our industry.”
The legislation, which is expected to become law, does the following:
- Enables operators in good standing with the state to allow residents to move in as soon as the licensure process is complete.
- Ensures that operators licensed pursuant to this provision would have a survey from the Department of Aging and Disability Services within three months.
- Allows the community to be inspected at capacity and is a better measure of how an assisted living community operates.
About ALFA
The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) is the largest national association dedicated to professionally managed, resident-centered senior living communities and the seniors and families they serve. Since 1990, ALFA has advocated for choice, accessibility, independence, dignity, and quality of life for all seniors.
