Issues With Assisted Living

Assisted living centers serve elderly or disabled adults in need of 24-hour care. Contrary to what some people think, they do not possess the same qualifications as medical facilities. The policies for assisted living centers are not as strict as hospitals either, which sometimes creates difficulties.

Staff Shortages

• Assisted living centers sometimes maintain a small staff as a way to keep their overhead costs down. Because they must stretch their time further over multiple duties, staff members cannot always give each patient the proper amount of time and attention.

No Employee Background Checks

• Some facilities hire individuals at a lower salary regardless of their criminal record. Background checks also cost money to complete, which some assisted living facilities cannot afford. As a result, employees may come from suspect backgrounds and/or fail to meet their responsibilities to their charges.

Easy Obtainable Licenses

• According to an article on smartmoney.com, "In Florida, a state known for protecting the elderly, an administrator need only take a 26-hour course and pass an exam." Licenses so easily obtained may translate to substandard care.

Delayed Diagnosis

• Many assisted living centers hold no medical licenses; as a result, their staff may overlook or misdiagnose major health issues.

Medication Errors

• The elderly often take several medications throughout the day. Medication errors can occur at assisted living centers especially if the staff is too small to focus on each patient's specific medication list and time line.