Assisted Living Workgroup offers blueprint--and contention. (NH News Notes).

Although deep philosophical differences prevented the nearly 50-organization Assisted Living Workgroup (MW) from agreeing even on a common definition of assisted living, much less on all of the organizations' recommendations, the ALW billed its report to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging as a blueprint for change toward more consistent quality in assisted living care. One key member organization, the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), identified recommendations in the areas of assessment, disclosure, and accountability and oversight as the most beneficial to consumers. And, while many of the report's proposals are nonspecific, AAHSA's Douglas D. Pace, director of assisted living and continuing care, said that the report raises the bar" for assisted living.

The ALW report also recommends the creation of a Center for Excellence in Assisted Living (CEAL) to continue the MW's work, collect data, and develop outcomes. The report says any new assisted living regulation should stay at the state level.

Among prominent dissenting groups were the Assisted Living Federation of America, which preferred a more market-oriented stance, and the National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, which contended that the ALW's recommendations weren't generally tough enough.

Visit www.alwork group.org to read the report.