Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Social Services
 
Board
State Board of Social Services
 
chapter
Standards for Licensed Assisted Living Facilities [22 VAC 40 ‑ 73]
Action Amend Standards for Licensed Assisted Living Facilities
Stage NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 8/16/2023
spacer
Previous Comment     Next Comment     Back to List of Comments
8/16/23  7:06 pm
Commenter: Devon Shaw

Memory Care Locked Units - Better Standards Needed
 

I have experience across multiple Memory Cares in Virginia, and the regulations and standards are not where they need to be for Virginia Residents with varying levels of major neurocognitive disorders. In many cases they are simply locked-up, as if in a containment pen, and are not treated very well, even the most basic needs not met.  (i.e. lack of:  basic hygiene, access to food & water, clean clothes, daily oral care, toileting, clean briefs.)  It is unclear sometimes when the residents last had access to fresh air.

It is shameful to see how some of the residents of Virginia are being treated. These facilities are very expensive.

Staffing minimums are a big problem. Must be increased. The facility operates with bare minimum staff, on purpose, to increase profit and executive bonuses. And are not meeting the needs of the Memory Care residents. It is harmful and dangerous. This is not fair to the staff, and unconscionable for the residents.

Also better process to lodge complaints. No one is speaking up because it is not safe to do so. Hostile environment.

Virginia must improve these standards.

Any assisted living facility that puts profitability over care, does not belong in Virginia.

DWS

Alexandria, Va

 

CommentID: 218808