As a leading provider of compassionate care and support for seniors in our community, we are writing to express our deep concerns regarding the current state of the Administrator in Training (AIT) program in Virginia and to and to support the petition.

The existing regulatory framework places undue burdens on smaller assisted living facilities like ours, stifling innovation and hindering our ability to provide the best possible care for our residents. The requirement that facilities must have a minimum of 20 beds to qualify as training facilities overlooks the unique needs and operational dynamics of smaller providers. This one-size-fits-all approach fails to recognize the invaluable contributions that smaller facilities make to our community.

Furthermore, the current program fails to adequately prepare future administrators for the realities of managing assisted living facilities of all sizes. The emphasis on offsite training in larger settings neglects the essential skills and specialized knowledge required to effectively lead smaller facilities. This not only undermines the quality of care provided but also perpetuates a cycle of inequality within the industry.

We urge you to amend 18VAC95-30-170-B-4 to allow for an assisted living provider that owns multiple licensed ALFs within a 30-minute average one-way travel time with a combined total licensed capacity of at least 20 residents to be an eligible training facility for an ALF AIT program or for an internship.