Editorial: Fix Assisted Living Facilities From the Ground Up

The Miami Herald should be applauded for its heart-wrenching series Neglected to death. Sadly, it’s no huge surprise that it found a high level of elder abuse across the state, given our unusually high incidence of Medicare fraud, especially in South Florida.

What’s clear from the series is that seniors are as vulnerable a population as our children — and they need as much protection. The impact of elder abuse lasts a lifetime — same as child abuse. As a society — and as the children of the elderly citizens affected — it is our moral obligation to ensure that safeguards are in place.

If the series has left anyone doubting the urgency of the need to address this problem broadly and systematically, consider the imperative of enlightened self-interest. Not a day goes by without a reminder of the impending demographic bubble, as the boomers begin to transition into the next stage of their lives. From now until the year 2050, we will experience nonstop growth in the senior population.

The current average age of individuals entering an assisted living facility is the mid-80s. We can expect an exponential increase in demand for long-term care within the next 12 to 15 years.

In the absence of a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, this demand will be driven by Alzheimer’s patients, a most vulnerable population without the means to advocate for protections and quality care.

Add to that the possibility of shortages in the supply of caregivers. A report from the Institute of Medicine, an independent think tank, projects that the pool of medical personnel will be too small and unprepared to serve the boomer seniors.

Given all this, it is clear that the crisis in elder care is not “impending.” Its time is now.

Full Editorial and Source:
Fix Assisted Living Facilities From the Ground Up