Washington long-term care ombuds: ‘This is a statewide problem, and it seems to be increasing’
By Alexis Weisend
The state of Washington prohibits nursing homes from kicking out residents without letting anyone know.
But legislators have failed to extend the same protections to residents of adult family homes and assisted living facilities, which generally provide a lower level of care but still house some of the state’s most vulnerable people.
“We can’t just leave people out,” said state Sen. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, whose bill aimed at solving the issue died last session in the House, where he was serving at the time.
Attorneys and ombuds say the result is an undocumented surge of displaced residents that’s fueled by a boom in adult family homes, an aging population, and the state’s mental health and addiction crises.
