Assisted Living Facilities Evict Easily, Help Senator Storms to Change This!

Ft.Lauderdale,Florida.USA Jay Sparaga, who has diabetes and uses a wheelchair, moved last year into the Munne Center assisted living facility, south of Miami, where he can get meals and care.But the management has informed the 60-year-old Sparaga he must leave Sunday.

They don't even have to tell him why. State regulations allow assisted living facilities — whose residents may be very sick or frail, or have no family to look after them — to discharge their residents with a simple 45-day notice, without giving a reason. Residents have no right to appeal.
Florida's Long-Term Ombudsman's program, which advocates for care facility residents, hopes that will change this year. The ombudsman, alarmed by a rising number of complaints about assisted living discharges, supports legislation that would give residents some protection against evictions.

"Some facilities don't want to handle the clients that require additional care. They discharge folks for convenience," said Lee. "It's horrible for residents."State Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Brandon, is working on a bill that would require facilities to give residents a reason for their discharge. But the measure stops short of what Lee had pushed for: an appeals process similar to what nursing home residents have.

An analysis of the 2006-07 statistics found complaints were up 25 percent, totaling 93 statewide, with 18 from South Florida. But no one knows the total number of discharges, as assisted living facilities — unlike nursing homes — are not required to report that information. That would change under the proposed legislation, which would require all discharges to be reported to the ombudsman.

"They can just say, 'We can't meet your needs' and off you go," Carlson said. "You get no hearing." Diane Lade can be reached at dlade@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6618.
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Help Make it Difficult to Put Elders Out on the Street and make these business accountable.......

Please write our senators especially Senator Ronda Storms and let her know you support her efforts to protects our elders, Senator Storms is one of our busiest Senators yet always has the time to listen to our concerns and push the issues that are important to us, please let her know you support this and other measures to protect us as we get older!

I suggest Elder advocates and E.A. supporters call all of the officials listed below. If the intended party is not available, which will often be the case, please leave a short, clear message telling them that you support Senators Storms Bill for requiring long term living facilities to have valid a reason to discharge an elder, a process similar to what nursing homes have. I suggest you leave your name, phone # and email address. Please remember to always be polite, respectful, and to the point.

storms.ronda.web@flsenate.gov Chair: Senator Ronda Storms (R)
(850) 487-5072
Vice Chair: Senator Gwen Margolis (D)
margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov
(850) 487-5121
Senator Carey Baker
baker.carey.web@flsenate.gov
850) 487-5014
SenatorAnthony C. "Tony" Hill, Sr.
hill.anthony.web@flsenate.gov
(850) 487-5024
SenatorEvelyn J. Lynn
lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov
(850) 487-5033
SenatorNan H. Rich
rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov
(850) 487-5103
SenatorJ. Alex Villalobos
villalobos.alex.web@flsenate.gov
(850) 487-5130

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