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(08/09) Assisted Living Concepts’ Dubuque, Iowa assisted living facility fined; state officials say that ALF must be licensed if it provides health care

In an 18-month period, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals imposed seven fines against Dubuque Retirement Community for violating state law. The latest fine of $16,000, imposed for failure to correct staffing and medication problems, brought the total balance to $32,500. The facility, owned by Assisted Living Concepts (ALC), voluntarily gave up its assisted living license Spring of 2008, effective September 14, stating that health care at the facility would be provided by ALC’s subsidiary home health agency. The state agency contended that a facility providing both housing and health care must be licensed as assisted living. Clark Kauffman, “Dubuque facility giving up its license faces more penalties,” Des Moines Register (Aug. 14, 2009); Andrew Brunner, “State warns retirement facility,” The Telegraph Herald (Aug. 24, 2009).

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Priorities

ALCA's major areas of focus include:
  • Developing a definition of "assisted living" that adequately informs consumers and others as to the type of care that can be provided, while allowing for appropriate variations from one assisted facility to another;
  • Advocating for laws, regulations and practices that advance both resident choice and strong consumer protections;
  • Developing high, universal standards relating to services, staffing, residents' rights, and other important aspects of assisted living care;
  • Ensuring strong enforcement and oversight systems on federal and state levels to protect consumers and assure quality;
  • Promoting affordable and accessible assisted living, including equal treatment of those consumers receiving financial assistance from Medicaid or other public programs; and
  • Protecting consumers' civil liberties, including freedom from discrimination based on real or perceived disability, race or sexual orientation.
 
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