Welcome to the Pennsylvania Assisted Living
Consumer Alliance
Last Updated October 28, 2008
The Pennsylvania Assisted Living Consumer Alliance (PALCA) is a collaboration of consumers, family members, and local and statewide organizations that have united to advocate for safety, freedom of choice and high legal standards for residents in assisted living facilities in the state. In January 2008, the Pennsylvania Health Law Project announced the formation of PALCA with the generous support of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
PALCA is working to ensure that the consumer voice is heard and considered in the development of assisted living licensure requirements for Pennsylvania. PALCA is advocating for the establishment of standards that define and regulate assisted living facilities – in particular those relating to questions of residents’ rights, staff qualifications, training and resident ration requirements, physical site design, fire and safety codes, aging in place considerations, consumer choice, control, autonomy and an enforcement system. Additionally, at present, there are no national standards or consistent definition or regulation for assisted living, nor any clear best practice standards.
In August 2008, the state issued proposed regulations for Assisted Living in Pennsylvania. Final regulations are not expected to be released until early 2009. For more information on the proposed and where the regulatory process currently stands, click on "Regulations" in the left margin.
Navigate your way around our website to find “Shared Stories” from Pennsylvanian’s with personal Assisted Living experiences they have decided to share or to “Tell your story”. You can also find a list of “Participating Organizations” that are working together as part of PALCA. Find out “Where We Stand” on how Assisted Living regulations should read. Lastly, checkout our Media Center for regular updates of press from PALCA, about PALCA, or about Assisted Living issues in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
New Assisted Living Regulations Do Little to Protect Consumers
Alliance asks the public to make their voices heard on fundamental rights
PHILADELPHIA, PA—(August 2008)—Proposed rules to cover assisted living facilities fall far short of what is needed to ensure that Pennsylvania’s elderly and those with disabilities receive adequate care in safe surroundings, according to the Pennsylvania Assisted Living Consumer Alliance (PALCA).
Fundamental consumer protections are missing from the proposed regulations. As proposed, a consumer would have to move in, sign a contract for residency and services, and begin payment to the facility weeks before the facility would be required to identify the consumer’s care needs and explain to the consumer and her family how they proposed to meet those needs or even how much it would cost. As proposed, direct care staff would not have to complete a minimum amount of training hours and not all direct care staff would need any training in first aid or CPR. As proposed, facilities that exist as of the day the regulations take effect would not have to meet the best available standards or practices for fire safety or even wheelchair accessibility.
Read more: New Assisted Living Regulations Do Little to Protect Consumers
New Coalition Presses for Quality Standards
Consumers and advocates join the fight to protect Pennsylvania families from inadequate regulations
PHILADELPHIA, PA—(July 7, 2008)—A new organization of consumers, family members and advocates for the elderly and persons with disabilities is pushing for quality standards in Pennsylvania state regulations covering assisted living facilities. The Pennsylvania Assisted Living Consumer Alliance (PALCA) formed this year to ensure that new licensing rules will protect elderly and persons with disabilities. About 50,000 people in Pennsylvania currently live in facilities that may call themselves assisted living facilities.
It’s essential that we get these regulations right to protect all of Pennsylvania’s families,” said Alissa Halperin, Senior Attorney and Deputy Director of Policy Advocacy at the Pennsylvania Health Law Project, the organization leading the efforts of the Alliance. “We are committed to championing and supporting individual rights and quality care for everyone.” The Pennsylvania Health Law Project is primarily using operating support provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts to fund the campaign.