Dr. Sheryl Zimmerman, Executive Director of CEAL@UNC, was quoted in a recent article by McKnights’ Senior Living about the upcoming Senate Special Committee on Aging Hearing focusing on assisted living (to be held 1/25/24). Notably, CEAL itself was launched in 2003 as a result of the first Senate hearing on the topic of assisted living.
The hearing will focus on the “assisted living industry following recent articles in the Washington Post, which reported on the deaths of residents who wandered from communities, as well as the New York Times and KFF Health News, which scrutinized an industry pricing structure that adds fees on top of basic charges to cover additional services, as well as rate increases and the for-profit status of most providers.”
In response to news about the hearing, Dr. Zimmerman said: “Most everyone involved in assisted living is aware there are opportunities for improvement. The Senate Aging Committee delved into assisted living 20 years ago with the Assisted Living Workgroup Report, which led to the national Center for Excellence in Assisted Living, and as the executive director, I welcome the opportunity this brings to coordinate efforts to work towards excellence while providing person-centered care and quality jobs.”