AMENDED
IN SENATE
SENIOR
SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 12
INTRODUCED
BY SENATOR MANNIA
(COAUTHORS:
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS KARR AND WIECK)
LEGISLATIVE
COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SP
12: RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES.
UNDER
EXISTING LAW, A RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY FOR THE ELDERLY IS A HOUSING
ARRANGEMENT CHOSEN VOLUNTARILY BY PERSONS 60 YEARS OF AGE OR OVER, WHERE VARYING
LEVELS AND INTENSITIES OF CARE AND SUPERVISION, PROTECTIVE SUPERVISION, OR
PERSONAL CARE ARE PROVIDED, BASED UPON THEIR VARYING NEEDS.
THESE FACILITIES ARE LICENSED AND REGULATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES.
THIS
MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD DO THE FOLLOWING: (A) DEVELOP AN ASSESSMENT AND DOCUMENTATION PROGRAM
FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY TO ENSURE SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENTS; (B) REQUIRE FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS TO BE FULLY INFORMED OF WHAT IS
INCLUDED IH CONTRACTS FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY; AND (C)
THAT COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING AND LONG-TERM OMBUDSMEN PROGRAMS EDUCATE THE
FAMILIES OF SENIORS THAT ARE SEEKING PLACEMENT OF A SENIOR IN RESIDENTIAL CAKE
FACILITIES ABOUT ISSUES REGARDING QUALITY OF LIFE.
VOTE: MAJORITY.
SP 12:
RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES
WHEREAS,
ELDERLY ARE THE FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION, WITH PROJECTIONS OF
ONE IN EVERY FOUR PERSONS OVER 65 BY 2030 AND THE POPULATION OF PERSONS OVER 80
TRIPLING BY 2050; AND
WHEREAS,
THE GROWTH IN THE ELDERLY POPULATION HAS, AND WILL, INCREASE THE NEED FOR
SUPERVISED LIVING ENVIRONMENTS FOR ELDERLY WHO CAN NO LONGER CARE FOR THEMSELVES
NOR COMPLETE THE DAILY ACTIVITIES OF LIFE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE; AND
WHEREAS,
THE NEED FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY WILL CONTINUE TO GROW
AS THE POPULATION OF THE ELDERLY GROWS; AND
WHEREAS,
MORE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT OF RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY IS
NEEDED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT PROPER CARE IS BEING GIVEN AND QUALITY OF LIFE
PRESERVED; AND
WHEREAS,
THE COSTS OF ASSISTED LIVING ARE INCREASING, AND OFTEN NOT ALL SERVICES AND
COSTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE BASE CHARGE; AND
WHEREAS,
CORPORATIONS ARE INCREASINGLY OWNING AND OPERATING RESIDENTIAL CASE FACILITIES
FOR THE ELDERLY, WITH THE FOCUS BEING MORE ON THE INVESTMENT AND LESS ON THE
QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE INHABITANTS; AND
WHEREAS,
ACTIVITIES NEED TO BE PLANNED AND ADAPTED FOR THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF SENIORS, WITH
A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES BEING PROVIDED TO SUIT THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF
SENIORS, WITH FOCUS ON HELPING THEM FEEL USEFUL, GIVING THEM A PURPOSE, REDUCING
STRESS, AND MAY HELP WITH THE WORSENING OF SYMPTOMS IN ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS IN
THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS, A CONDITION KNOWN AS SUNDOWN SYNDROME;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED,
BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2002 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY
OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT AN ASSESSMENT AND
DOCUMENTATION PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY TO ENSURE
SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED,
FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS BE FULLY INFORMED OF WHAT IS INCLUDED IN CONTRACTS FOR
RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED,
THAT COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING AND LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMEN PROGRAMS EDUCATE
FAMILIES OF SENIORS THAT ARE SEEKING PLACEMENT OF A SENIOR IN A RESIDENTIAL CARE
FACILITY ON ISSUES REGARDING QUALITY OF LIFE; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED,
THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
RESOLVED,
THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE
SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA.
RN0214655
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