NBC 29's Matt Talhelm Follows Up on House Joint Resolution No. 118

Matt Talhelm, who wrote a piece on our story earlier this year, followed up with Jacqueline Carney, Delegate Robert Bell - Patron of HJR118, and Doris Gelbman, Elder Law Attorney, this week to discuss the House Joint Resolution No. 118 to study regulating Independent Living Facililities.

"We need to make sure they know what they’re getting, what they’re not getting and what the safeguards are. This is a study and will give us a chance to look at this new thing and help us decide how we want to handle it." -- Delegate Robert Bell

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CBS6 takes Thorough Look at Check-in Program Failures

“While Carney’s mom was in ‘independent living,’ which is not regulated by the state, Commonwealth Senior Living also operates 23 “assisted living” communities, which are regulated. CBS 6 reporter Melissa Hipolit did some research and found that nearly two-thirds of their facilities only have either a one year or provisional license from the state. That means the state has found enough violations that they feel the need to visit the facility more often than those who did a better job meeting state standards, which are visited every two to three years.”

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Daily Progress Op/Ed: Independent Living Facilities Need Oversight

“Over-regulation is on lawmakers’ radar screens these days — but there’s also such a thing as under-regulation.

And Virginia under-regulates independent living facilities. In fact, it doesn’t regulate them at all.

A dangerous gap exists, and the distressing case of an Albemarle County woman who was forgotten in her room for four days demonstrates the need for action.”

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Daily Progress story sheds light on lack of oversight at Independent Living facilities

“Our family has been through a horrible experience and we believe that we need to do whatever we can to try to keep this from happening to other people,” said Jacqueline Carney, Franklin’s daughter. “We know we’re not the only ones it’s happened to, but it’s impossible to find out what’s going on in these independent living facilities.”

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McKnight's Senior Living thoroughly covers Diane's Story

"Better recordkeeping and adherence to corporate protocols could have prevented the incident that led to an arbitration decision that a Virginia senior living community pay $900,000 to the estate of a former resident who died four months after not being checked on in her independent living apartment for four days, the resident's daughter told McKnight's Senior Living." 

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NBC 29 Highlights our Demand for Independent Living Reform

“The family of a woman who became trapped in her apartment at an Albemarle County senior community is demanding reform for the independent living industry.

Commonwealth Senior Living admits its system failed the 74-year-old. The family of Diane Franklin settled in arbitration for $900,000.”

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CBS 19 features Diane's Story

“A senior living facility has been ordered to pay damages to the family of a former resident by an arbiter. According to a release, Commonwealth Senior Living, or CSL, must pay the estate of Diane Franklin $900,000 in damages for neglect.”

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