RS 2671 - Legislative findings; declaration
A. The legislature finds that the traditional institutional medical model of long-term care cannot adequately serve the needs of the increasing number of the elderly population who can no longer stay at home due to cognitive or physical impairments yet whose medical conditions and safety do not require the constant presence of a nurse or other medical personnel. This population may nonetheless require housing, access to medical and social services, and available assistance on a twenty-four hour basis to meet certain needs. Elderly citizens who are dependent upon Medicaid and who can no longer live at home because they need additional care with activities of daily living but do not require continuous nursing care, have no alternative under the traditional model except institutional care.
B. Therefore, the legislature declares that a pilot project consisting of two assisted living facilities shall be developed and implemented as an alternative assisted living service of the state's long-term care continuum of services using a residential/social model of long-term care. The legislature further declares that such project shall use limited Medicaid funds and to the extent possible reduce the Medicaid costs to the state. The legislature further declares that such alternative assisted living project shall maximize the independence of the elderly while providing the assistance that the special needs of this population require.
Acts 1997, No. 1185, §2.