To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing this letter in response to the petition to eliminate the requirement for a national examination for licensure of the assisted living facility administrators and replace it with a state examination. I am in support of this petition . I have been an Executive Director/Administrator for the last  six almost seven years and I am appalled that the state of Virginia wants to require an exam for assisted living facility Administrators based on Nursing Home Standards. I STAND for excellence in quality care that we provide to our seniors in the state of Virginia in our Assisted Living Communities and believe that this requirment is unfair and needs to change. It is an unfair requirement, Assisted Living Communities are NOT nursing homes and I feel that if I must be required to take an exam then test me on what I practice. I feel that the state of Virginia is feeling the financial strain of the impact that assisted living facilities are creating because the majority of us to provide excellent care to the seniors of Virginia and are better at providing personalized, family oriented care. I  do have to question the state's motive for the push or rather the effort to push out the assisted living facilities in Virginia, hey the people have spoken in re: to who their choice of providers are.and assisted living facilities are winning.. We will not conform to the Nursing Home philosophy, this is not who we are and no matter what the state tries to push we are who we are and that is people with heart's, determination, and dedication for the seniors we care for, in the end they are all that matter and they are the ones who will be on the losing end should this regulation not change. You can't tell me, my residents and their families, and my staff, that we are not qualified to do what we do each and everyday in our community because we don't have a piece of paper, licensing us based on nursing Home standards and philosophy, this is not what makes the difference , the owners, operator's and staff that are here each and everyday interacting with these seniors , giving of their heatrs,is what makes the difference, not the state's required license and not some test based on completly different philosophy's, statndards and regulations. Test us on hat we do and who we are and that is the heartbeat for our seniors in the state of Virginia. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter, my fellow collegues, residents, and family members will continue to speak out about this matter and continue to stand and fight for what is right for our seniors that have been entrusted into our care.

Theresa A. Taplin, LPN