To Whom It May Concern

I am writing this letter in support of the petition to replace the National Administrator Exam with a state exam. We are regulated by the Department of Social Services and thus should be tested on those standards. I don't feel that this exam will better qualify anyone in being an Administrator of an assisted living facility in Virginia nor will it provide for a higher quality of care for the seniors that we serve. This regulation is only making it harder to provide care and taking away valuable resources and funds that could be better used in providing care to these seniors. If this regulation should become final and there is no change to this standard, who will be left to care for the elders of our state? I don't understand why we are trying to be made to conform to a nursing home way of doing things, we are not in the nursing home busines, we are in the business of caring for seniors. Our facilities are not of the institutional setting, we are a homelike, family oriented setting who lives and breathes quality care to the residents we serve. I feel that this regulation needs to change and emplor that the state of Virginia strike to make a change before it's to late.

Sincerely,

Shelly Ruckman, RCC