As a new, but successful and compassionate, professional to the assisted living and health care industry and one who had not invisioned a career path in this direction (have been a marketing director and/or graphic designer for the past 20 years), I can honestly say that had the new regulations been in place when I began two years ago, I would not have considered continuing in this profession.  How many others are thinking the same or not considering working in Virginia due to the stringent licensing requirements?

I believe first and foremost the question that needs to be answered regarding any state regulation governing assisted living - but especially in reference to the national exam for administrators is this:  How will it effect the AGING/ELDERLY CITIZENS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA?  Will there be sufficient administrators to oversee communities to provide the housing that is and will be required?  How many current administrators will retire or populate into another career path due to the current regulations?  How many of these administrators are at smaller, "mom and pop" communities that provide much needed care for residents on medicaid or in the lower income strata?

Further, the assisted living industry is regulated by the Commonwealth of Virginia, not by federal standards.  If the concern is to ensure qualified administrators, then wouldn't a state exam - focusing on state regulations - be a better path to take to obtain the goal?

·         ·         Only two other states require the national examination to license assisted living administrators. A third state required the examination until recently when they changed their regulations to require a state examination.

·         The cost of the national exam and study guide is approximately $400, which is cost prohibitive for many individuals who must pay the costs out of their personal pockets. This financial restriction will result in the loss of compassionate and outstanding administrators who can not afford the costs.

The purpose of a national exam, to insure qualified administrators, is a valiant one.  However, as the current generation of assisted living residents would say, you don't want to cut off your nose to spite your face.  A better solution is out there, we just need to continue to search for the answer.  A state focused exam?   A more uniform inspection process throughout the state may help spot inadequate administrators?  Enhanced training/continuing education requirements for administrators?

In closing I also would offer this:  an exam of any kind only reflects the knowledge that anyone can aquire through study, "book sense".  What is doesn't show is the compassion, the caring, the love someone has in their heart for the people we take care of every day - the desire to do the right thing for them each and every day.

Who do you want taking care of your Mom, Dad.........or even you?

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