Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Senior Living Association (FSLA) today thanked the Florida Legislature for unanimously passing HB 767, which modernizes regulations for assisted living communities in Florida. The bill allows residents of assisted living and memory care communities to use assistive devices to help keep them mobile and independent. The legislation was sponsored in the House by Representative Michael Grant (R-75) and in the Senate by Senator Gayle Harrell (R-25).
“We are so grateful to our bill sponsors for their leadership on this issue,” said Gail Matillo, the President/CEO of FSLA. “Whenever we can modernize regulations to make communities safer, not only for residents but also for the health care workers, we’ve made excellent progress for our industry and our state.”
Assistive devices include wearables, transfer aids, shoe inserts, telehealth technologies, arthritis supports, and other devices that can be added and removed by the resident. Many assisted living residents often use assistive devices for years in their own homes but are forced to give them up upon entering long-term care facilities, causing not only their risk of injury to increase, but also the risk to their caregivers who may be injured while catching a falling patient or helping a resident who has already fallen and cannot get up without assistance.
“FSLA is proud to have had the opportunity to work with Representative Grant, Senator Harrell, and other senior living stakeholder groups on this important legislation,” said Jason Hand, the Vice President of Public Policy and Legal Affairs of FSLA.
The legislation, which now goes to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for his signature, modernizes the current regulatory structure to provide safer environments for residents and community health care workers.
