It's official: Assisted living is assisted living
Judy Warnick
OLYMPIA – Governor Christine Gregoire has signed legislation, co-sponsored by State Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, that officially names assisted living facilities assisted living facilities.
After more than 50 years, Senate House Bill 2056 changes the designation “boarding homes” to “assisted living facilities.”
The designation was advocated by the Washington Health Care Association (WHCA) and its Center for Assisted Living and other consumer groups and caregivers.
No longer will Washington law refer to assisted living facilities as “boarding homes,” a term used since 1958.
“The term ’assisted living facilities’ better reflects the modern services our communities provide today,” said Rich Miller, president of WHCA. “Our facilities are evolving to meet the needs of our elderly population – a population that’s growing. We’re not ‘boarding homes’ and, honestly, haven’t been so for decades.”
Warnick noted there are nine assisted living facilities in her district that provide a range of services for our elderly citizens.
“Changing how these facilities are referred to in state law will help consumers understand the services offered by these facilities,” she said.
SHB 2056 passed the House unanimously, 97-0. It passed the Senate with a perfect vote, 47-0.
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