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Participant says assisted-living transition "a blessing" after moving from nursing home
Summary
A participant who transitioned from a nursing facility to an assisted-living residence under Pennsylvania's ILOS pilot described improved independence and social engagement, testimony lawmakers cited as evidence of potential benefits as they weigh expansion and evaluation.
Sylvia, a participant in Pennsylvania's assisted-living in-lieu-of-services pilot, told a joint House committee she was "very happy" after moving from a nursing facility into Tapestry Senior Living under the Community HealthChoices option.
Asked how long she had been in the nursing home, Sylvia replied, "A year and a half." When asked how she liked her new assisted-living residence she said, "I absolutely love it. It's a blessing. I have my own bedroom. I don't have to worry about how loud my TV is. I have my own bathroom. It's wonderful." She added that she participates in activities and is walking further than she had been at the nursing home.
Susan Saxinger, executive director of the Pennsylvania Assisted Living Association, introduced Sylvia to the committee as an example of the human impact of the ILOS option. Saxinger said ILOS participation began modestly but is growing and that stories like Sylvia's show the option can help residents move to less restrictive settings aligned with their preferences.
Why it matters: Sylvia's account put a personal face on otherwise technical testimony about enrollment counts and provider contracting. Legislators cited the example while asking department officials and MCOs about network adequacy, eligibility pathways and whether the pilot should be made permanent after an evaluation.
Next steps: the Department of Human Services and its MCO partners will continue outreach and contracting; the University of Pittsburgh will perform an independent evaluation of participant experiences and cost comparisons before any decision on making assisted living a permanent CHC service.
