Must do better for people in assisted living

The nation

Regarding “Gaps Found in Scrutiny of Assisted Living Homes” (Feb. 4):

More than 40 years ago, as Allegheny County coroner, I convened a public inquest regarding the death of an individual residing in an “assisted living” facility in Pittsburgh. The postmortem examination performed at our office strongly suggested that the decedent had not received appropriate overall care and necessary medical attention.

Investigation of that residence and relevant testimony elicited under oath revealed that there were no local, state or federal rules or regulations pertaining to any assisted living facilities that housed no more than four people.

Literally anyone could house up to four individuals in any way they chose with no monitoring or checking by any governmental or health care agency as to how they were fed, clothed, physically housed or treated.

As coroner, I submitted our findings along with a fervent plea to local and state officials, urgently requesting a thorough review of such a deplorable, inhumane environment and the adoption of reasonable, enforceable rules and meaningful monitoring of any residence seeking approval as an assisted living facility.

It should be noted that the people who owned and controlled such facilities acquired whatever payments the residents received from governmental agencies (e.g., Social Security, disability, retirement, etc.).

It is truly astounding to learn that almost a half century later, these kinds of conditions continue to exist throughout much of the United States, affecting hundreds of thousands of individuals.

An advanced society like the U.S. should be ashamed and embarrassed by this recent federal report. Effective governmental intervention is long overdue. CYRIL H. WECHT

M.D., J.D. Squirrel Hill