A Times investigation found that people banned by California from operating assisted living homes were able to remain involved with other types of care facilities, a result of the state’s fragmented system for regulating facilities that care for elderly, disabled or ailing people.
Californians have no simple way to check whether a provider at a health facility or home health agency was previously banned from assisted living homes.
“There’s no reason why you should all of a sudden become competent or qualified or compassionate just because you switch from one category to another,” said Eric Carlson of Justice in Aging, a group aimed at fighting poverty among older adults.
