FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2007
CONTACT: Julie Eisenhardt, 202-330-3164 (cell)

Assisted Living Award Goes to … Who?

Atria Has Record of Poor Care, Unhappy Residents

LOUISVILLE, KY -- Atria Senior Living was handed awards by a group called NALNA, but resident care advocates find themselves wondering, "what for?"

A survey of resident care records Atria facilities over the last few years shows more than 1,000 citations for care deficiencies.

In Atria Kingwood, a facility given one of the awards, Atria was cited in 2004 for having a 26 percent medication error rate.  In the same facility, just last year, after one resident rang her emergency call button several times over a nine-hour period, she was finally taken to the hospital, where she remained in a coma for several days.  Regulators cited the facility for failing to provide enough staff to respond to emergencies, noting that only one person was assigned to care for 44 residents that night, 16 of whom required nighttime assistance.

Loved ones of Atria residents and former residents have recently contacted the Campaign to share more disturbing stories about their experiences with Atria.  Their stories are posted on the website, www.improveassistedliving.org.

"Seniors and their families pay dearly for what they're told will be the best quality of care available," said Pedro Rodriguez, Director of the Action Alliance for Senior Citizens. "Atria may not be living up to their promise of quality care."

Of the more than 120 Atria facilities, only 22 received this NALNA award.  The Campaign is investigating what NALNA is and how it is funded.

The Campaign is calling for Atria to make a real investment in front-line care by staffing-up, increasing worker training, and lowering worker turnover.  More information is at www.improveassistedliving.org.