Using Deficiency Data to Measure Quality in Assisted Living Communities: A Florida Statewide Study

In 2014, more than 800,000 older adults reside in assisted living communities (ALCs) in the United States, yet few studies have examined whether state licensure inspection and citation information can be used to help consumers infer quality in choosing facilities. We examined the quality of ALCs using the deficiency citation data from the State of Florida. Data on 2,457 licensed ALCs operating between 2013 and 2015 were used to estimate logistic and negative binomial regression models to determine ALCs' structural characteristics that were associated with any and the number of deficiency citations. There were 2.6 deficiencies per facility (range 0-21); one-third of all ALCs received no deficiencies and one-third received four or more deficiencies. Specialty license and region were associated with receiving any deficiencies; ownership, rural location, and Northeast region were associated with receiving more deficiencies; and Southwest region was associated with receiving fewer deficiencies.