As a result of major changes in 2006 and 2007, Missouri moved from the licensure terms, Residential Care Facilities I and II, to

the new licensure categories of Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs) and Residential Care Facilities (RCFs). There are varying levels

of requirements within each licensure category depending on facility circumstances. The new ALF category allows for higher levels of acuity than under the old licensure categories if residents' needs can be met and if a facility meets all specified requirements. Other changes include: allowing any ALF to admit or retain individuals needing more than minimal assistance to evacuate the facility if the resident is receiving licensed hospice care and the resident, facility, physician, and hospice provider agree the program of care is appropriate for the resident; added requirements for fire safety and physical plant, particularly for new facilities; new resident assessment requirements; increased standards for medication management; added fire safety, staffing, and training requirements for some facilities caring for residents with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias; increased staffing requirements for some facilities with high-acuity residents; and additional resident rights standards.

Missouri has a higher than average population of residents over the age of 65. As of the 2006 census, 13.3% of all Missouri residents were over 65. This is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The total number of seniors in Missouri is just under 780,000. This number will most certainly rise in the coming years, as well as the need for assisted living and long term care in Missouri .

Missouri

Cindy Grasse

314-667-5584

St Louis Area