Reimagining Medical Care in Assisted Living

The increasing medical complexity of assisted living (AL) residents1 in the context of variable regulatory oversight and an ill-defined role for physicians2,3 suggests the need to rethink our current approach to delivering medical care in AL. We believe that a structured and accountable medical staff, led by a medical director, has the potential to accommodate to the changing needs of AL residents and ensure high-quality care. Recognizing the limited evidence base to support our recommendations, the proposed model must be empirically tested so as to inform new policy and practice standards.