"Senate Investigation Launched into Assisted Living Deaths Following Post Report"

A bipartisan group of lawmakers challenged the U.S. assisted-living industry over issues such as low staffing, high costs, and poor care, following a Washington Post investigation revealing preventable deaths of elderly people with dementia wandering away unnoticed from facilities. The Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing to address the lack of federal oversight and transparency in the industry, with calls for national standards and federal regulation similar to nursing homes. Industry representatives expressed concerns about federal regulation, while families shared stories of inadequate care. The hearing comes after a Post investigation documented nearly 100 walkaway deaths and highlighted the industry's rapid growth and challenges in handling residents with high medical and behavioral needs.