More than a third of “Best of Senior Living” properties were cited by state inspectors for significant violations related to resident care, including falls, bed sores, medication errors, insufficient staffing, violence and sexual abuse.
According to a May 2024 Washington Post article, A Place for Mom, a senior-care referral site, has been recommending senior living communities that have been cited for state-level violations that impacted resident care. The investigation revealed that 37% of the communities awarded "Best of Senior Living" by A Place for Mom in 2023 and 2024 had significant violations related to resident care. These issues included falls, bed sores, medication errors, insufficient staffing, and incidents of violence and sexual abuse.
Moreover, the article highlighted concerns about the manipulation of online reviews. Former employees and senior living professionals indicated that there were practices in place to solicit positive reviews selectively and meet review quotas, which skewed the overall ratings of the facilities. This manipulation potentially misleads families seeking reliable information about senior care options.
A Place for Mom is a private company that receives large fees from assisted-living facilities and does not independently assess their records. They are the largest referral service senior living placement services, owned by private equity firms Silver Lake Partners and General Atlantic. The company's personalized guidance is free for families, revenues come from supply side when a family member moves into a senior living community or signs up with a home care provider.
The article raises serious concerns about the integrity of A Place for Mom, casting a spotlight on an industry reliant on placement fees for senior living communities. The report underscores the need for families to have access to unbiased, conflict-free information when making decisions during this vulnerable period.