Legislation sponsored by State Senator Jil Tracy and Senator Erica Harriss to strengthen standards for Illinois assisted living facilities was recently signed into law.
House Bill 3392 updates the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act by improving the admission process for new residents, modernizing care standards, and strengthening accountability for facilities.
“Assisted living facilities care for some of our most vulnerable citizens, and it’s important our laws reflect today’s standards of care,” said Senator Tracy. “These updates provide greater clarity for providers, strengthen oversight, and help ensure residents receive the care they need from the moment they are admitted.”
The law requires every resident to receive a comprehensive physical, cognitive, and psychosocial assessment before admission by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. It also updates qualification requirements for assisted living directors, requires dementia and Alzheimer’s assessments to be approved by qualified medical professionals with geriatric experience, recognizes current medication administration practices, and strengthens enforcement for facilities with repeated compliance violations.
“When a family makes the difficult decision to move a loved one into assisted living, they deserve to know every precaution has been taken to ensure they’re receiving the care that’s right for them,” said Senator Harriss. “This law strengthens that process by making sure residents are properly evaluated before admission while updating standards that help facilities provide safe, quality care.”
The legislation takes effect January 1, 2027.