Time for assessment of nutrition services in assisted living facilities.

State regulations on the food and nutrition service components of care influence both care and service delivery of the elderly in assisted living facilities. Information on such regulations was abstracted from a survey of 50 states that had been carried out by the National Academy for State Health Policy. These data were supplemented by examining relevant state websites and by follow up phone calls. They were then evaluated using criteria recommended by expert groups. Forty-five states had some relevant food service and nutrition regulations, and five had no specific regulations. No state had regulations meeting all the criteria examined. The availability and completeness of food and nutrition regulations and standards in assisted living facilities may have life safety implications for older adults, and they deserve further evaluation.