Richmond agency draws assisted living criticism

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Assisted living facility operators say the Richmond Department of Social Services does a poor job processing their clients' benefits.

The operators say some mentally ill and severely disabled clients have lost benefits because of the department's ineptness.

Josephine Gatling tells the Richmond Times-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/15rjRKf ) that she's waiting on checks for 11 residents at her facility. She says one client has been waiting seven months.

More than two dozen operators in the Richmond area recently brought their concerns to Delegate Joseph D. Morrissey. The Henrico Democrat's legislative aide, Carter Nichols, says Morrissey sent a letter to Mayor Dwight C. Jones last month about these concerns.

Tammy Hawley, Jones' press secretary, says the allegations are under review.

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Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, http://www.timesdispatch.com