It is unlikely that either President Lyndon Baines Johnson, who signed the Fair Housing Act into law in 1968, or the lawmakers who passed the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 envisioned how such laws would impact senior housing and long-term care. Although the worlds of fair housing and long-term care may seem completely unrelated at first glance, attorneys who represent such entities on operational issues can attest to their relevance.
The Fair Housing Act, as amended, protects any person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment or is regarded as having such an impairment. With such a broad definition (and considering that a 70-year-old would be considered a young resident), it becomes clear how significant a role fair housing compliance can play in the long-term care industry.
