CarePatrol, Inc.
The FTC alleged that CarePatrol told families it graded and pre-screened senior care facilities when in most states listed on its website it had graded none, and did not have consultants in every state. It settled under a 20 year consent order.
Resolved. Refunded, settled, ceased operating, or the claim did not hold up. Kept for the record.
Identity
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- Registrations
- In the Matter of CarePatrol, Inc. (FTC administrative proceeding 112-3155, 2012)
- Jurisdictions
- United States (federal)
A grade that was never assigned
CarePatrol offered families free help placing a relative in long-term senior care, and was paid by the facilities for the placements. It operated through franchises in 12 states.
Its marketing said: “We Grade Each and Every Facility From ‘A’ to ‘F’ Based on Their Last State Survey. Our Local Senior Care Consultants also Pre-Screen every home we recommend.” It also said its advisors look “beyond the chandeliers and fancy lobbies to monitor each community’s care history and state violations.”
According to the FTC’s administrative complaint, in most states listed on CarePatrol’s website the company had not monitored or graded any facilities. It did not operate through senior care consultants in every state, and in numerous instances it did not grade facilities against the most recent state inspection reports.
Why the scale matters
The complaint notes there are at least 39,000 assisted living facilities in the United States, plus thousands of smaller residential care homes. A claim to grade each and every one of them is a claim about an enormous amount of work, made to people choosing care for a parent, largely on trust.
The order
Under a proposed consent order running 20 years, CarePatrol is barred from making false or unsubstantiated representations about its placement services. The Commission vote was 5-0. This was among the FTC’s first cases against internet based senior care placement services.
What is not established
A consent order is for settlement purposes only and is not an admission that the law was violated. The administrative complaint is not a finding or ruling.
Sources
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- Enforcement action September 17, 2012
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First recorded September 17, 2012 · Last updated September 17, 2012