National Long-Term Care News Bites: Senior Housing Development to Include Childcare

Here’s a collection of news bites pertaining to the senior housing and long-term care industries, gathered from around the nation. Many of the articles are state-specific, but could eventually have national implications or influence senior care trends. Click the links to access the full article. 

From the Business Journal (Minn.)—New Senior Housing Campus to Offer Childcare

“A new senior campus in St. Louis Park is aimed at residents 65 and older, but its also going to have an intergenerational component: a childcare facility for pre-k, toddlers and infants,” reports the Business Journal. “The childcare facility… is on the main floor, adjacent to the arts and crafts and activity rooms for the home’s senior citizens. The proximity of childcare and eldercare spaces should ‘facilitate interaction among TowerLight’s intergenerational residents,’ according to a news release from Ebenezer Management Services, which is managing both facilities.” Read more

Advertisement

From The Wall Street Journal—Women Face Higher Long-Term Care Insurance Costs

“Until now, insurers have charged the same premiums regardless of gender for the policies, which help pay for future nursing-home, assisted-living and home care. But beginning early next year, Genworth Financial, GNW -0.80% the country’s largest long-term-care insurer, plans to start charging women applying for coverage as much as 40% more than men,” reports The Wall Street Journal. “The move is designed to better reflect the risks involved in covering women, who are paid two out of every three benefit dollars from long-term-care insurance, in part because they live longer and often have no caregivers at home, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, a trade group based in Westlake Village, Calif. Other insurers are expected to follow Genworth’s lead, says Jesse Slome, the association’s executive director.” Read more

From the EEOC—S.C. Retirement Community Settles Sexual Harassment & Retaliation Suit

Advertisement

Ashlan Village Retirement Community, an independent and assisted living community in Lyman, S.C., will pay $40,000 and provide non-monetary relief to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency announced last Tuesday.

Between September and December of 2008, Ashlan Village’s marketing and activities director, Leah Pyhala, was sexually harassed by her male supervisor, who was the community’s executive director, according to the lawsuit. The harassment allegedly included unwelcome emails with sexual content, inappropriate comments, and unwelcome touching. Pyhala and a coworker, Holly Black, the facility’s director of resident services, complained about the harassment to Ashlan Village’s owner, the lawsuit says, and then both were terminated on the same day by the executive director—shortly after they complained about the harassment.

In addition to monetary damages, the consent degree resolving the lawsuit includes injunctive relief prohibiting the company from further discriminating on the basis of sex, and from engaging in retaliation for resisting or complaining about it. Additionally, the company must provide annual training on sexual harassment and retaliation for all managers, supervisors, and employees. 

From KIMATV.com (Wash.)—Nursing Home License Revoked After Workers Go Unpaid, Reinstated

“The lights are on but Union Gap’s Parkside Nursing Care Center employees haven’t been paid. Workers here told Action News they don’t know why. KIMA took action and learned the state revoked the nursing home’s license this week after the payroll problems reached the the Department of Social Health Services. In a letter to the nursing home, DSHS said the lack of payroll money jeopardizes resident health and safety,” reports KIMA TV. “To get all sides, we contacted the nursing home and found out it was changing owners because of financial problems. A deal scheduled for the end of the year got pushed up for Prestige Care to take control immediately. “It was revoked [Tuesday]. That revocation rescinded [Wednesday]. We’re given a full clean license to operate Parkside,” said Prestige Care Vice President and Chief Operating Officer David Henderson.” Read more

From the Tampa Bay Times (Fla.)—Governor’s Panel Goes Soft on ALF Industry, Critics Say

“Gov. Rick Scott used tough language in the summer of 2011 when he created a panel to help fix the deadly abuse and neglect in Florida assisted living facilities. He pledged to provide protections for elderly and disabled ALF residents, who in recent years saw sweeping breakdowns of care as lawmakers stripped regulations and failed to protect the state’s most vulnerable people from burns, beatings and death,” reports the Tampa Bay Times. “Then politics happened. In a change of tide, Scott’s panel issued its final report this week, calling for diminished transparency and fewer regulations. The panel calls for the state to better enforce existing rules rather than create new ones. And to give homes more money to raise their standards but not punish them through fines and other sanctions when they perform badly.” Read more