AARP CEO Bill Novelli pledged to work with Congress and the Administration to address the nation’s most serious challenges at an event where he outlined the organization’s annual legislative and advocacy priorities. In outlining the AARP agenda for the 111th Congress, Novelli stressed the need to provide economic relief for America, fix our health care […]

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Want to know what we think are going to be senior housing trends in 2009?  We looked into the magic, crystal ball and here is a preview of 10 topics and issues that may be hot in 2009….we will be addressing these further over the next month or so: 
1.  When will housing prices find a […]

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Oregon Business News recently printed an emailed letter from Sunwest’s CEO, Jon Harder, to U.S. Senator Gordon Smith’s office that pleaded for assistance.  According to the article, Harder’s lawyer confirmed its authenticity but the tone of the letter paints a shocking picture of the challenges it faces with its lenders and its operations.  If Mr. […]

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The Social Security Administration announced today that monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits will increase 5.8% in 2009.  This increase isn’t enough to offset the increases that many seniors have seen in their housing expenses including their property taxes and insurance, let alone any increases in rent or mortgage payments.  More than 55 […]

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General  released a report last week detailing the "Trends in Nursing Home Deficiencies and Complaints" that paints a dismal picture showing that over 90% of that nation’s nursing homes were cited for federal violations from 2005-2007.  The most common deficiency categories cited in […]

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The Federal Reserve recently released its comprehensive report on banks’ 2007 lending practices  that showed that overall mortgage lending dropped sharply.  Total originations dropped 25% from 2006 and that nearly one in three applicants were denied.  The reports findings are based upon information collected from mortgage lending institutions under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act […]

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The industry trade group, America’s Health Plans released a press release and report last week that shows Medicaid spending for long-term care will expand at a faster rate than overall U.S. health-care spending, Medicare expenditures and and the overall economy. 

The report shows state Medicaid programs will spend $1.6 trillion on long-term care expenses […]

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Companies to co-develop and distribute telecare and remote monitoring offerings
GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), announced today that it has entered into a distribution and technology collaboration agreement with Living Independently Group, Inc. a leading provider of telecare and passive monitoring systems used to assist in the care of seniors. GE Healthcare […]

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The Pennsylvania General Assembly recently passed a bill that establishes a separate category for assisted living facilities in the state separate from the current category that classifies them them same way as personal-care homes or personal care providers.  Many states have already made this designation a part of their state law and others, such as […]

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A national task force from the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) recently released a report that the current survey and certification processes used to evaluate long-term care facilities nationwide is broken and beyond repair. The task force concluded in its final report, “Broken and Beyond Repair: Recommendations to Reform the […]

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HRPT Properties Trust (NYSE: HRP) recently announced that it has entered into a series of agreements to sell 48 medical office, clinic and biotech laboratory buildings (2.2 million sq. ft.) for $565 million.  The purchaser of these properties is Senior Housing Properties Trust (NYSE: SNH). SNH will pay an aggregate of approximately $554 million in […]

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An article out of USA Today highlighted the problems of retiring in an ailing economy.  The usual culprits of decreasing values of retirement funds, decreasing homes values and rising prices of consumables were the big three for this article.  “Americans need to face a sobering fact: They’re not likely to have as much money for […]

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