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.
Long-Term Care News
From MedPage Today—Long-Term Care Panel Seen as Likely to Flop
“Without financial support, the federal government’s new unpaid and volunteer long-term care commission is likely to do little more than produce yet another report about the challenge of providing care for an aging nation, experts said,” writes MedPage Today. “‘At the end of the day, it will be another report that will sit in the Library of Congress collecting dust,’ said Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. ‘But one day this will have to be addressed … because you can only kick the can down the road for so long.'” Read more…
From the Daily Democrat (Calif.)—Bill Seeks Stronger Long-Term Care Consumer Protections
“On a unanimous, bipartisan 6-0 vote, the Senate Human Services Committee has approved Senate Bill 609 by Senator Lois Wolk, D-Davis, legislation to increase penalties for long-term care providers that hinder investigations by California’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman program,” reports the Daily Democrat. “SB 609 would increase the penalty, from $1,000 to $2,500 for long-term care providers that inhibit an Ombudsman’s access to residents or otherwise interfere with state efforts to investigate facilities.” Read more…
From the NewsObserver.com (N.C.) Bill Would Restore Funding for Specialized Dementia Care
“Rep. Nelson Dollar, a Cary Republican, filed a bill last week that would allow people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia to receive as much as 130 hours of personal care services each month. The increase would require approval from the legislature and the federal agency that oversees Medicaid and Medicare,” reports the NewsObserver.com. “The new Medicaid rules limit personal care to 80 hours a month per resident. Adult-care home operators say they were sending in bills for 124 hours a month, on average, for those residents under previous guidelines. The legislature allowed operators to tap in to a state fund to help bridge the gap, but that money runs dry on June 30.” Read more…
Nursing Home News
From the Orlando Sentinel (Fla.)—The Villages Seeking Permission to Build Nursing Homes
“Age may be finally catching up with The Villages, the sprawling retirement haven for the over-55 that promises recreational activities “beyond imagination.” It needs nursing homes,” reports the Orlando Sentinel. “Proposed bills in the Legislature would allow developers of the community with 100,000 residents to build nursing homes, adding up to 240 bed spaces, despite the state’s moratorium on new nursing-home beds.” Read more…
From the Melrose Patch (Mass.)—Rising Costs Force Nursing Home Closure
“Despite being one of the highly-ranked nursing homes in Massachusetts and nationwide, Tuell Nursing Home will be shuttering as soon as the end of next week, according to co-owner Michael Cummings,” reports the Melrose Patch. “With rising costs and no state increases in the past handful of years, Cummings explained said there was no other alternative but to close. Cummings, who has worked as an operator and owner in the industry since 1981, said the past two years have been the most challenging running Tuell given the reduced funding at the state level.” Read more…
From PressOfAtlanticCity.com (N.J.)—Nursing Home Files Layoff Notices in Preparation for Sale
“The management company for a for-profit Galloway Township nursing home and pediatric care center filed a mass layoff notice for 212 employees in preparation for a sale to another company that will run both facilities,” reports the Press of Atlantic City. “The Health Center at Galloway and the Pediatric Day Health Center at Galloway are owned by Cherry Hill-based Seniors Management North, a privately owned health care management company. Both facilities are located at 66 W. Jimmie Leeds Road, which was assessed at $10 million last year, according to tax records.” Read more…
From The Daytona Beach News-Journal (Fla.)—Nursing Home Fined $36k for Mishandling Sex Abuse Claim
“The state this week levied a $36,000 fine against Avante at Ormond Beach nursing home for its handling of a sexual abuse allegation. Inspectors with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration found the nursing home did not properly report an allegation that an employee crawled into bed with a patient,” reports The Daytona Beach News-Journal. “The fine is considerable by state standards, where the most serious offenders typically see fines of about $40,000, said Brian Lee, executive director of Families for Better Care, an organization that advocates for nursing home residents and their families.” Read more…
From St. Louis Today (Mo.)—Safety Funding Boost for Missouri Long-Term Care Facilities
“A three-year grant of $574,208 from the Missouri Foundation for Health will provide safety culture and Patient Safety Organization (PSO) services for Missouri long-term care (LTC) facilities through the Center for Patient Safety,” reports St. Louis Today. “The PSO plan for LTC facilities includes initiatives to improve awareness of resident safety and the ability of participating organizations to improve their resident safety programs. The Center will provide resources to help them meet anticipated federal requirements. Because it also works with hospitals and EMS providers, the Center can help long-term care facilities provide safer care in collaboration with other providers.” Read more…
From Fergus Falls Journal (Minn.)—Providers, Legislators Concerned by Long-Term Care Cuts
“Considering the need of area nursing homes and long-term care facilities to retain and recruit employees, the proposed $150 million in Health and Human Services cuts to fix the state deficit would have a negative impact on the local economy, said Rep. Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls,” reports the Fergus Falls Journal. “Nornes said the cuts would mean that nursing home administrators, which were hoping to receive the state funding that would allow for a five percent increase, would likely receive only a 2 percent increase, not all of which would be dedicated to wage increases.” Read more…
