Long Term Care News

Advocating for loved ones
There are many things family and friends can do to offer support for loved ones who are in long-term care. (Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:15:28 -0800)

How they voted
WASHINGTON — Here’s how Reps. Joe Donnelly and Peter Visclosky, Democrats, and Sens. Richard Lugar and Daniel Coats, Republicans, voted last week.HouseSTUDYING LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE: The House rejected an amendment sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee , D-Texas, to the Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act (H.R. 1173). The amendment would have kept the bill’s provision repealing ... (Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:12:00 -0800)

CONGRESS: How Inland representatives voted
LONG-TERM-CARE INSURANCE: Voting 267 for and 159 against, the House on Feb. 1 sent the Senate a bill to repeal the 2010 health law's section on long-term-care insurance. The program already had been shelved by the administration on grounds it would not pay for itself, as the law requires. (Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:50:06 -0800)

Featured Letter: How long can they wait? Keep promise
Wisconsin is home to one of the most popular and cost-effective long-term care programs for seniors and people with disabilities in the country. Yet this important program - Family Care - was frozen in July and waiting lists continue to grow. (Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:12:38 -0800)

Virus hits city site
ANNA HARVEY MOREHEAD CITY — A Norovirus outbreak confirmed in a long-term care facility in Carteret County and elsewhere around the state has the health department urging the public to take precaution. (Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:37:40 -0800)

Anthony Hilton: There's a real headache in the true cost of paying for long-term care for elderly
Andrew Dilnot, soon to be Warden of Nuffield College, Oxford, and one-time head of the Institute of Fiscal Studies, wrote a report last year on how society should handle the cost of the long-term care one in four of us will need towards the end of their lives. (Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:08:29 -0800)

Boost standards
Seniors in long-term care are being fed in an assembly line, awakened at 5 a.m. to be washed and put back to bed until breakfast, and dying with no one at their side because there is no minimum standard of care for them, a union charged in Sudbury yesterday.[...] (Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:52:03 -0800)

House votes to repeal CLASS Act — A part of the 2010 health law
The GOP-led push to repeal this long-term care insurance program, which the Obama administration already made clear it would not implement, drew some Democratic votes. During floor speeches, Republican lawmakers cast it as a barrier to achieving a real reform. (Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:33:47 -0800)

Sickness Closes Long Term Care Facility Wing In Oconee Co. To The Public
Sickness Closes Long Term Care Facility Wing In Oconee Co. To The Public (Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:11:49 -0800)

21st century long-term care not your grandma's nursing home
SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonio’s newest long-term care facility looks nothing like a nursing home. It’s a model of care that makes the senior experience quite different. This is not your grandma’s nursing home. The Mission at Air Force Village features households, not hallways and nursing stations, and homey rooms for residents like 83-year-old Russ Swansburg, a retired Air Force colonel who lives ... (Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:07:25 -0800)

CUPE wants 3.5 hours of care for long-term care residents
CUPE wants a minimum standard of care for Ontario's 85,000 residents of long-term care facilities.[...] (Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:06:36 -0800)

Give the Gift of Long-Term Care Planning this Valentine's Day
A strong plan that includes long-term care insurance can help protect the people you love most, Newman Long Term Care advises. (PRWeb February 02, 2012) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/20 (Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:22:27 -0800)

House votes to repeal part of 2010 health care law
The Republican-led House on Wednesday voted to repeal a financially troubled part of the 2010 health care law that was designed to provide affordable long-term care insurance. (Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:27:42 -0800)

Health Care Law Stuck in Limbo
House Republicans on Wednesday took a symbolic swipe at President Barack Obama's health care reform law when they voted to repeal its long-term care provisions, the CLASS Act, which the administration abandoned last year as unworkable. But conservative critics of the law shouldn't hold their breath in anticipation of further votes between now and when the Supreme Court begins hearing oral ... (Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:29:12 -0800)

House Repeals Long-Term Care Program Obama Viewed as Too Costly
The U.S. House repealed a long-termcare insurance program created by the 2010 health-care law thatthe Obama administration decided was too costly to put in place. The 267-159 vote sends the bill to the ... (Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:01:00 -0800)

House votes to repeal part of health care law
The House voted Wednesday to repeal a part of President Obama's health care law deemed unsustainable by his own administration, sending the bill to the Senate, where Democrats have indicated they aren't ready to kill the long-term care program. More than two dozen House Democrats broke party ranks to join ... (Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:38:32 -0800)

House Votes To Repeal CLASS Act, Part Of 2010 Obama Health Care Law
WASHINGTON -- The Republican-led House on Wednesday voted to repeal a financially troubled part of the 2010 health care law that was designed to provide affordable long-term care insurance. (Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:36:31 -0800)

House votes to repeal part of 2010 health care law
The Republican-led House on Wednesday voted to repeal a financially troubled part of the 2010 health care law that was designed to provide affordable long-term care insurance. (Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:35:25 -0800)

House Vote to Repeal CLASS Shows Congress is Out of Touch with the Struggles of Middle-Class Americans
Vote Ignores the Long-Term Care Needs of Millions of Seniors, Families, and Caregivers (Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:32:08 -0800)

John Hancock to Re-enter California Individual Long-Term Care Insurance Market
BOSTON, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock today announced that its individual long-term care insurance would be available in California, beginning February 27, including both its new California ... (Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:00:00 -0800)

Congressional Research Service: Courts Could Force HHS to Implement CLASS Act, Despite Its Insolvency
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on H.R. 1173, the Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act of 2011, sponsored by Rep. Charles Boustany (R., La.). This two-page bill would repeal the fiscal disaster known as the CLASS Act, Obamacare’s new long-term care entitlement, which was “suspended” by the Obama Administration because Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen ... (Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:07:31 -0800)

Long-term care facility in serious jeopardy at St. Clair
Construction of a new long-term care home on St. Clair College property is in jeopardy because council has decided to lease, rather than sell, a city-owned woodlot to the college. (Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:49:56 -0800)

Florida's shift to private managed care means longer Medicaid waiting lists, study finds
By Stephen Nohlgren, Times Staff Writer Tuesday, January 31, 2012 When the Legislature decided last year to cap Medicaid funding and turn long-term care over to private managed care companies, some experts warned that growing waiting lists would drive people into expensive nursing homes. A study released Tuesday by the Legislature's own policy analysts underscores that fear. Florida has three ... (Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:20:45 -0800)

Monroe board denies long-term care facility
BY JAMES McEVOY Staff Writer A long-term nursing care provider vowed last week to press on in its case to build a facility in Monroe. This came after its initial attempt to seek approval to build Parker at Monroe on Schoolhouse Road was unsuccessful. The township Planning Board voted unanimously Jan. 26 to deny the site plan application without prejudice after the applicant sought to make ... (Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:56:40 -0800)

Norovirus hits 13 long-term health sites in county
Winter is when gastrointestinal outbreaks occur most, and the norovirus has struck hundreds of patients and staff at 13 long-term health-care facilities and some day care operations in Lake County this winter. (Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:20:28 -0800)

Norovirus hits slew of long-term health-care sites in Lake County
Winter is when gastrointestinal outbreaks occur the most, and the norovirus has struck hundreds of patients and staff at 13 long-term health-care facilities and some day care operations in Lake County. Facilities that have been hit by the norovirus -- which causes diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain -- are in Lake Forest, Libertyville, Waukegan, Lake Barrington, Lincolnshire, Gurnee, Zion, Fox ... (Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:42:08 -0800)

Midwives support Liberal's Ontario Action Plan For Health Care
TORONTO , Jan. 31, 2012 /CNW/ - Ontario midwives support the Liberals' Action Plan to transform the health care system, as unveiled Monday morning by Deb Matthews , Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. ... (Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:00:00 -0800)

Federal judge may overturn CalPERS care rule
CalPERS refuses to sell its long-term care insurance to the same-sex partners of state workers, on the grounds that federal law doesn't allow it. Now a judge in Oakland seems ready to overturn that federal ban. (Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:28:09 -0800)

Tips on buying a long-term care policy
1 Determine whether you qualify financially. Don't buy if the out-of-pocket cost for the coverage would be more than you can afford. (Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:13:34 -0800)

The Non-Viable CLASS Act
One of Sen. Ted Kennedy's long-standing goals was the establishment of a federal program for long-term care for the infirm and disabled. This goal was – apparently – achieved posthumously when his Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act was incorporated into the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). (Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:41:37 -0800)

FTC terms Omnicare's proposed acquisition of PharMerica illegal
The Federal Trade Commission issued a complaint to block Omnicare, Inc.'s hostile acquisition of rival long-term care pharmacy provider PharMerica Corporation, alleging that the combination of the two largest U.S. long-term care pharmacies would harm competition and enable Omnicare to raise the price of drugs for Medicare Part D consumers and others. (Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:25:11 -0800)

Learn about long-term care Wednesday in Howell
Elder law attorney Glenn R. Matecun will present a free workshop on planning for long-term care and protecting life savings at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Livingston County chapter of the American Red Cross, 1372 W. Grand River Ave. in Howell. (Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:16:31 -0800)

Wolk ombudsman bill moves to Assembly
A bill created to strengthen the independence and accountability of California's State Ombudsman program, intended to defend the rights, safety and welfare of the state's long-term care residents has moved to the Assembly for a vote. (Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:21:21 -0800)

Marion County offers workers long-term care insurance
After several months of delays, the Marion County Commission has voted unanimously to offer its employees state-sponsored, long-term care insurance. (Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:11:58 -0800)

Redfords plan for senior's care is still on the table
Alberta's health minister says Premier Alison Redford's idea to remove a cap on what seniors pay for long-term care facilities is not off the table. (Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:00:59 -0800)

Long-term care facility for young adults planned for Riverhead
There are few services on Long Island for young people in need of constant medical care. Now, some families that have found this out the hard way are taking matters into their own hands. More than a dozen people met for the first time in Medford Thursday night to discuss how to raise donations and [...] (Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:50:59 -0800)

Long-term care facility for young adults planned for Riverhead
There are few services on Long Island for young people in need of constant medical care. Now, some families that have found this out the hard way are taking matters into their own hands. More than a dozen people met for the first time in Medford Thursday night to discuss how to raise donations and [...] (Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:49:29 -0800)

What Happens After CLASS?
My best guess is that Congress will formally repeal the CLASS Act in 2012. Already abandoned by the Obama Administration, CLASS has no champion on Capitol Hill and is likely to fall victim to implacable Republican opposition and a lack of Democratic support. Thanks to technical budget rules, Congress can now kill the national, voluntary long-term care insurance program without adding to the ... (Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:15:27 -0800)

Assisted Living and Nursing Home Differences Discussed by Senior Care Authority on KRON4TV
Though staying at home is certainly the choice of the elderly, it may not be the safest or least costly choice. Does your loved one know how assisted living and nursing differ?Sonoma, CA (PRWEB) January 27, 2012 Frank Samson, Founder of Senior Care Authority, was interviewed on “Aging Matters” on KRON4 TV discussing the various options of long-term care. “Aging Matters” is viewed by 2 million ... (Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:05:44 -0800)

Intermediate, long-term care sector to be key focus: Health Minister
SINGAPORE: Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said the intermediate and long-term care sector will be a key focus for his ministry for the next few years. (Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:49:47 -0800)

Marin Long Term Care Planner, Harold L. Lustig, CEO of Estate and Elder Planning Associates Announces Book Signing on ...
Harold Lustig, author of “Naked in the Nursing Home: The Women’s Guide to Paying for Long-Term Care Without Going Broke,” will be appearing at Book Passage in Corte Madera Jan. 29 at 7:00 p.m.San Rafael, CA (PRWEB) January 26, 2012 Marin long term care planner, Harold Lustig, founder and CEO of Estate & Elder Planning Associates, and author of the book “Naked in the Nursing Home: The Women’s ... (Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:22:28 -0800)

Long-term care for children remains a challenge
Despite some progress on a transitional-care program for medically dependent children, a solution for long-term pediatric care on Long Island remains elusive. Local politicians and hospital administrators say the issue will not be easy to resolve, since the program’s potential cost, as well other, more pressing medical needs in the area, are pushing it to [...] (Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:02:48 -0800)

TAX TIP: Get Long-Term Care Insurance NOW to Qualify for Deduction Next Year
KIRKLAND, Wash., Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Long-term care insurance is subsidized, in effect, by Uncle Sam. "For many people, a large part of their premium cost is deductible on their federal ... (Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:00:00 -0800)

Motion Picture & Television Fund's long-term care unit won't shut down
WOODLAND HILLS - In what is being called a real-life Hollywood happy ending, the Motion Picture & Television Fund announced Wednesday it will be able to save its long-term care unit from closure and open to new residents as well as those who were moved out in 2009. (Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:58:07 -0800)

States long-term care partnership wins federal approval
The Washington State Health Care Authority, the legislature, Office of the Insurance Commissioner and the federal government have completed 
changes in law, administrative rules and State Plan Amendments that will provide 
some additional long-term care insurance options for individuals planning for their future care needs. Similar forms of the Washington State Long-Term Care Partnership, which ... (Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:17:14 -0800)

Television Fund admitting new patients
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The Motion Picture and Television Fund (MPTF) will immediately begin admitting people to the long-term care unit on its Wasserman campus in Woodland Hills, the organization said on Wednesday. The announcement represents a victory for the grassroots group, Saving the Lives of Our Own, which has been agitating for three years for the facility to open its doors to new ... (Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:40:34 -0800)

Motion Picture and Television Fund to Begin Re-Admitting Industry Members to Long-Term Care Facility
WOODLAND HILLS, CA-- - The Motion Picture and Television Fund announced today that it will immediately begin admitting additional industry members to the long-term care unit on its Wasserman campus in ... (Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:15:00 -0800)

THCA Urges President, Federal Lawmakers to Focus on Stabilizing Long Term Care Sector
Texas' Seniors and Nursing Homes Who Care for Them Struggling With Cumulative Cost Squeeze (Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:40:09 -0800)

Better emergency site needed to help long-term care homes
CORNWALL — The city still isn’t doing enough to support long-term care homes in case of an emergency, says Coun. Andre Rivette. He was frustrated with a staff report handed to council at their meeting on Monday that recommended no adjustments to the city’s current contingencies.[...] (Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:37:05 -0800)

Connexit™ Launch Aims to Reshape Business of Long-Term Care
BALTIMORE, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Remedi SeniorCare®, one of the nation's largest independent long-term care pharmacies, today unveiled another innovative solution for the long-term care industry -- ... (Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:50:00 -0800)

Leading Long-Term Care Agency is Bouncing Back Like Chris Gardner, Hero of "Pursuit of Happyness," the Movie Starring ...
KIRKLAND, Wash., Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Christopher Gardner, played by Will Smith in "The Pursuit of Happyness" (Columbia Pictures, 2006), was jobless and homeless with a baby boy to support. ... (Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:00:00 -0800)

Long-term-care insurance is more expensive than it’s worth for some people
1 Determine if you qualify financially Don’t buy if the out-of-pocket cost for the coverage would be more than you can afford. Consumer Reports advises people that if their net worth, excluding their home, is below $300,000, long-term-care insurance is not a good buy for them. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners also recommends that consumers spend no more than 5 percent of their ... (Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:53:28 -0800)

Long-term-care insurance offers protection, but it’s not right for everyone
In the last years of Martin Privot’s life, his family had to start selling his assets to pay for his nursing home costs. “He needed 24-hour care and couldn’t be left alone,” recalls his daughter Toni Footer. “My biggest fear was we would run [through his money] and wouldn’t be able to provide the care that he needed.” Read full article >> (Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:48:54 -0800)

Emergency room visits risky for elderly residents from long-term care facilities
( McGill University Health Centre ) Elderly patients who have visited an emergency department are three times more likely to develop respiratory or gastrointestinal infections in the week following their return to a long-term care facility, such as a Centre d'Hébergement de Soins de Longue Durée. These are the findings of a new Canadian study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal ... (Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:48:28 -0800)

Certain Seniors at Risk for Infection After ER Visit: Study
MONDAY, Jan. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Seniors in long-term care facilities have a roughly threefold increased risk for respiratory or gastrointestinal infections if they visit a hospital emergency department in the fall, winter or spring, according to a new study. (Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:02:19 -0800)

Prudential offers new benefit to long-term care insurance customers
Prudential’s long-term care insurance business is now providing policyholders access to a single, integrated source for objective, high-quality, personalized guidance to support independent living. (Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:00:00 -0800)

Leading Pennsylvania Long Term Care Provider, Friends Life Care, Hires Wellness Leader for Vital Aging in Place Program
Friends Life Care recruits Gail Tomarchio, an expert in wellness education and healthy aging. The company hopes to emphasize that wellness is a key component in long term care protection for aging baby boomers and seniors.Plymouth Meeting, PA (PRWEB) January 23, 2012 The unique Friends Life Care long term care protection plan includes a proactive and proprietary vital aging support program ... (Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:16:21 -0800)

Hospital's crisis designation lifted
Richard Joly remains convinced Sudbury is making progress in meeting the needs of its aging population. Joly is chief executive officer of the North East Community Care Access Centre, the agency that oversees home care and long-term care placements.[...] (Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:17:57 -0800)

Elder Law: Community Spouses and their role in senior care
Community Spouse, Community Spouse Resource Allowance (Minimum and Maximum), Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (Minimum and Maximum), Penalty Divisor, Resource Limit, Exempt and non-Exempt Resources -- should you care what these terms are? Well, if you're part of a married couple and you're concerned about the possible need for long-term care services for you and/or your spouse, you should. (Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:16:46 -0800)

Making the right choice on long-term care
After a stroke debilitated Virginia Goranson’s father last April, the Vancouver woman had just two days to find him a long-term care center. Her father, Ron Anderson, 71, already had mild dementia and needed a place that could help address his physical and mental needs. (Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:54:01 -0800)

Peel pilot program lauded
A pilot program at Mississauga’s Sheridan Villa long-term care facility has received praise from the provincial government for easing the burden on emergency departments, hospital beds and caregivers. (Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:33:20 -0800)

Hospital's crisis designation lifted
Richard Joly remains convinced Sudbury is making progress in meeting the needs of its aging population. Joly is chief executive officer of the North East Community Care Access Centre, the agency that oversees home care and long-term care placements.[...] (Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:00:38 -0800)

Long-term care conundrum
About 70 percent of Americans over age 65 will require some type of long-term care (LTC) during their lifetimes. How can you protect yourself? (Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:34:00 -0800)

Planning Employee Benefits for 2012? Five Reasons Why Long Term Care Insurance Should be at the Top of the List
EM-Power Services ( http://www.longtermcarefacts.co ) identifies why long term care insurance is now a critical employee benefit for organizations. (PRWeb January 20, 2012) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/20 (Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:18:01 -0800)

Long Term Care Insurance State Tax Deduction Guide
A new online guide reports on state-level tax deductions and tax credits for long term care insurance. (Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:29:09 -0800)

Health Organization Seeking To Hire Veterans
Maryland's largest long-term care organization says its members want to hire returning veterans. (Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:29:52 -0800)

Md. Health Organization To Hire Veterans
Maryland's largest long-term care organization said its members want to hire returning veterans. (Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:54:24 -0800)

Md. health organization seeking to hire veterans
ANNAPOLIS, Md (AP) — Maryland’s largest long-term care organization says its members want to hire returning veterans (Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:36:46 -0800)

Progressive Care Inc Taps World Renown Recording Artist and HIV Advocate Luther Campbell as Executive Spokesman
MIAMI, FL-- - Progressive Care Inc. and PharmCo, LLC, a provider of prescription pharmaceuticals, specializing in anti-viral patient management, long term care and durable medical equipment, announced ... (Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:00:00 -0800)

Northwestern Mutual Unveils New Data on Long-Term Care Costs Across the Nation
MILWAUKEE, Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwestern Mutual's latest Cost of Long-Term Care study , released today, reveals consistently high costs for home health care, assisted living and nursing home ... (Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:49:00 -0800)

National Underwriter Launches New Resource to Guide Clients through Long-Term Care Options
NEW YORK, Jan.19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when hands-on, real-world guidance on long-term care issues is needed more than ever, The National Underwriter Company today announced the release of The ... (Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:30:00 -0800)

Solution for 90-year-old facing home-care quandry
A 90-year-old Labrador woman who was told she would have to leave her long-term care facility has won a reprieve. (Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:25:50 -0800)

Simpler means test for patients in acute care hospitals
A simpler means test is adopted for patients at acute care hospitals, compared to means-testing for patients who require intermediate and long-term care (ILTC) and are admitted into community hospitals and nursing homes. (Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:35:06 -0800)

What to look for in long term care insurance
Long term care insurance is growing in popularity here in the United States. However, premiums have risen drastically in recent years. The costs of coverage can be quite expensive, especially if an applicant waits until retirement age to purchase it. (Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:00:00 -0800)

5 years, 96 beds and 0 progress
WELLAND — After nearly five years waiting for 96 long-term care beds to be built in the city, Sean Keays is hoping to add them to Foyer Richelieu.[...] (Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:15:28 -0800)