“Caregiving Caused Me to Divorce My Siblings,” by Robert L. Peta, NextAvenue Quote: “During the 15 years I spent as my mother’s primary caregiver, I heard this story endlessly from strangers and friends: ‘I’m caring for Mom (or Dad) and none of my siblings is lifting a finger.’ Sometimes, the deserted parent in the story had been an ogre; more often, they’d been, like my own mother, beloved by all her kids.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: We thank Lynn Voss of long-time Center friend and corporate member GoldenCare for tipping us to
Read More

“What’s better for senior living and care — the market or government?,” by Stephen A. Moses, McKnight’s Senior Living Quote: “The senior living and care business encompasses a wide range of services, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and home care (including home care provided in the aforementioned settings). Private-market forces prevail in independent living and, somewhat less so but predominantly, in assisted living. Government funding and regulation prevail in home care, skilled nursing and, less so but significantly, in assisted living. By most measures, the more market-based independent and assisted living sectors fare better economically over
Read More

“3 States Limit Nursing Home Profits in Bid to Improve Care,” by Susan Jaffe, Kaiser Health News Quote: “‘If they’re not able to pull so much money away from care and spend it on staffing and actual services, it should make a big difference,’ said Charlene Harrington, professor emeritus at the University of California-San Francisco’s School of Nursing who has spent four decades studying nursing home reimbursement and regulation. ‘I would expect the quality of care would improve substantially.’ ‘The actual effect will be just the opposite,’ said Andrew Aronson, president and CEO of the Health Care Association of New
Read More

“So far, more than 200,000 apply for exemption from the state’s long-term-care fund,” by Elizabeth Hovde, Washington Policy Center Quote: “Exemption Statistics as of Oct. 21, 2021 Total exemption applications received: 227,402 Approved applications: 61,785 Incomplete applications: 624 Total applications processed: 62,409 Applications processed as percentage of total: 27.4% “We continue to urge lawmakers to repeal this flawed long-term-care law in the next legislative session. Amendments and delays can’t fix the WA Cares Fund, especially since lawmakers have disrupted the insurance market the way that they have. And it is clear people don’t want this law: It is not patient-centered and its payroll tax burdens household budgets.” LTC Comment, Stephen A.
Read More

“‘Fairly large contingent’ of National Guard will alleviate ‘healthcare backups’ at long-term care facilities,” by Kathleen Steele Galvin, McKnight’s Senior Living   Quote: “‘A fairly large contingent’ of the National Guard will be enlisted to help with a statewide long-term care worker shortage that is hampering hospitals’ ability to transfer people with COVID-19 patients to post-acute facilities, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) announced Friday at a press conference. The soldiers will receive training to work in long-term care settings, he said.” LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: Think maybe the caregiver shortage is getting serious?    
Read More