“The Real Reasons People Decide to Buy Long-Term Care Insurance,” by Dennis Ho, Kiplinger   Quote: “Before you dig into costs, benefits and contingency plans, step back and look at the big picture. This decision is bigger than budgets and life-expectancy tables. It’s about your family and your wishes for them as well as yourself. Reason 1: I don’t want my care to become a burden to my family. Reason 2: I want to ensure I save what I’ll need for retirement – and protect my hard-earned assets. Reason 3: I want to ensure I have choices when it comes
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“Here’s Why Genworth Financial Is Soaring Today,” by Matthew Frankel, Motley Fool   Quote: “Thursday is shaping up to be a relatively calm day for the stock market, but one stock that is seeing a major upside move is Genworth Financial (NYSE:GNW). As of 10:45 EDT, the mortgage and long-term care insurance company was higher by nearly 16%. … The company issued an update to shareholders Wednesday afternoon, stating that China Oceanwide has informed them that the $1.8 billion financing arrangement they’re relying on has been successfully extended through the end of June, which is the current deadline for the transaction to
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“CMS waives nurse-aide training, certification requirements,” by Danielle Brown, McKnight’s LTC News   Quote: “Nursing homes in need of more direct-care workers have received a big boost from federal regulators. A rule that says new aides cannot work longer than four months without becoming certified has been waived by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The vital staffing decision was a part of a set of blanket waivers applauded by operators, many of whom are facing staffing shortages as the pandemic continues to create thousands of new COVID-19 patients every day.”     LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President,
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“Moderate drinkers have lower amyloid-beta levels, study finds,” by Alicia Lasek, McKnight’s LTC News   Quote: “Individuals who moderately consume alcohol throughout their lifetimes show fewer deposits of dementia-associated amyloid-beta in brain scans, according to Korean researchers. Investigators interviewed more than 400 dementia-free men and women from age 56 to 90 about their drinking habits. All participated in brain scans, physical exams and cognitive testing. Participants who drank one to 13 standard drinks a week had a 66% lower rate of amyloid-beta deposits than a cohort who abstained from drinking. Standard drinks were defined as any drink that contained 10 grams
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“LTC providers getting creative to boost seniors’ morale during pandemic,” by Danielle Brown, McKnight’s LTC News   Quote: “From FaceTime book clubs to hobby boxes, long-term care providers are finding fun and interesting ways to boost resident morale during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the AARP. As visitor access, communal dining and large group activities in long-term care facilities have been forced to shut down to stop the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus, providers have come up with creative ways to keep seniors engaged and prevent isolation. Numerous state and national provider organizations have created online repositories for helpful
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“FAQs on Medicare Coverage and Costs Related to COVID-19 Testing and Treatment,” by Juliette Cubanski and Meredith Freed, Kaiser Family Foundation Quote: “More than 60 million people ages 65 and older and younger adults with long-term disabilities are covered by Medicare. Due to their older age and higher likelihood of having serious medical conditions than younger adults, virtually all Medicare beneficiaries are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill if they are infected with the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19. COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory disease, which currently has no vaccine or cure. Diagnosis of COVID-19 is confirmed through testing, and treatment varies
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“Opportunities To Expand Telehealth Use Amid The Coronavirus Pandemic,” by Jared Augenstein, Health Affairs   Quote: “Following enactment of coronavirus emergency supplemental legislation that expands Medicare coverage of telehealth, we can expect increased reliance on telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries. As more and more patients with symptoms seek treatment, the virus could spread rapidly in health care settings. Telehealth offers unique capacity for remote screening, triage, and treatment, and it could be a powerful tool for reducing transmission of the disease to and among health care workers and patients who are not infected.”     LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President,
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“McKnight’s 40 for 40: Bill Thomas,” by John O’Connor, McKnight’s LTC News     Quote: “Editor’s note: As part of the 40th anniversary of McKnight’s, McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and McKnight’s Senior Living are recognizing 40 notable newsmakers. Each week, the brands will highlight a high-profile leader from the past four decades. Published installments of the series can be found here. “Dr. Bill Thomas defies easy description. His multifaceted career has included stints as a physician, professor, playwright, performer, businessman – and more. But to most in this sector, he’s simply a guy redefining the meaning and shape of eldercare in America.”<   LTC Comment
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“2020 Alzheimer’s Webinar Series,” Administration on Community Living     Quote: “The Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline is hosting a 3-part webinar series in partnership with ACL, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), the Eldercare Locator, AARP, SAGE, and National Asian Pacific Center on Aging. The goal of these webinars is to ensure professionals understand the impact of Alzheimer’s disease and brain health on American families, and how critical it is to connect them to information, community resources, and support. REGISTER HERE.”     LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Yeah, and
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“CMS waives three-day stay requirement, MDS deadlines as dining struggles emerge amid COVID-19 response,” by Danielle Brown, McKnight’s LTC News     Quote: “The federal government is waiving its three-day stay requirement for Medicare skilled nursing facility coverage as it works to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak across the United States. The waiver of the rule comes after President Donald Trump on Friday declared a national state of emergency for the 2019 novel coronavirus disease.”     LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Private LTC insurance dropped the 3-day hospitalization requirement many years ago. Only
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