Long-term care providers have offered mixed reactions to the "Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act of 2008," which was introduced in the House last month.

An economic downturn that is causing convulsions in most states and many businesses has largely avoided the long-term care sector. But that doesn't mean that operators are breathing easy.

State officials and provider groups are up in arms over a recent federal report on nursing home survey violations. They argue that the aggregate deficiency totals present a biased perspective that does not accurately reflect care delivery in the nation's 16,000 nursing homes.

Long-term care is an increasingly important issue—just not on the campaign trail

David Stevenson, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Health Policy, Harvard Medical School

The Senate Finance Committee last month passed two bills that seek to prevent the abuse of elderly long-term care residents.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved anti-industry legislation that would put an end to pre-admission requirements mandating dispute resolution agreements.

When you think about it, long-term care is really a thorny issue—particularly the financing side of it. As Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security resources dwindle, and more people grow older and live longer, figuring out how to pay for eldercare is a monumental challenge.

DON national median salary reaches $75,000; SNF managers fare better than some others

Like many revolutions, long-term care's recent embrace of technology-based brain fitness tools began quietly. Then it exploded.