It is estimated that almost one out of every 11 nursing homes do not contain a sprinkler system, between 20% and 30% do not have automatic sprinklers, and retrofitting will cost facilities roughly $850 million.

Members of the American Health Care Association and the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care are planning to speak out against a proposed Medicare cut today during a House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing.

Hands-on caregivers have added to the chorus of criticism against a newly issued proposed federal rule that would cut Medicare funding to nursing homes by $5 billion over the next five years. The funding cut would "undermine the growing complex care needs" of an increasingly sicker nursing home population, warned the leader of a caregiver coalition.

Anna Ortigara, Communications director, Green House® Project

One group was notably absent when the cheering erupted over the introduction of a bill that would ban arbitration agreements from nursing home admission contracts: providers.

The Elder Justice Act (HR 1783) received a heap of accolades from senior care advocates and industry representatives at a hearing on Capitol Hill Thursday.

The for-profit long-term care community has been digesting a bitter tasting piece of proposed new legislation in recent weeks.

In boardrooms and across kitchen tables, much hand wringing is taking place. At issue is whether the nation may be on the cusp of a recession, or maybe worse.

Nursing homes nationwide would face, on average, an $18.45 per-patient-day cut in Medicare assistance under President Bush's fiscal year 2009 budget proposal, a new analysis from the American Health Care Association shows.

Chair sensors, computer programs to test memory and other technology geared to seniors was up for discussion in a symposium hosted Wednesday by the Senate Special Committee on Aging, the Medical Technology Caucus and the Center for Aging Services Technology (CAST).