Seniors who can't sell their homes due to the housing and financial crises are feeling trapped because they cannot afford to move into assisted living or retirement communities, according to a news report.

The controversial $700 billion bailout plan signed by the president last week is likely to have a positive effect on long-term care housing, according to an expert from the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.

Arcapita Inc., an international real estate investment firm based in Bahrain, sold its stake in 29 facilities managed by Sunrise Senior Living Inc. to Ohio-based Health Care REIT inc., a real estate investment trust with 635 properties nationwide.

President Bush Wednesday signed into law a housing bill that will help more than 400,000 Americans keep their homes and help to stabilize the turbulent housing market. The legislation also will streamline the financing process for Section 202 housing projects.

The amount of financing placed in seniors housing dropped by a precipitous 60% in the first quarter of 2008, according to data released this month from the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing and Care Industry. That could lead to an easing up on new development.

Senior housing stocks took a small tumble on Friday due in part to the steady decline of the residential market.

It's hardly a secret that eldercare services in this nation are in a state of flux. The average age of nursing homes in most metro markets has surpassed 30 years.

The seniors housing and care industry remained robust in the last quarter of 2007. As an example, the percentage of performing loans rose slightly to 99.5%, a new report by the National Investment Center for the Senior Housing & Care Industry (NIC) says.

As the housing market continues its slide, a media report offers some encouraging news for long-term care: Senior-housing stocks have the potential to rebound before the rest of the market.

For the second year in a row, the average price paid per bed for skilled nursing facilities hit a new record in 2007. The average of $55,200 was 6% higher compared with the year before and 75% more than the notable low of 2003, according to analysis results from research firm Irving Levin Associates.