Rich Schutt, chief executive officer of Providence Life Services, is being prudent as a provider these days, spending cautiously and operating in a fiscally sound manner. "Cash is king in one of these tight economic environments," said Schutt, former chair of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. His advice to providers? Stay optimistic and remember that you have a calling and a purpose. "Be diligent and a good steward through these times," he said. Schutt offered his comments last week during the annual conference of Life Services Network, the Illinois chapter of AAHSA.

The Five-Star Rating system got off on the wrong foot when it was unveiled in December, Connie March, president and CEO of Provena Senior Services, suggested recently. It contained many data errors and did not reflect the input of nursing home providers. Still, March is hopeful that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is open to adjusting the system to make it more fair to providers. March, who is former chairwoman of Life Services Network, spoke to McKnight's during the annual LSN show at Navy Pier in Chicago last week. LSN is the Illinois branch of AAHSA.

The future of Medicare is a key issue facing nursing home providers today. Unfortunately, it is difficult to know where the program is heading at this point. Dennis Bozzi, president of Life Services Network, talked with McKnight's about the issue at the organization's annual meeting last week at Navy Pier in Chicago. LSN is the Illinois affiliate of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.

The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging encourages members to tell their caregiving stories to the press on an ongoing basis. Position yourself as a go-to person in your community, advises Lauren Shaham, vice president of communications for AAHSA. She offered her expertise at the association's annual conference in Philadelphia earlier this month.

The Long-Term Care Solution Campaign is an effort to reconfigure the current financing system for long-term care, explains Doug Pace, director of the campaign for the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. He spoke during AAHSA's 2008 annual convention in Philadelphia.

The Green House Project is "growing in a very health way," says founder Dr. Bill Thomas. He advises interested long-term care facilities to go for the "whole package" when transforming to a Green House model.

More members are engaged in Quality First since it began more than six years ago, said Bruce Rosenthal, vice president of the program for the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. He spoke during AAHSA's annual conference earlier this month in Philadelphia.

The American Association for Long Term Care Nursing, an organization which was formed last year, recently acquired the membership of the National Association of Sub Acute and Post-Acute Care. It also has an upcoming conference in May, explains Charlotte Eliopoulos, executive director of the association.

Skilled nursing facilities need to be more active in partnering with hospitals to coordinate post-acute care services, says John Short, CEO and president of RehabCare Group.

Kindred Healthcare will stick to its game plan, in spite of the troubled economy, says Kindred President and CEO Paul Diaz. That means focusing on its employees and its core values, he says. Still, the company will have to approach the world in a more pragmatic way, he says.

The National Association for the Support of Long Term Care held its annual meeting in conjunction with the American Health Care Association's 59th annual conference. CEOs at the meeting talked about how health information technology helps lower cost and improve access and outcomes, said Peter Clendenin, executive vice president of NASL.

The industry needs to move quickly against two pending measures that could harm operators, said Dave Kyllo, executive director of the National Center for Assisted Living. One is a bill that would ban pre-dispute arbitration agreements. Another would change the False Claims Act. Kyllo also said operators should urge Congress to approve a measure that would cover co-payments for residents who are eligible to receive both Medicare and Medicaid services.

In today's challenging seniors housing market, capital likely will be more available for smaller transactions, said Arnie Whitman, president and CEO of Formation Capital.

A report from the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing and Care Industry, and the American Seniors Housing Association offers for the first time a history of net inventory growth, said Bob Kramer, president of NIC.

Revenue growth is picking up in the independent living and assisted living sectors, said Lawrence J. Horan, financial research and analysis director for the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing and Care Industry.