Behavioral health advocates in four states have filed litigation arguing that mentally ill individuals should not be placed in
nursing homes and would be better served in community-based facilities or by services provided at home--and stirred up a controversy.
Most veterans do not receive
nursing home care from the VA program.
Adds Rubin, "In the end, when it comes to a
nursing home real estate loan, it's property values that provide us with an additional measure of comfort in making a loan to a
nursing home.
Steve Guillard, chair of the Alliance for Quality
Nursing Home Care and CEO of Harborside Healthcare in Boston, said he was impressed by the results of the effort and hoped the initiative would stand as a model more facilities follow to "provide true benefit to the frail and elderly ...
As caters pulled out, Caliber One Indemnity Co., Blue Bell, Pa., saw its
nursing home business grow to 40% of its casualty premium.
Congressional action is not, however, assured, since the GOP led Congress has historically believed that
nursing home regulations are a state function and has frequently attempted to reduce the federal government's role.
Thus, people with disabilities in Wisconsin have become the most reluctant of shoppers, making their phone calls to
nursing homes, and praying for rejection.
Nursing home expenses are deductible to the extent they are incurred for medical care.(24) The nature of the institution does not determine whether expenses are medical expenses.(25) Personal and living expenses incurred by an individual in a
nursing home, such as meals and lodging, are not medical expenses.
Where is the place for
nursing homes in this new interconnected world?
Today, many patients go directly from their own homes to
nursing homes, but many policies use a hospital stay as proof the insured is really sick.
Other outdoor amenities being considered for
nursing home facilities include therapeutic outdoor spaces, such as "rehab gardens." Rehabilitation gardens feature all the amenities of a typical indoor physical therapy room and can be part of an overall wellness program.
The matter tends to be downplayed due to lack of qualitative data, she said, "But given that our
nursing home population is relatively stable and getting older, and the various issues that exist--[such as] staff training, morale and number of homes cited for placing residents at 'dangerous' risk--I would bet my nickel that a national study would show an increase in resident-to-resident violence."