AARP Commends Lawmakers For Working To Safeguard Nursing Home Residents, USA

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 18 May 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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AARP issued a statement following today's House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on nursing home safeguards. The statement, from AARP Legislative Policy Director David Certner, follows:

"We thank the subcommittee for its work to protect the 1.5 million older Americans who rely on nursing homes for their care. Hearings like the one held today are an important part of ensuring that quality and safety are the top priorities for nursing homes, regardless of their ownership. Families should never have to worry about the safety of their loved ones who receive care in a nursing home.

"We hope today's hearing will spur members of the subcommittee to consider ways to improve the quality, accountability and transparency of the country's nursing homes. AARP has suggested several steps to begin this process, including more thorough and updated documentation of facility ownership and better data on nursing home staffing and public reporting of this information.

"AARP has also endorsed the bipartisan Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act (S. 2641) introduced by Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Herb Kohl (D-WI). This bill would improve the transparency and accountability of nursing homes and is one of the most significant nursing home reform initiatives since the 1980s. We look forward to working with members from both chambers to enact such legislation, which would help improve America's nursing homes for all who rely on them."

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 33 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 39 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

http://www.aarp.org