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Canada and Mexico agree with Trump to postpone tariffs by at least 30 days; Indiana steps up to get the lead out; UW study: Rural women have it harder with menopause; Cost of living tops Denver lawmaker's priorities.

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Democrats protest Elon Musk's meddling in federal payment systems, Trump directs Cabinet secretaries to funnel federal dollars to private and religious schools and Virginia lawmakers aim to restore felon voting rights.

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As bird flu spreads, egg prices continue to soar, wildfires aren't stopping Americans from moving to wildfire-prone states, and post-pandemic infrastructure isn't just roads and bridges but also education, healthcare and economic opportunity.

Assisted living facility oversight major focus for MD senior advocates

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Monday, January 27, 2025   

A number of bills in the Maryland legislature are looking to increase the quality and accountability of the state's nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Advocates for seniors are supporting a bill that would require facilities to install video surveillance systems in common areas.

That way, there would be video evidence to monitor any neglect, abuse or exploitation of residents.
Another bill would increase the number of inspections of assisted living facilities.

Tammy Bresnahan the senior director of advocacy for AARP Maryland.

She said a lot of her focus this legislative session is on assisted living facilities, because of how many high-care individuals they take in.

"We've been looking at assisted living, because they're systematically taking more chronically health-needed individuals," said Bresnahan. "So they look a lot like what's in a nursing home, but people are privately paid for that."

Bresnahan explained that nursing homes have many layers of accountability, given the state and federal medicare dollars flowing into the facilities.

Assisted living centers, on the other hand, usually only receive funds from private customers - with little oversight.

Data from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services found Maryland has some of the longest wait times for nursing home inspections, at nearly three years.

Bresnahan added that it's important to have more inspections for assisted living facilities.

"The regulations really only require initially for the licensure to have the inspection - and if there's a problem, they have to go out," said Bresnahan. "So, they really want their assisted living to be inspected more often. "

Bresnahan said any Maryland senior considering a nursing home or assisted living facility should call the Maryland Office of Healthcare Quality.

That office can let seniors know if a facility has a history of issues.



Disclosure: AARP Maryland contributes to our fund for reporting on Budget Policy & Priorities, Energy Policy, Health Issues, Senior Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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