Aging News Alert

Georgia

 

‘Linkage Lab’ to Help Community-Based Organizations

The SCAN Foundation has launched the Linkage Lab Initiative to help community-based organizations that are seeking partnerships with the health care sector.

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Free Program Designed to Help Low Vision People

The Low Vision Focus program is a series of 10 free audio lesson topics designed to help those living with low vision maintain their independence by sharing practical ways to address daily living skills.

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Projects to Boost Disability Employment

The program supports the establishment of model demonstration projects that engage state vocational rehabilitation agencies in partnerships with other entities to develop and use career pathways to help individuals with disabilities.

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New Centers to Focus on Chronic Disease

Funds will establish specialized Transdisciplinary Collaborative Centers (TCCs) for health disparities research focused on chronic disease prevention. The emphasis will be on developing, implementing and disseminating community-based multilevel interventions.

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Golden Living Nursing Homes Settle Substandard Wound Care Charges

The operator is accused of submitteing false claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and the Veterans Administration because it provided residents at Golden LivingCenter–Glenwood (GLCG) and Golden LivingCenter–Dunwoody (GLCD) with inadequate and worthless monitoring, documentation, and prevention and treatment of wounds.

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CNL Healthcare Trust Invests $21.5 Million in Georgia Senior Housing

CNL Healthcare Trust, a real estate investment offering focused on senior housing and healthcare real estate, will invest $21.5 million in the development of Dogwood Forest of Acworth, a senior housing community planned for Acworth, GA, about 30 miles nor

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Atlanta Community Garden Project Improving Seniors Health

The Atlanta Regional Commission's Community Garden Project is improving the health of seniors by increasing their access to fresh fruits and vegetables while also providing opportunities for them to remain active and engaged.

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CNL to Acquire Four Senior Living Properties for $80 Million

The transaction is expected to close in May, and is still subject to due diligence completion and other factors.

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(PROGRAMS) Georgia AAA Strengthening Relationship With Its Senior Centers

A common challenge of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) nationwide is how to best bridge the gap between their organization and the senior centers in the communities they serve. The River Valley AAA of Columbus, Georgia, has found a way to address this problem through a program that combines education and networking.

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(BEST OF THE BEST) Atlanta Agency Launches Nation's First Prediabetes Scholarship Program

In this Atlanta-based partnership, the YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program is available free of charge to 200 Atlanta-area residents 65 or older who have prediabetes and who are overweight.

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(UNIQUE PROGRAM) Group Makes Dreams Come True for the Elderly

Whether it's about building relationships, meeting unmet needs, or fulfilling lifelong dreams not yet realized, Second Wind Dreams, a provider of services for the elderly, strives to help older Americans achieve what they may believe to be out of reach.

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(DIABETES) Pilot Program Supports Diabetes, Pre-Diabetes Patients

The program, dubbed Community Connections to Aging Well, offers a six-week crisis management course for Medicare patients suffering from diabetes. It also offers the course to caregivers of diabetes patients at community seniors centers.

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(ASSISTED LIVING) Georgia Poised to Enact Sweeping Measure Benefiting Elderly

The Georgia House has overwhelmingly approved (172-1) a bill that is aimed at helping seniors remain in assisted living facilities rather than being forced into nursing homes simply because they need help taking medications or getting around during emergency situations.

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(MARKETING) Residents Help Sell Neighborhood as ‘Ambassadors’

Southeast Capital Land put a call out for neighborhood "ambassadors," homeowners who would help the sales staff show prospects around the neighborhood. Not knowing how many would put up their hands, the executives didn’t expect much.

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(GRANTS) Southern Communities Offers 'Change' Funds in GA, NC, SC

If you're running a small seniors services organization that's involved in promoting issues like environmental justice, anti-racism, women's rights, alternative lifestyle rights, worker's rights, civil rights and/or disability rights -- and you're located in Georgia or the Carolinas -- you should check out the Fund for Southern Communities, a member foundation of the Funding Exchange.

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(FALSE CLAIMS) Atlanta-Based Nursing Home Chains, Principals Pay $14M to Settle Case

Atlanta-based Mariner Health Care Inc. and SavaSeniorCare Administrative Services LLC, as well as their principals, Leonard Grunstein, Murray Forman and Rubin Schron, have agreed to pay the United States and several states $14 million. This settlement arises from allegations of the United States that the defendants solicited kickback payments from Omnicare, the nation's largest pharmacy that specializes in dispensing drugs to nursing home patients, in exchange for agreements by Mariner and Sava to continue using Omnicare's pharmacy services for 15 years.

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(AWARDS) Eight Nonprofit Organizations Garner Encore Opportunity Honors

To honor organizations that are making it easier for experienced workers to transition into encore careers -- paid jobs offering meaning and the chance to make a social impact -- Civic Ventures and MetLife Foundation, during a press conference in Washington, DC on Tuesday (Nov. 17), named winners of the 2009 Encore Opportunity Awards: eight nonprofit and public sector organizations that are tapping "encore" talent to serve the common good. Each organization will receive a $2,500 cash prize.

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GA Human Resources Dept. Launches Innovative Online Health, Wellness Resource

The Georgia Department of Human Resources' Division of Public Health, in association with Longitude Health, on Monday (April 13) launched an innovative program, MyHealthVillage, to help identify and reduce the major risk factors for chronic conditions. The program will focus on improving cardiovascular health including issues associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity -- maladies particularly prevalent among people over 50.

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Hospice Company Pays $24.7 Million to Settle Healthcare Fraud Claims

SouthernCare Inc. and its shareholders have agreed to pay the United States a total of $24.7 million to settle allegations that the Birmingham, AL-based company submitted false claims to the government for patients treated at its hospice facilities, U.S. Justice Department (DoJ) officials tell us. SouthernCare operates approximately 99 locations that provide hospice services in 15 states.

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CMS Names Final Five Medicare Contractors To Administer Claims Payments

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has named the final five contractors that will process and pay Medicare claims for healthcare services under the Medicare Fee-for-Service program. The new contracts that will be administered for up to five years will process and pay 36% of the national volume of Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) claims payments in 14 states, mostly in the South and Midwest.

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Home Healthcare Agencies to Get Medicare Payment Increase

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says it will increase Medicare payments on average to home health agencies in 2009 and will take action to remedy inappropriate outlier cases in which providers bill Medicare unusually large amounts.

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Web Site Promises Seniors Easier Plan Advice than Medicare

Experion Systems says its online PlanPrescriber tool offers Medicare beneficiaries an easier way to evaluate their health insurance options than the government's Medicare.gov site.

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A Call To Retool The Nation's LTC Healthcare System

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) charged the ad hoc Committee on the Future Health Care Workforce for Older Americans to determine the healthcare needs of Americans over 65 years of age. This segment of the U.S. population is expected to double by 2030, but the nation is not prepared to meet this increased demand in health care needs

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Modified Insulin Most Effective For Controlling Post-Meal Blood Sugar Levels

Pre-mixed insulin analogues, a modified form of conventional pre-mixed human insulin, are more effective than long-acting analogues for controlling high blood sugar levels after meals in patients with type 2 diabetes, find the authors of a new report funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, part of the Department of Health & Human Services.

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Foundation Accepting Applications For Alzheimer's Disease Research Program

Since its Alzheimer's Disease Research program began in 1985, the American Health Assistance Foundation has awarded more than $60 million to support promising research in fields ranging from molecular biology to epidemiology. Grants are awarded on the basis of the scientific merit of the proposed research and the relevance of the research to under standing aspects of the disease that lead to improved treatments, prevention strategies, and diagnoses.

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ASA Now Accepting Nominations For The 2009 Awards Program

Each year, the American Society on Aging (ASA) recognizes a number of individuals and organizations for their contributions to ASA, to the field of aging, and to older adults. Do you know a nonprofit organization who has demonstrated innovation in mental fitness programming for older adults? If so, nominate one today!

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CMS: Medicare Providers Remain Satisfied With Fee-For-Service Contractors

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that Medicare healthcare providers continue to be satisfied with services provided by Medicare fee-for-service contractors showing a relatively smooth transition to the new Medicare Administrative Contractors.

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Grassley Wants CMS To Account For Inaccurate Estimates Of Improper Medicare Payements

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) wants the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to produce a full accounting of how the agency provided inaccurate estimates of improper and fraudulent Medicare payments. Grassley, ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, says the findings of a new Inspector General (IG) report require the agency to be forthcoming about the policies and procedures that were used.

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PBS Presents Encore Broadcast of 'THE FORGETTING'

PBS will present a special evening of programming focused on Alzheimer's disease on Sunday, Aug. 3, starting at 9 p.m. ET (check local listings). The programming starts with a national encore broadcast of the Emmy-Award-winning "THE FORGETTING: A Portrait of Alzheimer's," followed by a new half-hour discussion, "The Future of Alzheimer's," moderated by actor and Alzheimer's champion David Hyde Pierce, which features a panel of medical experts and scientists discussing the latest developments in Alzheimer's.

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Balancing Act: States' Long-Term Care Reform Seen As Mixed Bag

A new report by AARP's Public Policy Institute finds promising signs and mixed results among state government efforts to balance long-term care (LTC) options under Medicaid. Unfortunately, according to the report, only four states spent more than 50% of their Medicaid LTC dollars for older people providing home and community based services (HCBS). The remainder of the states continues to spend the majority of their Medicaid LTC dollars for older people on institutional care, such as nursing homes.

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Housing Bill Poised For Senate Approval, President's Signature

After nearly a year of haggling over various aspects of housing market rescue and months of debate over what became the proposed Economic Recovery Act of 2008, the House approves the measure on a 272-152 vote late Wednesday afternoon and sent the measure to the Senate where Democratic leaders say it will pass.

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New 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Payment Rates

As a result of the July 15 enactment of the Medicare Improvements for Patients & Providers Act of 2008, the mid-year 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) rate of -10.6% has been replaced with a 0.5% update, retroactive to July 1.

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NCOA: Low Income Beneficiaries May Lose Help

Unless the Senate acts this week to pass HR 6331, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) fears that low-income Medicare beneficiaries -- people who are already struggling with increased food and gasoline costs -- could lose an important benefit. The House recently passed the bill by an overwhelming bipartisan margin.

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HHS, National Service Team To Increase Volunteering Among Boomers, Older Americans

Recognizing the extraordinary potential for social good among baby boomers and older Americans, the Corporation for National & Community Service and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Administration on Aging (AoA) have unveiled a multi-year partnership to engage baby boomers and older adults in addressing the needs of vulnerable populations through volunteer service.

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Survey Reveals How 45+ Are Coping With Down Economy

More than 80% of Americans aged 45+ say the economy is in fairly bad or very bad condition, and many of them are responding by postponing retirement, cutting back on their medications or taking money out of their 401(k) plans early.

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Dems Move On $3.3 Trillion Budget Plan; No Proposed Cuts to Medicare, Medicaid

Congressional Democrats appear to have reached a tentative agreement on a $3.3 trillion FY 2009 budget resolution that does not include the Bush administration's proposed spending cuts for Medicare and Medicaid.

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Urban Institute Looks At Retirement Security For Low-Wage Workers

The Urban Institute's new report, Retirement Security for Low-Wage Workers: The Implications of Career Lengths for Social Security, describes how work histories vary by gender, education, and other characteristics.

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Online Meeting To Focus On Culture Change In Nursing Homes

The Picker/Commonwealth Fund Quality of Care for Frail Elders program and the Pioneer Network on Monday, May 19, will co-host an online meeting, "Culture Change in Nursing Homes: How Far Have We Come?"

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CMS Posts Two Notices In May 7 Federal Register

One notice is a proposed rule to update payment rates used under the prospective payment system for skilled nursing facilities. The second notice updates prospective payment rates for Medicare inpatient psychiatric hospital services provided by inpatient psychiatric facilities.

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Initiative Aims To Improve Healthcare; Offers Incentives To Professionals

CMS is encouraging physicians and other eligible professionals to take part in the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), a program designed to improve the quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries.

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Examining The Issue Of 'Socialized Medicine' In The U.S.

A newly-published analysis by the Urban Institute surveys significant new and existing health reform proposals -- including so-called "Medicare for all" -- to determine if any can fairly be dubbed socialized medicine.

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Senate Aging Panel Hears Recommendations On Long-Term Care

The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living tells a Senate panel that adequate governmental financing will remain a key factor in the ability of providers to meet the rising demand for care among a progressively older, higher acuity patient population.

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Kidney Disease Info Newest Offering on NIHSeniorHealth

Information about the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease has just been added to NIHSeniorHealth, the National Institutes of Health website designed especially for seniors.

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CMS Releases Rule Aimed At Modernizing Dialysis Centers

CMS has released a final rule that is intended to modernize the Medicare conditions for coverage for the nation's dialysis centers and promote higher quality of care for patients receiving dialysis.

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Aging Revolution Summit Slated for Sept. 25 in Philly

Wesley Enhanced Living, an innovative CCRC provider, will host the second-annual Aging Revolution Summit, a unique conference experience for the aging services industry.

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House Bill Would Eliminate Part D Co-Pays for Dual Eligibles in Assisted Living

A legislative effort is under way in the House aimed at providing so-called "dual eligibles" living in assisted living residences and other home and community-based settings the same co-pay coverage under Medicare Part D as those residing in nursing facilities.

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Senate Panel Looks to Reverse Bush LIHEAP Cuts

Senate Democrats are looking to reverse years of inadequate funding in the $2 billion Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the government's main effort to help pay the energy costs of poor families with children and elderly people on fixed incomes.

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Psychological Distress, Not Depression, May Increase Risk of Stroke

Psychological distress, but not depression, may increase the risk of stroke, according to a newly published study.

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DOL Makes Online Tool Available For Retirement Planning

The U.S. Department of Labor has unveiled a new online resource that makes it easier for Americans to prepare for a financially secure retirement.

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High Rates of Poverty Persist Among Older Women

Women are nearly twice as likely to be poor as men as they reach pre-retirement and retirement ages, and African-American women are nearly three times more likely than white women to be poor by pre-retirement and retirement ages, finds a new study from AARP's Public Policy Institute.

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Attention Former President Bush: Broccoli Sprout Extract May Protect Against Bladder Cancer

A concentrated extract of freeze dried broccoli sprouts cut development of bladder tumors in an animal model by more than 50%.

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Unique Social Network Targets 45+ Demographic

Bolder Broadcasting Inc., an Orlando, FL-based content provider specializing in the 45+ market, launches GrowingBolder.com, a unique online community for men and women (we daren't use the "O" word here) interested in living life to its fullest.

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Survey Shows States Embracing E-Health Initiatives

A new Commonwealth Fund report describes the range of state e-health activities, the challenges states are facing, and emerging best practices.

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CBO Uses Medicare in Examining Regional Healthcare Cost

CBO purposely chose to concentrate on Medicare spending because there are more data available about the cost of providing healthcare to Medicare beneficiaries than there are for other populations. Also, as the largest federal healthcare program, Medicare is highly relevant to and directly influenced by federal policy.

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African-Americans Concerned About Heart Health; Less Aware of Alzheimer's

February is Black History Month and American Heart Month, so the Alzheimer's Assn. is teaming up with the American Heart Assn. in an effort to educate African-Americans that by managing their cardiovascular risk, they may also strengthen their cognitive health.

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NIH Provides $13M for Alzheimer's Research Centers

NIA invites applications from qualified institutions for support of Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers. These are designed to support and conduct research on Alzheimer's disease, and to serve as shared research resources that will facilitate research in Alzheimer's and related disorders.

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AARP's 'Divided We Fail' Initiative Shows Impressive Support

AARP's "Divided We Fail" initiative marks its first anniversary this week as it continues to press candidates and elected officials to make access to quality, affordable healthcare and long-term financial security top issues in the national political debate.

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OIG Audits Part D Rx Drug Costs

Medicare Part D payments, excluding dispensing fees, to local, community pharmacies exceeded the pharmacies' drug acquisition costs by an estimated 18.1%, OIG finds.

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Rule Would Let Low-Income Rx Plan Beneficiaries Pay Zero Premiums

CMS has proposed a regulation that would allow Medicare drug benefit plans to offer reduced premiums to beneficiaries who qualify for the program's low-income subsidy. The eligible plans would be located in regions where there are fewer than five "zero-premium" plans available.

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New Directory of Social Service Grants Now Available

If you're responsible for tracking down private grant funding, a new report from CD Publications is bound to make your job a whole lot easier.

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IRS Releases Final 2008 Form 990 for Tax-Exempt Organizations

The IRS has issued an updated version of Form 990, the return that charities and other tax-exempt organizations are required to file annually, and provided transition relief so that small exempt organizations will have time to adjust to the new form.

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OIG Urges Stronger Medicare Rx Drug Program Oversight

HHS' Office of Inspector General found that Medicare drug plans haven't met all requirements for tracking out-of-pocket spending by beneficiaries in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

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Another Stopgap Spending Law Emerges

Unable to come to terms among themselves over an FY 2008 spending plan, lawmakers adopt a seven-day continuing resolution to keep the government operating through Dec. 21, the day Congress is set to adjourn for the year.

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Livable Communities Awards

AARP and the National Association of Home Builders announced that two builders, two developers and one remodeler will receive the groups' co-sponsored 2007 Livable Communities Award for forward thinking in the field of home and community design.

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Medicare Package May Be Added to Alternative Minimum Tax Bill

Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives will not include a Medicare package in an omnibus spending bill, but they may try to add it to a highly controversial bill redefining the alternative minimum tax.

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Social Security, Medicare Blog and Website Win National Honors

The Assn. of Marketing & Communications Professionals honors the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare for its website and blog, citing NCPSSM for outstanding achievement among public service and charitable organizations.

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Commission Urges Reforms On Long-Term Care

A national commission headed by former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-NE) and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), during a press conference Monday in Washington, DC, unveiled its final report warning of a coming crisis in long-term care and calling on the presidential candidates to address this crisis in their policy platforms and on the campaign trail.

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Cities Earn AARP's Seal of Approval

AARP The Magazine has unveiled its top five places to live and retire--as well as the top four places to watch--based on their atmosphere and services for residents aged 50+.

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