Swamped by the news of Monday’s failed bailout vote on Capitol Hill, was the report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that more than 90% (yes you read that right, more than 90%) of U.S. nursing homes were cited for violations of federal health and safety standards last year.In the New York Times report by Robert Pear, inspector general Daniel Levinson of the department broke down the stats in his report by non-profits and for-profits:

• The inspector general said 94 percent of for-profit nursing homes were cited for deficiencies last year, compared with 88 percent of nonprofit homes and 91 percent of government homes.
• About two-thirds of U.S. nursing homes are owned by for-profit companies, while 27 percent are owned by nonprofit organizations and 6 percent by government entities.

UNACCEPTABLE. Americans need, want and deserve better. So do so many professionals in the long-term care profession. In this country, one should be able to live with the utmost dignity with the best possible care to the very end of life.Simply adding band-aids of more rules and regulations on top of mega fractures isn’t going to get the collective body working the way it should. Major change demands collective innovation and collective leadership. This issue is all about the ‘common good.’ We’re all aging, and more of us are doing it than ever before in our country’s history.We invite you to read two perspectives on this by two leaders focused on changing aging in America. Download here Ecumen CEO Kathryn Roberts’ article entitled ‘An Incredible Opportunity for Candidates Who Desire Change in America’ and Larry Minnix’s (CEO of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging) interview today with Jane Gross in The New York Times’ blog ‘New Old Age.’Related information is available at the top of Changing Aging in these two categories: Innovation in the Age Wave and Long-Term Care Financing Reform.