May 15, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: lshaham@aahsa.org, AAHSA, (202)508-1219

Statement from Larry Minnix, President & CEO,

American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, on the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) Nursing Home Oversight Report

"Today's GAO report points out yet again that we need comprehensive reform of the survey and certification of nursing homes in this country. If we want to assure quality and safety for nursing home residents, we need to rethink our approach from the bottom up.

"There is no evidence, however, that simply raising penalties will lead to quality improvement. Before any legislation mandates high and crippling penalties that would drain resources from patient care, we should study the range of remedies available and other alternatives to identify the approach that best ensures continued consumer quality and safety.

"We believe there should be two types of nursing homes: the excellent and the non-existent."

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About AAHSA
The members of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (www.aahsa.org) help millions of individuals and their families every day through mission-driven, not-for-profit organizations dedicated to providing the services that people need, when they need them, in the place they call home. Our 5,800 member organizations, many of which have served their communities for generations, offer the continuum of aging services: adult day services, home health, community services, senior housing, assisted living residences, continuing care retirement communities and nursing homes. AAHSA’s commitment is to create the future of aging services through quality people can trust.