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Nursing Home Room Rates Increased 3% in 2007
Nursing home cost increased 3% on average across the country this year, according to the newly released 2007 MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home and Assisted Living Costs. Assisted living costs remained virtually unchanged at $2,969 per month or $35,628 yearly. The average cost of a private room in a nursing home was $213 per day or $77,745 annually, compared to $206 in 2006. Semiprivate rooms edged up 3% as well from $183 per day to $189. To learn more, go to:http://www.metlife.com/WPSAssets/40608978001193759945V1FNursingHomeAsstLiving2007L.pdf[PDF link].

Long Term Care Insurance Buyers Are Getting Younger
Eight million Americans now own long-term care insurance according to a study released by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI). The study reports the average age of buyers dropped below 60 for the first time. To learn more, contact the AALTCI by email:jslome@aaltci.org.

Holiday Ideas
The end of the year is quickly approaching. Many nursing homes have a traditional holiday dinner around the Christmas holiday season. During this time, residents and staff remember the ones who have died earlier in the year. Some of these resident's may have lived at your facility, their home, for a number of years; while others, may have been there only for a short time.During this holiday season, take a moment to remember the residents who have passed. This can be done a number of ways. If you work in a large facility, it would be less confusing to have each unit have a memory celebration party. During this party, staff, residents and families can tell fond memories of their loved one. This would be a great activity for moderately impaired to independent residents.

Suggestions:

• Create a memory board with all of the deceased names and pictures. Have residents, staff and families tell stories about their loved one.If a chaplain is on staff and available, have him/her officiate this memory celebration. Have the remembrance ceremony at a convenient time of day before or after meals for residents.
• Play music that fits your population of residents.

F Tag 483.12 is very important for admission directors/coordinators know and understand. This tag provides information on the rights of current patient's and potential patients who may enter your organization. This is one section of F483.12. Read the entire tag in your federal manual.

What is the average number of beds per nursing home? The first ten correct responses e-mailed tosupport@patientplacement.com will receive a free gift. Be sure to include your mailing address in the e-mail.

Congratulations to Rubin Smith, LaKeisha Moore, Patricia Ring, Christina Belknap, Dodie Donegan, and Antonio Canaba. They won a free gift for answering the previous trivia question.