Congressional hearings on problems affecting older Americans
This week was nursing home week. In connection with this event, the senate held a hearing on enforcement of federal quality of care standards for nursing homes. The hearing was broadcast by Cspan. Click here to watch the testimony if you missed it. You’ll find it under “Recent Programs.” As I wrote earlier, the Government Acccounability Office (GAO) found that nursing home inspectors are derelict in their duty of identifying and enforcing violations.
Also, the Senate Special Aging Cmte. held a hearing on breakthroughs and challenges in treating Alzheimer’s. If you didn’t get a chance to watch it, videotaped testimony by Fmr. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor about caring for a spouse with Alzheimer’s can be accessed on Cspan’s website. Along with her testimony is testimony from a patient, health care specialists and other caregivers. I read a wonderful article awhile back about O’Connor’s ability to value her Alzheimer’s husband great fortune to be able to find love a second time. Although they have been married since 1952, he no longer recognizes O’Connor and has fallen in love with a patient who lives at the same Alzheimer’s facility. It is a touching story. I believe I wrote something about it, but can’t remember if I posted it.
