shAARP Talk: Observations from AARP

US News And World Report: Divided We Fail Polls Gen X And Y On Their Lives Compared To Their Parents'

"A recent online survey of 1,752 members of generations X and Y, those between the ages of 19 and 39, asked, 'To the best of your knowledge, do you think it is easier or harder for people in your generation to do each of the following than it was for your parents 'generation'?'" Brandon notes that the poll come from the American Savings Education Council and the Divided We Fail [dividedwefail.org] coalition (AARP, Business Roundtable, National Federation of Independent Business, Service Employees International Union)." Brandon concludes, "Interestingly, young people think it's easier to get an education today than it was for previous generations. It's just more difficult to pay for it."

Bloomberg News: Senate Passes Housing Bill By Wide Margin

"The chamber voted 84-12 to approve legislation providing tax cuts worth about $18 billion during the next 18 months for home builders, banks and other businesses affected by the subprime mortgage debacle." The bill "must be reconciled with a House plan that omits the business tax breaks in favor of more generous assistance to individuals." According to Senator Chris Dodd, the bill "could still be rewritten in negotiations with House Democrats."

UPI: Increased Funding Fails To Improve Nursing Home Care In California

"A California law falls short of its goal of improving nursing home care and administration costs have gone up," according to a University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing study. The "law...raised nursing home reimbursement rates from $124 per day in 2004 to $152 per day in 2006," but "was followed by a 19 percent increase in administrative costs, but staffing levels remained significantly lower than recommended and staff turnover actually increased." And the "number of complaints about poor quality of care increased, as did documented deficiencies -- including those that caused harm and jeopardy."