Shares of Emeritus fell 15 percent today. The shares dropped from $1.56 to $8.82, their lowest level in four years. Emeritus is a nationwide provider of assisted senior housing also reported a third-quarter loss of $23.1 million.

The Seattle company, one of the largest in its field, wasn’t the only senior housing company battered by the market. Leading competitors Sunrise Senior Living and Brookdale Senior Living fell 21 percent and 18 percent, respectively.

Emeritus’ third-quarter revenue of $193 million was up from $187 million in the second quarter, while its net loss shrank from the second-quarter loss of $25.2 million.

The Silver Alert system notifies law enforcement agencies and the general public when an adult has disappeared or has gone missing. Recent reports suggest that up to 14 million seniors will develop Alzheimer’s disease in the next few decades, and that up to half of them are likely to wander. The bill would allow for up to $5 million per year between 2009 and 2013 to be spent implementing the silver alert system.

The bill, the National Silver Alert Act (H.R. 6064), also would reauthorize Kristen’s Act, which was established to create a national database to track missing adults who are endangered due to age or diminished mental capacity. The Kristen’s Act re-authorization would provide an additional $4 million per year over the next decade to help families locate and recover missing adults.

A form of vitamin B3, Nicotinamide has been found to get rid of Alzheimer’s disease-related memory problems in lab mice, according to new research. Vitamin B3 is available over the counter at a low price.

The study showed that when mice that were bred to exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer’s received the human equivalent of two or three grams of B3, they acted as if they had never developed the disease, said one University of California researcher.

The vitamin acts in the brain to clear tau “tangles,” of Alzheimer’s disease. While the vitamins are available over the counter and are relatively safe, researchers warn that high doses such as the ones used in the study could potentially be dangerous. Researchers are currently enlisting people for human trials. Their research appears in the November 5 online version of the Journal of Neuroscience.

The Senior Lending Network(R), a leader in reverse mortgages, announced today the company is further developing and strengthening its brand to reflect its new tagline, “We can change your life.” In line with this strategy, Senior Lending Network also is introducing an enhanced logo, which better reflects its trustworthy reputation and consolidates all of its sub-brands under the Senior Lending Network name.

“We are committed to helping seniors,” stated David Peskin, chief executive officer of Senior Lending Network. “And we believe this updated brand reinforces the strength and stability of our company. These days, with current economic conditions as they are, we are seeing more seniors turn to Senior Lending Network to change and improve their lives.
We anticipate that the need for a Senior Lending Network reverse mortgage will continue to increase, especially as more and more baby boomers turn 62.”

This brand evolution is the result of one-on-one interviews with customers, partner brokers and staff, to understand why homeowners seeking reverse mortgages choose Senior Lending Network over other lenders. The interviews revealed that the ‘Senior Lending Network’ name is well known and highly regarded, and seniors have an emotional connection to receiving a reverse mortgage from this established brand.

To consolidate its position as one of the most trusted lenders for reverse mortgages, the company is simplifying its sub-brand structure to one brand: World Alliance Financial Corp. is now Senior Lending Network (for the Corporate and Retail Divisions); Lender Lead Solutions is now Senior Lending Network (Wholesale Division) and Lender Lead Solutions University is now Senior Lending Network University. The company also will continue to work with Robert Wagner, a trusted spokesperson whose reputation resonates with both seniors and their caregivers.

The company hopes these changes will further strengthen the relationship between seniors and Senior Lending Network.

Slipping and falling can cause more than just a cut orbruse.Tumbles are costing Albertans some serious coin.

The province says it wants to change that.Today, it’s launching Finding Balance, an awareness campaign aimed at educating seniors on the importance of leading healthy lifestyles.The program will include lessons on improving health and wellness, as well as tips on making homes safer.

“Those who have cared for parents or grandparents know that as seniors age they are more likely to fall and suffer an injury,” Premier Ed Stelmach said in a news release.

“In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospital admissions for older Albertans, so this campaign focuses on educating our seniors in avoiding the potentially very serious consequences of losing their balance.”

According to the Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research, seniors falling cost the Alberta economy almost $88 million in 2003.

At that rate, the figure could swell to $250 million by 2033, the province warns.

In 2006, tumbles led the charge of injury-related hospital visits, officials said. About 20 such admissions were logged in Alberta each day.

Of course, saving cash isn’t the only concern, said ACICR’s associate director.

Kathy Belton said those involved in the initiative will likely lead to a healthier flock of seniors who will be able to enjoy independence and a higher quality of life.

According to China’s official media, the senior population over 60 years old has reached 149 million. Many rest homes in large cities have few available beds. Population control programs have significantly reduced the number of children able to support older family members.

China News Web reported that the senior population over 60 years old in China accounts for 21.4 percent of the world’s senior population, ranking first in the world. At the beginning of the 1990s, 10 young people supported one elderly person in China. However, the ratio now is three-to-one. Because the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has imposed the one-child policy for decades, both elderly parents rely on one child. So the resources for senior care are diminishing in every family.
A survey showed that 20 percent of the elderly wish to live in rest homes. However, the current number of beds in rest homes can only provide for less than one percent of the total senior population.

In early 2006, there were more than 39,500 organizations and 1,497,000 beds for the elderly in China, which included social welfare homes, homes for the elderly, nursing homes, elderly apartments, and elderly care homes, including more than 29,680 rest homes and 895,000 beds in rural townships.
Shanghai is the first city in China to become an ‘aging’ city. It has nearly 3 million people over 60 years old, which is more than 20 percent of the city’s total population. This is nearly twice the national average. Many elderly people wish to enter their favorite rest homes, but actually, it is not easy.

It is reported that although the beds provided by Shanghai’s relevant organization had already been occupied long ago, there are still over 1,000 elderly people waiting for a room. Beijing has the same problem. It will require 20 years to solve the problem.

In addition, the aging population in Tianjin City has also been rapidly increasing in recent years. According to statistics, there are 1.56 million people over 60 years old in Tianjin, which accounts for 16.3 percent of city’s population, much higher than the national average of 11.6 percent. Among these elderly, nearly 160,000 need to live in rest homes, but there are less than 20,000 beds in the whole city. The supply is far less than the demand.
In China, the majority of elderly people live at home, especially in rural areas. Since the seniors have relatively less financial capability, the high cost of rest homes is a major restraint for living in a care facility.

Monthly premiums for some of the most popular Medicare prescription drug plans in Florida are jumping by at least 20 percent for 2009.Seniors can now start comparing Medicare prescription drug plan choices for 2009 on the Medicare web site: www.medicare.gov. Seniors will be able to sign up for new drug plans starting Nov. 15. Open enrollment in the drug plans ends Dec. 31.

For 2009, Florida seniors will be able to choose from 57 prescription drug plans, compared to 58 plans this year. Monthly premiums for 2009 plans start at $16.70 compared to $12.10 this year. The most expensive premium for 2009 is $111.30 compared to $97.50 this year. Several plans have also increased their annual deductible for 2009.

Many consumers are ill-informed about Medicare and Medicaid’s role in long-term care, and greater planning could help reduce the danger of soaring Medicaid costs, according to a new report from America’s Health Insurance Plans.

Over the next 20 years, federal and state governments are expected to spend $3.7 trillion on long-term care expenses, the report said. Between 2008 and 2027, annual Medicaid long-term care expenditures are projected to grow by 124% from $51.5 billion to $115.6 billion. AHIP represents most of the nation’s commercial insurers. Researchers at Strategic Affairs Forecasting and Paul A. London Associates conducted the report.

Too many people believe that Medicare will help pay for long-term care expenses, when actually it will provide only a limited amount of rehabilitative care, according to report authors. Up to two-thirds underestimate their potential need for long-term care, they note.

The $700 billion bailout plan signed by the president last week is likely to have a positive effect on long-term care housing, according to an expert from the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.

“The bailout should ease the credit crunch which is currently playing havoc with both the debt and equity markets that are so essential to tax credits,” affordable housing expert Nancy Libson from AAHSA, told McKnight’s.

“Many deals already in the works to build or renovate senior housing are looking for new equity investors,” she said. “Equity investors, if they stay in deals, are adjusting (reducing) their investments. When debt financing is necessary, interest rates are rising, making deals infeasible. The bill should provide relief in the debt and equity markets, providing a more stable financial system for this vital service for seniors.”

The legislation, which drew both praise and scorn from members of Congress, passed through the House after two weeks of heated debate and more than one failed vote. Finally, 172 Democrats and 91 Republicans gave their approval. The president signed it on Friday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) had hoped at least 100 Republicans would vote for the measure in order to portray the bailout as being truly bipartisan