All news
97 stories, newest first. Each day lists the news published that day.
October 2026
October 13, 2026
Nursing homes
$2 million national study will examine how nursing homes use agency staff
Researchers with a $2 million National Institute on Aging grant will study how nursing homes use temporary agency workers today, including on weekends, holidays and particular shifts, and how that affects care.
October 9, 2026
Home care
New Hampshire settles class action over Medicaid home care that people weren't getting
A federal court gave preliminary approval to a settlement requiring New Hampshire to act when people in its Choices for Independence program don't receive the in-home care they were approved for, and to address provider shortages.
October 8, 2026
New York
Man sentenced for online romance scam that took $356,500 from Western New York victims
A Georgia man was sentenced to 33 months in prison for a scheme that took $356,500 from four Western New York victims, including a 77-year-old woman who was persuaded to send gift cards and checks to a fake online suitor.
New York
New York extends its AI companion program for isolated older adults
The state aging office renewed its partnership with Intuition Robotics after more than 3,500 people applied in 2025, citing participant reports that 94% felt less lonely using the tabletop device.
Nursing homes
Iowa family sues Des Moines nursing home, alleging a resident was dropped from a lift
The estate of a Des Moines nursing home resident is suing, alleging staff dropped her from a mechanical lift in April after years of documented falls and improper transfers, Iowa Capital Dispatch reports.
October 7, 2026
Senior living
Most older adults expect finding a trustworthy senior living community to be hard, survey finds
A survey of 1,391 adults aged 60 to 90 found 35% would wait for a health scare or other unexpected change before moving, and only 7% would consider moving within two years.
October 6, 2026
Nursing homes
Massachusetts raises Medicaid penalties for the most understaffed nursing homes to 8%
New MassHealth rules cut Medicaid payments by 8% for nursing homes staffed below 3.00 nursing hours per resident per day, up from a 3% maximum, though only a handful of homes are expected to be affected.
Assisted living
Death of 86-year-old in a 99-degree assisted living room under investigation in Massachusetts
Authorities are investigating the death of an 86-year-old woman found in her Hopkinton, Massachusetts assisted living apartment, where a police report says the thermostat read 99 degrees after the building switched to heat.
Home care
Private equity now controls half of New York home care, and workers report low pay and long hours, Cornell study says
Researchers who studied five agencies found low wages, unpaid time and unsustainable hours, and recommend a state task force; families may notice the effects as aide turnover and missed shifts.
Nursing homes
Workers at six Chicago-area nursing homes set an October 16 strike date
SEIU Healthcare Illinois says workers at six Landmark nursing homes in Chicago and the suburbs will strike October 16 if no contract is reached, citing below-industry-standard wages and staffing instability.
October 5, 2026
Medicare
Medicare Part B premium is projected to rise to about $209.50 in 2027
Medicare trustees project the standard premium rising from $202.90 and the deductible from $283 to about $292, with $272.10 projected by 2031; CMS announces final figures this fall.
Medicaid
KFF tracks a decade of waiting lists for Medicaid home care as federal cuts loom
KFF's new look at Medicaid home and community care waiting lists from 2016 to 2026 warns that reduced federal funding could lead states to cap home care slots, making waits longer for older adults.
October 2, 2026
Medicaid
Wyoming lawmakers move to raise Medicaid's $50 personal needs limit for nursing home residents
A Wyoming legislative committee moved to draft a bill raising the monthly personal needs allowance for nursing home residents on Medicaid from $50 to $100 and the asset limit from $2,000 to $5,000.
October 1, 2026
Senior living
Senior housing occupancy tops 90%, and Buffalo leads the nation for active adult communities
Occupancy rose for the 21st straight quarter as new construction lags far behind demand, so families may face waitlists and fewer move-in deals in many markets, including Buffalo at 97.7%.
Medicaid
Medicaid eligibility ends for most lawfully present immigrants as federal changes begin
As of October 1, most lawfully present immigrants, including refugees and asylum recipients, lost Medicaid eligibility under the 2025 federal law, and in 2027 retroactive coverage shrinks for older adults and people needing long-term care.
September 2026
September 30, 2026
Nursing homes
KFF Health News finds 100 nursing homes at serious flood risk after Minnesota evacuation
A KFF Health News analysis identified 100 U.S. nursing homes where a big storm could bring 2 feet of water or more, after a Minnesota home had to wheel 36 residents through floodwater in September.
September 27, 2026
New York
Rochester rally demands answers as 50 residents remain at closing Waterview Heights
Community members rallied in downtown Rochester over conditions at Waterview Heights nursing home, where about 50 residents were still waiting to be placed elsewhere amid a shortage of long-term care beds.
September 25, 2026
New York
Nassau jury awards $5.5 million to family of 91-year-old who fell in a nursing home
A Nassau County jury awarded $5.5 million to the daughters of a 91-year-old woman who fractured her hip at a Uniondale nursing home, the second verdict of that size against the same home this year, Newsday reported.
Caregiving
Connecticut creates a caregiver tax credit of up to $2,000 a year starting in 2027
Connecticut passed a nonrefundable tax credit covering half of eligible out-of-pocket caregiving costs, up to $2,000 a year, for family caregivers starting January 1, 2027.
September 23, 2026
Nursing homes
Wisconsin nursing homes say immigration changes upended years of hiring plans
Wisconsin nursing homes and home health agencies had to scrap long-planned overseas hiring after refugee programs were suspended and Temporary Protected Status ended for immigrants from 13 countries, adding to staff turnover.
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