Tomorrow morning, the Iowa Senate will debate a plan which would help Iowanursing homes convert un-used space into assisted living apartments. According to the industry, there are eight-thousand unused nursing home bedsin Iowa. Senator Nancy Boettger of Harlan says the plan would give nursing homes grants to finance the change over to the less-intense care Iowans are demanding.The bill also sets up a task force to study how to encourage Iowans to startsaving for their care in old age.Governor Vilsack has asked legislators to put the bill on a fast track so hecan take the completed plan to Washington, D-C at the end of this week, whenhe meets with federal officials who must review the proposal and o-k it.
