State cash to boost city nursing care

The Michigan Department of Community Health plans to announce today a $1.7 million investment into Detroit nursing homes to improve the quality and skills of the staff serving a population of low-income, minority residents with chronic and mental health issues.

The state funding will be disbursed over two years to the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, which has identified numerous problems with the city's nursing homes, such as substandard care, financial difficulties and likelihood of closures.

Of the $1.7 million, $350,000 will be used for enhanced training of certified nursing assistants to care for patients with complex needs through a partnership with SEIU Healthcare Michigan, said James McCurtis Jr., a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Community Health.