Month: August 2014

CBO releases updated budget, economic outlook through 2024

A new report from the Congressional Budget Office includes projections related to spending on Medicare, Medicaid and other programs for older adults. Read More »

Fundraiser raises awareness of exercise, memory care connection

An Erickson Living summer intern shares her experiences of planning a major fundraiser and learning valuable lessons about the importance of exercise to memory care. Read More »

OIG busts multiple home health agencies, DME companies for fraud

The August dog days of summer proved to be too hot for several scheming durable medical equipment and home health service providers. Read More »

Quality improvement program for assisted living released

A program to reduce hospital readmissions among residents of skilled nursing facilities has been adapted for use by assisted living providers. Read More »

Assisted living changes expected in California

Lawmakers have greeted bills affecting assisted living in California with mixed reactions. Read More »

Key protein deficiency linked to early-stage dementia

A recent study in the United Kingdom finds that a lack of MK2/3, a naturally occurring protein, can be linked to the early signs of dementia. Read More »

Environments for Aging names remodel/renovation competition winners

This year's Environments for Aging Remodel/Renovation competition focused on resident amenities. Check out the winning project and see who was a finalist. Read More »

TV-based technology engages seniors

Social networking and home monitoring can be achieved using a unique TV-based technology.  Read More »

EHR alerts reduce UTIs

Study finds that simplified electronic health record alerts can reduce urinary tract infections in residents who use catheters.  Read More »

CCRC renaming effort continues

An initiative led by LeadingAge and Mather LifeWays has resulted in more than 100 possible new names for continuing care retirement community. Read More »

NYT scrutinizes Medicare 5-star rating system

Medicare’s five-star rating system for skilled nursing facilities is being called out again—this time on the front page of the New York Times. Read More »

37% of abuse, neglect claims not handled as required, OIG report finds

Do you know what nursing facilities' obligations are when it comes to reporting and investigating claims of abuse or neglect? The Office of Inspector General has new recommendations to help ensure that you do. Read More »

When domestic violence comes to the workplace

Do your employees and administrators know what to do when someone's domestic violence problems follow them to work? Long-Term Living's safety expert explains what facilities can do to protect themselves and others. Read More »

Ricky Gervais up for Emmy for ‘Derek’ comedy set in nursing home

Comedian Ricky Gervais is up for an Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comdey Series Emmy Award tonight, for his role as a caregiver in the Netflix show “Derek.”  Read More »

Updated EHR selection tools released by LeadingAge CAST

An updated portfolio of tools from LeadingAge’s Center for Aging Services Technologies is designed to assist long-term care and post-acute providers in the market for electronic health record systems. Read More »

Sensors track seniors’ routines through use of appliances

Technology that tracks seniors' daily use of appliances can reveal changes in routine and alert caregivers. Read More »

The case of the missing jewelry

Facility life can lead to accidental loss or damage to a resident’s personal belongings as Long-Term Living’s resident blogger Kathleen Mears recently discovered. Read More »

LTL’s Pamela Tabar takes the ice bucket challenge!

Long-Term Living's Editor-in Chief Pamela Tabar takes the ALS ice-bucket challenge and chooses to donate to the first residence designed specifically for those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other motor neuron diseases. Read More »

Joint Commission issues an alert on tubing misconnection risks

In hospitals and long-term care settings, caregivers often have to change tubing on medical equipment. A high risk of misconnection exists because of various compatible delivery systems, so the Joint Commission has issued a Sentinel Event Alert. Read More »

Brides share wedding festivities with memory care residents

Has your community ever hosted a marriage ceremony? One memory care center did, so that a father could participate in his daughter's celebration. At another, a bride stopped by on the way to her wedding so that the residents for whom she cared could see her gown.  Read More »

44% of assisted living residents visiting EDs have malnutrition: study

Results of a recent study may have you thinking about offering malnutrition screening to residents, as well as helping to address underlying issues. Read More »

Direct-care worker campaign raises $3.4 million

The Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute is more than a third of the way to its $9 million goal in a campaign with the ultimate purpose of improving the jobs of nursing home assistants, home health aides and personal care aides. Read More »

RN staffing bill set to increase minimum hours

Providing 24/7 RN coverage in nursing homes is the goal of a new bill introduced July 31. Having the most highly qualified professionals available ensures that residents receive optimal care at any hour of the day. Read More »

NIH funds nursing home study

Use of video education is the focus of a nursing home study funded through the National Institutes of Health.  Read More »

Join us for a Twitter chat Aug. 26 at 2 p.m. ET

The interface of long-term care and home health will be the topic. Get all the details here. Read More »

Nursing home ban involves social media posts, family says

The challenges of social media can extend beyond the actions of a long-term care community and its employees to the actions of residents' family members, as a recent lawsuit points out. Read More »

How to align resources for post-acute care

A post-acute care operator needs to take advantage of seismic changes in healthcare delivery and get in the game. Here's how. Read More »

FDA approves diabetes drug

The fixed-dose therapy combines canagliflozin and metformin hydrochloride into a single tablet to treat type 2 disease. Read More »

New software could reduce hip fractures

Software automatically searches medical images for tiny fractures in the spine, a sign of ongoing fracture risk.  Read More »

Pressure ulcer detector under development

A new device shows promise in the early detection of pressure ulcers.  Read More »