Month: December 2014

Delivering dynamics

Long-term and post-acute care providers will grapple with crucial issues in 2015, and will have to put the pieces together amid new business models and new initiatives. The key is to look forward instead of back. Read More »

2015 Business Outlook: Technology

Part six of our series on challenges facing those serving older adults looks at technology trends that are increasing connectivity, easing the delivery of person-centered care and preserving resident dignity. Read More »

2015 Business Outlook: Professionalism

Part five of our series on challenges facing those serving older adults examines ways in which providers are authenticating their professionalism to help them communicate quality and differentiate themselves among those seeking services. Read More »

Largest healthcare workers’ union hits the picket lines in NY

The nation's largest healthcare workers union holds a picket to protest benefit cuts and contract struggles. Read More »

Tennessee will use federal funding to experiment with LTSS

Tennessee will receive up to $65 million over the next two years to implement and test its State Health Care Innovation Plan, including the provision of long-term services and supports. Read More »

Nursing home care, rehab hospital care not equal, group maintains

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission should reject a proposal to pay the same amount for rehabilitation care whether it occurs in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital or a nursing home, the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association says. Read More »

2015 Business Outlook: Staffing

The fourth installment of our multi-part series on challenges facing the senior living industry examines efforts to recruit, replace and maintain workers as the need for aging services increases. Read More »

SAGE announces new board members, officers

The Society for the Advancement of Gerontological Enironments has elected new board members and officers. Read More »

2015 Business Outlook: Quality

The third installment of our multi-part series on challenges facing those serving older adults looks at governmental and other efforts to improve quality. Read More »

New fabric can monitor biomedical data

A fabric that can monitor and transmit biomedical data could become medical "smart gowns."  Read More »

Ohio CCRC takes $23.3M in bonds

Friendship Village of Dublin will use the funds to continue to pursue various projects included in its master plan over the next five years, according to specialty investment bank Ziegler, which closed on the issue. Read More »

Chronic disease one focus for new surgeon general

Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, will focus on chronic disease prevention, smoking cessation, healthful eating and fighting obesity and the Ebola virus as surgeon general. The Senate confirmed his nomination on Monday, more than a year after the president nominated him. Read More »

2015 Business Outlook: Service reach

In the second installment of our multi-part series examining challenges facing providers, Long-Term Living takes a look at how those in senior housing and services are adapting their offerings in response to the desire of older adults to “age in place,” wherever they are. Read More »

FDA clears new diabetes management system

An insulin pump with glucose monitoring system has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  Read More »

5 tips for happy holiday visits

Caregivers and nursing homes can help families have happier holiday visits by doing a few things in advance. Here are five tips to avoid “visit crises” and make everything easier for residents and their visiting families during the holidays. Read More »

Drug-resistant infections could rise unchecked without stewardship

If strong actions are not taken to curb microbial resistance, then deaths attributed to drug-resistant infections could skyrocket to 10 million by 2050, more than all current cancer-related deaths put together. Read More »

2015 Business Outlook: Payment

In the first installment of a multi-part series examining challenges in the new year, Long-Term Living explores why some government initiatives under testing or development give pause to many providers serving older adults. Read More »

Same-sex marriage recognition would be required under rule

Long-term care facilities that do not recognize residents’ same-sex marriages would be ineligible to receive Medicare or Medicaid funding under a rule proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Read More »

Camera catches nurse slapping resident

Elderly Americans have a new ally in preventing abuse by family, staff, home caregivers or other residents--the surveillance camera. A recent alleged case of abuse in New York was captured on camera. Read More »

CMS seeks feedback on home health agency ratings

Do you have something to say about the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services' plan to give five-star ratings to home health agencies? Voice it Dec. 17. Read More »

CMS announces DMEPOS bidding timeline

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced the bidding timeline for Round 2 Recompete and the national mail-order recompete of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies Competitive Bidding Program. Read More »

Dealing with SAD

Many environmental conditions can affect the human condition—the tides, pollution, humidity. Long-Term Living’s resident blogger Kathleen Mears has displayed some of the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. Read More »

Ezekiel Emanuel: Meaning, not length, most important in life

Some may have been misled by a recent essay in The Atlantic, author Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD, says. His published views on aging and the end of life, however, have implications for policymakers and professional caregivers. Read More »

mHealth hub joins wifi, Bluetooth devices across networks

A wireless connectivity hub for mHealth devices will make it easier to exchange data across networks.  Read More »

New collagen-based wound care products on the market

New collagen products for treating chronic wounds add alternatives to wound care. Read More »

Antipsychotic drug reduction efforts need more consumer involvement, coalition says

The Long Term Care Community Coalition encourages CMS to include more consumers in its “provider calls” related to dementia care in nursing homes, citing a recent survey that supports this recommendation. Read More »

ONC widens scope of EHR incentives program

The Electronic Health Record Incentives Program, currently limited to hospitals and certain other providers, may be expanded to a wider field of care providers, including those in long-term care. Read More »

Employee appreciation is focus of new Advancing Excellence initiative

The Advancing Excellence in Long-Term Care Collaborative and Hallmark Business Connections have partnered to create a campaign ultimately designed to help providers increase staff engagement and reduce turnover. Read More »

White House Conference on Aging plans 5 in-person events

Boston, Cleveland, Phoenix, Seattle and Tampa will host events covering retirement security, healthful aging, long-term services and supports and elder justice. Read More »

Post-acute care improvement is goal of Golden Living, naviHealth partnership

Golden Living and naviHealth have partnered in an effort to enhance post-acute care service delivery for people admitted to Golden Living’s skilled nursing facilities around the country. Read More »