Lois Bowers
Lois A. Bowers was senior editor of I Advance Senior Care / Long-Term Living from 2013-2015.
The laundry quandary
Clothes that maintain their color, size and shape please residents and their families and also provide visible evidence to prospective residents of the quality of care and services you provide. How do you satisfy staff members and regulators, too? Here are some ideas. Read More »
Senior housing a hot market: Report
Senior living is expected to be the second-most active segment of the multifamily housing area over the next three years, and trends related to older adults will be shaping real estate efforts for years to come, according to a new report. Read More »
Will seniors be able to afford your community?
About half of households that have members aged 55 or more years have no retirement savings, and many of those households have few other resources to fund their post-work years, according to a new analysis by the Government Accountability Office. Read More »
Groups commit to responsible antibiotic use
More than 150 food companies, retailers, and human and animal health stakeholders have committed to the responsible use of antibiotics in conjunction with the June 2 White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship. Read More »
GAO suggests ways to fight Medicaid fraud, improve Medicare audits
CMS plans to issue guidance for screening deceased Medicaid beneficiaries, provide more-complete data for screening Medicaid providers and consider whether the performance of Medicare administrative contractors can be improved. Read More »
3 priorities for nurse leaders
Those attending the Nurse Leadership Summit hosted by the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordination identified top challenges facing directors of nursing in long-term care. Read More »
Residents face off in chocolate-themed competition
Residents and chefs faced off against one another in an “Iron Chef-style” challenge May 19. Each team had 60 minutes to prepare for judges an appetizer, main entrée and dessert containing a secret ingredient. Read More »
Prudential acquires assisted living, memory care portfolio in $110M transaction
Prudential Real Estate Investors has acquired three assisted living and memory care communities in Tennessee and Connecticut for $110 million. It’s the first investment made through its Senior Housing Partners V fund, according to the company. Read More »
How to prevent MRSA transmission between nursing home residents, workers
New research reveals the most important times that nursing home workers should wear gloves and gowns to prevent the transmission of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from one resident to another. Read More »
White House Conference on Aging announces date for national event
July 13 will be the date for the White House Conference on Aging national event, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell announced today. Read More »
Organizations respond to proposed Medicaid changes
Leaders from organizations representing providers of housing, care and services for older adults say they continue to scrutinize the 653-page proposal of reforms to Medicaid managed care plans that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued May 26, but they shared their initial reactions with Long-Term Living. Read More »
CDC campaign promotes safe injection practices
A federation representing providers of housing, services and care for seniors has joined a nationwide effort to stop the reuse of needles, syringes and single-dose medication vials in healthcare settings. Read More »
Partnership aims to train CNAs in dementia care
The National Certification Board for Alzheimer Care and the National Association of Health Care Assistants have partnered in an effort to ensure that certified nursing assistants have the training necessary to care for those with dementia. Read More »
CMS proposes changes to Medicaid managed care regulations
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is proposing several changes to its Medicaid managed care regulations to modernize them and improve quality in the delivery of care to beneficiaries. Read More »
Nursing home false claims allegations settled with $3.8M payment
Two California nursing homes persistently overmedicated residents, causing infection, sepsis, malnutrition, dehydration, falls, fractures, pressure ulcers and, for some residents, premature death, the federal government maintains. Read More »
WHO addresses antimicrobial resistance
Delegates at the 68th World Health Assembly endorsed a global action plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance, including antibiotic resistance, which they termed the most urgent drug resistance trend. The plan has five objectives. Read More »
MedPAC gets new chair, member
The body that advises Congress on Medicare-related payments to health plans and providers welcomes a new member, a new chair and five reappointed members. Read More »
FDA guidance could undermine safety, compliance efforts, pharmacy group maintains
Repackaging and distribution guidance proposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration inadvertently would undermine patient/resident safety in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities and also would threaten regulatory compliance, the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition said in a letter to the agency. Read More »
Federal agencies should work together to help adults age in place, GAO says
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services should help federal agencies work together to ensure that government resources related to home- and community-based services are used effectively and efficiently, the Government Accountability Office recommends. Read More »
Texas provider association notes SNF improvements, challenges
On the heels of an analysis finding the Lone Star State be the one with greatest share of low-rated nursing homes, the Texas Health Care Association has released survey results indicating that nursing home quality there has improved over the past year. Read More »
Assisted living measure awaits Texas governor’s signature
Legislation awaiting the Texas governor’s signature would enable assisted living community operators in good standing with the state to permit residents to move in as soon as the licensure process is complete. Read More »
Pharmacy group pleased with revised 21st Century Cures language
The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition says it is pleased with the Energy and Commerce Committee’s revised language in draft 21st Century Cures legislation it is considering related to programs to prevent prescription drug abuse under Medicare Parts C and D. Read More »
Provider organizations respond to Kaiser analysis of nursing homes
The lower five-star ratings forecast in February by the federal government are evidenced in a new analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The news is not surprising, say two organizations representing providers. Read More »
Larry Minnix reflects on his seriously fun time as LeadingAge chief
Looming federal elections present the perfect time to step aside and let a successor fill his shoes, LeadingAge President and CEO Larry Minnix tells Long-Term Living in an exclusive interview. Read More »
NOTICE Act introduced in Senate
Following passage in the House, legislation introduced in the Senate would require hospitals to notify Medicare beneficiaries of their outpatient status within 36 hours after the time of their classification or, if sooner, upon discharge. Read More »
5 predictions about the future of senior living
CEOs from five senior living providers gazed into their crystal balls and shared five predictions about the future of the industry during the annual meeting of the Assisted Living Federation of America. Read More »
Involve everyone in memory care
One company’s effort to improve its approach to memory care is involving all staff members and seeks to align with the organization’s overall culture. Read More »
Intergenerational program is ‘a perfect match’
A continuing care retirement community receives national exposure for a program that uses technology to help older adults in the United States feel valued and assists students in Brazil with improving their English language skills. Read More »
Poll: America not ready for aging population
Adults weigh in on how to address challenges facing Medicare and Social Security in a new Harris poll. Read More »
