Choosing Wisely releases physical therapy recommendations

The American Physical Therapy Association, as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign, has released a list of five practices it says are of questionable value to those undergoing physical therapy. Read More »

3 ways to help residents with COPD

Coaching residents who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on three coping techniques can boost their quality of life and can even improve physical symptoms, new research has found. And technology can make the approach relatively low-cost. Read More »

An engaged journey: Complete coverage of the 2014 OPTIMA Award winner

Coverage of Long-Term Living's 2014 OPTIMA Award winner—including the main article, companion articles, photos, video and a blog—are gathered here for your convenience. Read More »

Long-term care dentistry: A growing field

Unlike their grandparents, many of today's seniors keep their teeth well into their advanced years. Caring for their dental issues requires dentists to have an understanding of how to deliver optimum oral care to this demographic. Read More »

OPTIMA Award: Reading series keeps residents with dementia learning

Keeping reading skills honed helps those with dementia stay focused throughout the day. Benchmark Senior Living, the 2014 winner of Long-Term Living's OPTIMA Award, uses hundreds of reading booklets to keep residents' minds engaged in learning new things. Read More »

Staff affect emotions of those with Alzheimer’s, study confirms

Social interactions, exercise, music, dance, jokes and foods all can have a lasting emotional effect on quality of life and subjective well-being for residents with dementia, new research confirms. Read More »

30-day readmissions rate: What’s behind the number?

To complete the readmission puzzle, post-acute care providers should look at three not-so-obvious missing puzzle pieces that go beyond the readmission metric. Read More »

Atty Gen. Holder to resign from DOJ

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr. has announced plans to resign from the Department of Justice later this year. Read More »

LeadingAge names first senior VP of housing, capital

Niles Godes has joined LeadingAge as its first senior vice president for housing and capital. He will work to expand affordable housing opportunities for older adults across the country. Read More »

Wireless sensor system tests for falls risk

Wireless sensors track a person's walking patterns to assess falls risk. Read More »

‘Virtual nurse’ company raises seed money

A tech company that provides an interactive 'virtual nurse' raises $1.2 million.  Read More »

Encourage residents to get vaccinated against flu

Certain adults are more vulnerable than others, and vaccination rates vary by gender and geography. See what you can do, and find out what this year's vaccine covers. Read More »

Elizabeth Tracy, RN, wins McHugh leadership award

This year's winner of the LeadingAge McHugh Award serves as a model for nursing leadership and resident-centered initiatives. Read More »

OPTIMA Award: Six dimensions of engagement

Benchmark Senior Living, the 2014 winner of Long-Tem Living's OPTIMA Award, uses six dimensions of engagement in its memory care program to stimulate different parts of the brain and keep residents with dementia involved and focused. Read More »

5 ways to prevent falls all year

Falls Prevention Awareness Day is one day a year, but the National Council on Aging is offering advice good for all year. Read More »

2014 OPTIMA Award: An engaged journey

This year’s winner of the Long-Term Living OPTIMA Award, Benchmark Senior Living, has taken dementia care programming far beyond reminiscing, brain-games and once-a-day-activities. Here's the story of how its award-winning programming got started, and how the lives of residents can be changed when engagement happens all day long instead of just during "activity hour." Read More »

More nurses are using mobile devices

A recent survey finds that more nurses are using mobile devices and online resources at work.  Read More »

New garments resist pathogens

New germ-resistant fabrics can minimize transmission of pathogens, curbing the spread of infections. Read More »

Post-acute care groups applaud passage of IMPACT Act

Organizations serving older adults say they are pleased with Congress’ passing last week of the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014, which is designed to standardize data used across post-acute care settings. Read More »

CARF accredits first independent living community

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities has awarded its first accreditation to an independent living community after implementing standards for such environments in July. Read More »

AMA study: Most EHRs lack ‘usability’

The American Medical Association calls for a design overhaul of electronic health records to increase usability.  Read More »

When the big screen dies

Watching television programs on a big-screen TV gives residents an opportunity to share and socialize. But what happens when the set goes on the blink? Read More »

Partnership offers remote dispensing for LTC pharmacies

Partnering companies develop an automated and remote dispensing system for LTC pharmacies.  Read More »

Sunday, Sept. 21, take a walk for Alzheimer’s

Each year organizations around the world concentrate their efforts on raising awareness of Alzheimer’s and other dementia. Read More »

LTC organizations support antipsychotic drug reduction goal, but some say more is needed

The majority of the professional associations representing long-term care say they support the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care’s goal of continuing to reduce the off-label use of antipsychotic medications in long-stay nursing home residents, although some say more action is needed. Read More »

CDC recommends 2 pneumonia vaccines for older adults

Following advice from the CDC, you'll want to ensure that older residents and employees are vaccinated against pneumonia at the same time that they receive the flu shot. The government now recommends two pneumonia vaccines over the course of most people's lives. Read More »

Flu vaccination low among long-term care workers

Flu vaccination among healthcare personnel is lowest among those working in long-term care settings, but employers can take two actions to encourage it, according to new data from the CDC. Read More »

A new offering in LTC amenities: Electric charging stations

They never drove Model Ts, but today’s seniors did grow up on Mustangs, Corvettes and Camaros. Because of the boomers’ willingness to embrace new motoring experiences, hybrid automobiles have found a niche in the senior sector. Read More »

Changes would improve end-of-life care, report says

A new report from the Institute of Medicine recommends several changes to the U.S. healthcare system to meet the needs of people nearing the end of life as well as the needs of their families. Read More »

Congress: The ball is in your court

The building crisis in financing and providing effective long-term care services and supports is an ever-growing problem as discussed in a report by the Commission on Long-Term Care. Read More »