2016 OPTIMA Award competition is open

Is your community's new program or initiative OPTIMA Award-worthy? Learn how you can submit your innovative, resident-centered programs for Long-Term Living's national honor. Read More »

Study finds toxic co-workers surprisingly productive, rule abiding

Forget the blabbermouths, brown nosers, con artists and incompetent workers. The worker who could be causing the most harm to your organization could also be one of your most productive workers, researchers found.  Read More »

Genesis sells home health and hospice business to Compassus

Genesis Healthcare Inc., one of the nation’s largest post-acute care providers, will sell most of its home health and hospice operations to Compassus for $84 million. The company will use the proceeds to repay debt. Read More »

NIC releases first report in new SNF data series

The National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC) says the new quarterly reports will give senior housing investors more current data to help guide investment decisions. Read More »

Report: Patient engagement has a long way to go

A startling number of people across adult age groups are nonchalant about engaging in their own health and wellness, according to new survey data from Frost & Sullivan. Read More »

Teaching today’s youth about aging

A course at UCLA teaches first-year college students about the aging process, how to relate to seniors and exposes them to new career possibilities.  Read More »

Post-acute provider expands to home health care

LifeCare Holdings will acquire Haven Home Health as the company continues expanding its post-acute service offerings.  Read More »

SNF blames hospital for resident hepatitis C outbreak

48 residents infected with hepatitis C dropped their charges against the nursing home and are now seeking damages in a lawsuit against a local acute care provider. Read More »

LTC residents at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 is required for red blood cell formation, neurological function and DNA synthesis. B12 deficiency is common among seniors and can cause dementia, anemia and weight loss, among other adverse health effects. Read More »

Harness the MDS for dementia care

The federally mandated minimum data set (MDS) is a documentation tool caregivers use every day that can help ensure quality dementia care. Read More »

Ziegler, My LifeSite launch state reports on CCRCs

Maryland is the first in the series of state-by-state reports examining the way continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) charge for services and how the communities are administered. Read More »

Turning up the heat

Resident blogger Kathleen Mears explains the process for adjusting the thermostat in her room. (Hint: It's not as simple as adjusting the dial.)  Read More »

Washington state votes to oversee CCRCs

The state is one of the first to pass legislature to bulk up consumer protections relating to continuing care retirement communities. Could your CCRC meet their new requirements? Read More »

A closer look at CMS’ efforts to reduce avoidable hospitalizations

Does Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recognize industry improvements? Washington policy expert Robert Gatty looks at whether the government's efforts have been effective. Read More »

American HealthTech, Medtelligent partner for AL care management

A skilled nursing EHR provider and an assisted living documentation provider join forces to offer a cross-continuum solution. Read More »

F-Tag 309 and the compliance domino effect

Poor training in dementia care documentation can get a facility a pile of deficiencies in a big hurry, explains a national consultant in survey-related regulatory issues. Read More »

CMS pushes interoperability for LTC

The new initiative allows states to request the 90 percent enhanced matching funds to connect more Medicaid providers to a state health information exchange. Read More »

What’s your best practice for memory care?

Attendees at the Memory Care Forum in Austin, Texas, share their communities' most successful strategies and programs for engaging residents with dementia.  Read More »

Fla. assisted living home shuttered for filth, excessive animals

The owner of the ALF, which doubled as an animal shelter, has been charged with four counts of elder neglect as police find residents soiled and surrounded by stray cats and dogs. Read More »

How did you die?

Author Brandy Schillace explores how we talk about death and how the end-of-life conversation needs to be reshaped. Read More »

Central catheter maintenance bundle cuts CLABSI rates

Using a bundled approach to catheter maintenance can reduce central line-associated blood stream infections, a high risk for patients in long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs). Read More »

6 ways to manage family expectations in dementia care

People aren't perfect. Neither are memory care facilities. Consultant Michael Gill advises how to keep dementia residents and their loved ones happy by helping families to set realistic facility and caregiving expectations from the start.  Read More »

2 top Brookdale execs to step down

Brookdale Senior Living’s president and its executive vice president will be stepping down as part of the company’s transition process. Read More »

Words of others

Curses! SNF resident blogger Kathleen Mears talks about what can happen when staffers use foul language, especially if residents view it as disrespect. Read More »

Dementia bathing: How to keep a bath from becoming a battle

What makes for an enjoyable bathing experience for some may not be the best strategy for those with dementia. Read tips from a national dementia expert on how to avoid struggles and fears in residents with cognitive decline at bathing time. Read More »

7 steps to building a dementia-capable system

Our infrastructure wasn’t built to accommodate people with dementia, but we can build one. And it starts with proper diagnosis. Read More »

Pew research: Fewer female seniors living alone for first time in nearly a century

The number of seniors living alone had risen steeply since 1900, but for the past 26 years, the percentage of senior women living alone has dropped. Yet, more than half of seniors surveyed in the research say they'd prefer to stay at home than move to a professional care setting if they could have a caregiver. Read More »

Canada tries again for national dementia strategy

Canadian lawmakers introduced a bill today that would form a national strategy to grapple with the social, economic and medical costs of Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias. Last year, a similar bill was defeated by a single vote. Read More »

Some viral infections could cause cognitive decline

Researchers found exposure to certain chronic viral infections, which can linger in the body long after infection, are associated with cognitive decline in seniors. Read More »

Possible new drug for Alzheimer’s already on the market

Researchers have found ‘neurostatin’ targets the first step of the reaction that leads to Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting a preventative treatment plan similar to how statins reduce the risk of heart disease. Read More »