Facility management

California nursing home chain gets government regulations smackdown

California's largest nursing home chain has been under fire for years. Read More »

CMS lays ground rules for provider screening, fingerprinting for fraud risk

By March 2016, states with Medicaid providers must be ranked has having a "high," moderate," or "limited" risk of defrauding the program. Read More »

Genesis HealthCare acquires 24 skilled nursing facilities in $240M deal

Genesis signed the $240 million agreement with Revera on June 15. Read More »

Accountable accounting

Even the little bills mean a lot. The right accounts payable technology can help LTC communities keep their business partners happy and avoid costly late fees. Read More »

HealthSouth expands PAC presence with Reliant Hospital Partners acquisition

On June 11, the post-acute services provider announced plans to buy the operations arm of Reliant Hospital Partners for $730 million. Read More »

The dish on dining

Surveys repeatedly cite food as a major factor in customer satisfaction. If residents and their families aren’t happy with meals, they tend to find fault in other service areas. Read More »

Warmer temperatures—outside and in

Bring a sweater. It's difficult to maintain an air temperature that satisfies all residents in a congregate living setting. Some residents may be too warm and others may be too cold when the air conditioning kicks on. Read More »

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 »

Patient handling, falls and violence top occupational injuries of healthcare workers

Nurses and aides incur more on-the-job injuries than physicians, dentists, interns and residents, according to data examined by the Occupational Health Safety Network. Read More »

Spring into safety

Maintenance and housekeeping staff are the first line of defense in keeping residents and staff safe, healthy and secure in a long-term care environment. Read More »

Relocated during cleaning

While some residents balk at vacating their rooms for scheduled cleaning and maintenance, they are happy settling back down in a refreshed, relaxing environment. Read More »

Sprinkler systems save lives

Two recent fires—one a tragedy, one a triumph—prove the wisdom of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services mandate to require sprinkler systems in skilled nursing facilities. Read More »

4 steps to protect residents from financial fraud

The federal government has produced a free guide to help senior living operators and staff members combat the financial exploitation of residents, which has implications beyond those you might expect. Read More »

Risk management resource is launched

New website offers the latest information on risk management topics to keep your staff, residents and organization ahead of accidents or injuries. Read More »

Top 10 bed bug cities in America

Don’t pick up hitchhikers, especially those that are difficult to see. Bed bugs like to travel. New data from Orkin names the leading destinations on a bed bug’s itinerary. Read More »

Top 5 legal blogs of 2014

Surveys, sexuality and social media were among the hot topics for readers of our legal blogs in 2014. Read More »

Hot topics: QAPI

Read our complete series on the 12 steps of quality assurance and performance improvement by Nell Griffin, LPN, EdM. Read More »

LGBT employees protected under new federal rule

A new federal rule will prohibit some employers from discriminating on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity. Will you be affected? Read More »

Largest not-for-profit operators revealed in LeadingAge Ziegler 150

An annual report by LeadingAge and Ziegler has been expanded to include more operators as well as trends in home and community-based services, technology adoption, joint ventures and future growth plans. Read More »

Forging long-term care and home health partnerships

Building partnerships with companies offering strategic services can increase your business, improve operations, track data and increase referrals. Read More »

Vampire eyes

Fads come and go. When younger employees wear extreme “fashions” on the job, however, it can be disturbing—if not frightening—to some residents. Read More »

Rat problem lands nursing home on watch list

While it’s challenging to maintain a completely pest-free facility, vigilance and professional attention are necessary to prevent infestations and provide a safe and healthy environment for residents and staff. Read More »

5 environmental tips to surviving allergy season in LTC

For many people, autumn is their favorite time of year. The air is crisp, the foliage is brilliant and warm days still pop up occasionally, drawing residents outdoors. It is also the season when pollens, molds and other allergens contaminate the air and trigger allergic reactions. Read More »

Is this help or harassment?

The following account illustrates the importance of screening before hiring. Bad employees can ruin a facility’s reputation and a resident’s quality of life. 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 »

Technology can build community among residents’ families, staff

One assisted living community supplemented existing communication efforts by using a web platform to relay everyday interactions to residents' family members. In this way, the community strengthened ties and also improved marketing efforts. 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 »

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 »

One-on-one with…Leah Klusch

Making use of newer guidance and data from the government, as well as improving communication with other entities and perfecting a person-centered approach to care, should be priorities for clinical and operational leaders in long-term care, according to the executive director of an educational foundation and consultancy. Read More »

Developing today’s (and tomorrow’s) NHA leaders

The quality of a long-term care facility is enhanced by administrators educated in the operations and best practices necessary to run a person-focused organization. Administrator-in-training programs offer specialized training and field experience. Read More »