Administration

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

PHI releases occupational projections, names policy chief

A new analysis examines job growth potential and pay of home care workers and nursing assistants, and the organization conducting it names a new policy chief to advocate on behalf of these workers. Read More »

Incoming ALFA chief’s priorities include fortifying ties, implementing agenda

James Balda tells Long-Term Living that strengthening relationships with state chapters and affiliates and implementing an ambitious agenda will be his priorities when he assumes his new role Jan. 15. 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 »

Spending on nursing facility, CCRC care was $155.8 billion in 2013, CMS says

Spending on care in nursing facilities and continuing care retirement communities totaled $155.8 billion in 2013, according to new data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This amount represents growth of 2.4 percent, compared with 2.0 percent in 2012. Read More »

Quality improvement wins providers accolades from AHCA/NCAL

More than 7,400 long-term and post-acute care organizations nationwide have achieved at least one goal in an AHCA/NCAL program. 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 »

ALFA names new leader

The Assisted Living Federation of America has named James Balda as its next president and CEO. He will be at the helm as the organization announces a name change, a credentialing program and professional standards. Read More »

Aviv, Chelsea Jewish merge senior services in Boston region

Two of eastern Massachusetts' dominant senior living players have become one company. Read More »

CMS tweaks shared savings program to add more time, options for ACOs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services wants to ease the time lines for accountable care organizations participating in its shared savings program. Read More »

Payment for care after hip, knee replacement focus of AHCA comments to CMS

The American Health Care Association has suggested to CMS several changes to an outcome and efficiency measure that would affect payments to skilled nursing facilities for the care of those who have undergone total hip or knee arthroplasty. Read More »

One-on-one with…Scott McFadden

After years of losses, turning around a financially failing nursing home takes more than stopgap measures, explains Scott McFadden, CEO of Lutheran Home & Hardwood Place. Read More »

Wracked by RACs?

Sooner or later, most skilled nursing facilities encounter recovery audit contractors (RACs). A healthcare legal expert explains how to handle RAC visits and what to do when claims are denied. Read More »

White House Conference on Aging agenda items recommended by associations

Leaders in organizations representing seniors housing and services providers share with Long-Term Living their wish lists for the upcoming White House Conference on Aging. Do you agree with their picks? Read More »

Invacare’s executive chairman announces retirement

Mal Mixon has grown Invacare Corp. from a domestic manufacturing/distribution company into a global leader of home and long-term care medical products. Read More »

Sales versus marketing

As more communities feel the economic pressure to sell units and maintain census, the focus increasingly is on sales and marketing teams. Read More »

SNF residents evacuated in Buffalo blizzard

Emergency planning and preparation are keys to surviving a natural disaster; the recent six- to 10-foot snowfall in upstate New York serves as a punishing reminder. Read More »

Addicts target nursing home dumpsters to get a fix

Trash receptacles behind nursing homes and other care facilities are becoming a goldmine for drug addicts in search of controlled medications. Read More »

Older Americans have easy access to specialists, survey finds

A survey of older adults in 11 countries turns up interesting data on how efficiently people in industrialized nations can access and interact with their healthcare providers. Read More »

NCB launches lending program for PACE communities

The National PACE Association forges a lending partnership with National Cooperative Bank to provide new funding opportunities for PACE expansions and startups. Read More »

Ensuring care quality a challenge for HHS, OIG says

Ensuring quality in nursing home, hospice and home- and community-based settings is one of the top challenges facing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), according to a new report from the HHS Office of Inspector General. Read More »

Elder abuse victims to benefit from PA task force recommendations

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will consider an Elder Law Task Force report as a guide to protect the state's older adults from abuse and neglect. Read More »

The battle over immigration reform

One of the first political “hot potatoes” the new Congress must address is amnesty for illegal immigrants, which would present long-term care organizations a broader pool of potential caregivers. Read More »