During bacterial outbreaks, skilled nursing facilities carry an extra burden of surveillance protocols—since the illness can roll right in the door via a patient transfer. Read More »
Trepidation about tripping? Most seniors who have taken a tumble once, will develop a fear of falling again. Helping seniors to overcome the fear of falling starts with a deep understanding of what scares them--and then empowering them to change it. Read More »
The parent company of the California senior living facility involved in a controversial 911 call responds to public outcry over corporate policies and an employee's refusal to administer CPR. Read More »
Calling all hospices: Are you ready for a challenge? Today is the launch of my "Hospice Notebook." Gather your ideas, projects, initiatives and missions. My inbox is yours. Read More »
Those given the privilege and responsibility of providing care as well as other services to the frail and elderly are placed in a position where their actions must be clear and decisive in times of emergency. Read More »
The report of a retirement community’s nurse who refused a 911 dispatcher's pleas to perform CPR on a woman who had fallen unconscious and later died has sparked public and media outrage. LTC providers have some critical issues to consider when it comes to emergency care procedures. Read More »
After months on the picket line and Supreme Court judgment, striking SNF workers return to their facilities and their residents hope the worst is behind them. Read More »
Those of us who have watched a loved one spend the last few years of their life in a nursing home know the pain and helplessness that comes from this experience. Studies have found communication breakdowns among staff can lead to lower quality of care. According to a University of Missouri researcher, the possible solution to this problem? Healthcare technology adoption. Read More »
Some of the newer medications for diabetes put the resident at increased risk for acute or chronic pancreatitis, notes a recent JAMA study. Read More »
Glenwood Gardens, Bakersfield, Calif., a Brookdale Senior Living independent living community, is defending one of its nurses who refused pleas by a 911 operator to perform CPR on an elderly woman who later died, saying the nurse was following policy, according to news reports. Read More »
New data on hospital readmission shows that healthcare reform is making an impact--changing the rates for the first time in five years, says CMS. Read More »
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the country's third-largest health benefits purchaser, dropped a bombshell on its long-term care policyholders—switch LTC policies or deal with a massive rate increase. Read More »
Skilled nursing providers (SNFs) are all too familiar with the challenge of preventing hospital readmissions for residents. In a recent Long-Term Living webinar that addressed this very issue, Maria Arellano, MS, RN, Clinical Product Manager, American HealthTech, reviewed the scope of the challenge and offered proactive strategies for providers to consider in their continuing quest to reduce hospital readmissions. Read More »
A new report from the Office of Inspector General accuses skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) of misusing their Medicare payments, since more than one-third of SNFs don’t fulfill—or even create—the care plans and discharge goals required for their residents. Read More »
This second of four Environments for Aging Citation of Merit winners demonstrates how a main-floor renovation transformed a public housing complex. Read More »
Widely recognized by his bushy beard and somber uniform, former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop became a household name for his anti-smoking campaign. Read More »
Site security, recognizing and defusing aggressive behavior and workplace violence prevention are topics that should be integrated into every facility’s training regimens. Read More »
The new study shows the proportion of male registered nurses has more than tripled since 1970, from 2.7 percent to 9.6 percent, and the proportion of male licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses has more than doubled from 3.9 percent to 8.1 percent. Read More »
The Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care (AQNHC) on Monday praised the introduction of New York Senator Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) bill, the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act, which changes Medicare law to permit nursing home residents access to skilled nursing care after hospital “observation stays.” Read More »
Renovations and redesigns large and small can breathe new life into a facility, especially when they’re focused on the needs of the people who live and work within them. The changes that are most important to the residents tend to be those that center on their psychological need to regain control. Read More »
Long-term care pharmacies incur dispensing costs that are 25 percent higher than those of traditional retail pharmacies while providing additional services to meet the unique health needs of LTC residents, according to the findings of a new study. Read More »
How many of your residents are on track to exceed the $1,900 payment cap on physical or occupational therapies? We examine the current therapy cap situation, and why it's such a challenge for long-term and post-acute care. Read More »
This year's flu shot is not protecting those over 65 from influenza A, warns a new update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read More »
