Risk Management

How Holiday Retirement is bracing for Hurricane Irma

An executive at the senior living provider shares what they’ve learned about emergency preparedness and what they’re doing before Hurricane Irma is expected to make landfall in Florida. Read More »

Florida Argentum: Preparatation checklist and resources

Florida's Argentum chapter urges senior living providers to take Hurricane Irma seriously and offers resources to help them prepare. Read More »

CMS waives provider screening, DME requirements for TX and LA hurricane victims

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is temporarily waiving its usual requirements for acquiring or replacing medical equipment or prosthetics and is easing provider screening rules for Texas and Louisiana providers and suppliers impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Read More »

5 must-haves for emergency preparedness planning

New CMS regulations are an opportunity for providers to write policies and practice procedures that can prepare staff for the unexpected.  Read More »

A live feed of nursing home life

Social media is a popular method of communication, but what happens when staff and residents use it to share about long term care? Resident blogger Kathleen Mears shares her observations and opinions.  Read More »

Assisted living residents rescued by power of social media

When the image of elderly residents trapped in waist-deep flood water made its rounds on Twitter, many people initially thought it was fake. Read More »

Texas nursing homes brace for Hurricane Harvey

Senior living communities in the path of the storm are implementing their emergency preparedness plans and moving residents ahead of the landfall, expected late Friday night. Read More »

LTCG to acquire LifePlans

The deal will combine LTCG’s long-term care business processing with LifePlan’s risk management tools, including cognitive acuity screening. Read More »

Advance directive struggle for Alzheimer’s resident

A resident's advance directive has turned into a legal battle with family members who say the assisted living provider shouldn't be helping her eat. Read More »

When domestic violence comes to work

Employers should create safety policies and procedures for handling domestic violence before it arrives on the doorstep. Read More »

When domestic violence doesn’t stay at home

Employers should create safety policies and procedures for handling domestic violence before it arrives on the doorstep. Read More »

Woman impersonates cleaner, steals from residents, police say

A Florida woman has been charged for allegedly rummaging through resident rooms. Read More »

CMS launches Hospice Compare site

Much like the Nursing Home Compare site for skilled nursing facilities, the new data comparison tool will allow consumers to see quality measures data on hospice and palliative care providers. Read More »

Emergency: Is evacuation the best choice?

Evacuate? Shelter in place? A new study shows that fleeing an emergency can still have harmful effects on elderly residents. Read More »

Brookdale tackles advance care planning

The senior living provider and Iris Plans have partnered to offer residents end-of-life care planning services.  Read More »

Balancing resident safety with quality of life

Four senior living executives weigh in on the threat of litigation and demands of helicopter children while providing a meaningful life for residents.  Read More »

CMS backpedals on arbitration restrictions

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is reconsidering its previous ban on pre-dispute agreements as binding arbitration. Read More »

Elderly resident faces arson, aggravated assault charges

A 76-year-old resident faces charges over a fire in his bedroom at a Georgia personal care home. Read More »

The values and risks of employee satisfaction surveys

Employee satisfaction surveys can be a helpful retention tool, but they also can raise red flags with employment law attorneys. Read More »

When a picture costs $1M

A Texas nursing home is being sued for negligence after a CNA captured footage of a sleeping resident rubbing feces on her face.  Read More »

CMS Final Rule: Compliance and ethics programs

SNF compliance and ethics programs aren’t optional anymore, and in some cases, may require additional staff roles. Are your programs survey-ready? Read More »

Provider charged with $31k fine for failing to have third-party HIPAA agreement

Do you have a signed agreement with all third-party business associates for HIPAA protection? If not, it could cost you thousands. Read More »

Pa. to provide training, support for family caregivers

New legislation will help family members who care for senior loved ones at home following hospital discharge.  Read More »

Rehab center sued for failure to report sex abuse

A former nursing assistant is in all kinds of trouble over sexual abuse and harassment, and the provider that hired him is feeling the pain, too. Read More »

Top 10 patient safety concerns for 2017: ECRI Institute

Electronic Health Record information management tops the list of this year's key patient safety issues across all healthcare sectors, but assisted living and skilled nursing facilities are directly involved in three other items on the list. Read More »

CMS’ new emergency preparedness rules

The clock is ticking on compliance with the new CMS emergency preparedness requirements. Safety expert Stan Szpytek breaks down the new regs and explains why your current assessments and training probably aren't going to be enough. Read More »

ECRI launches remote patient monitoring consulting service

The new service can help providers with everything from determining which patients will benefit most from monitoring to choosing the best technology tools. Read More »

Guarded purse strings

Resident blogger Kathleen Mears manages her money with a close eye to keep track of her own spending and to make sure someone isn’t spending her money.  Read More »

Caregiver fired for behavior toward resident with dementia

A nursing home employee was fired and faces criminal charges for a sexually provocative dance directed at a resident with dementia. Read More »

TX hospice indicted for $60M fraud, overmedicating

Sixteen people are mired in a $60 million scheme to rip off Medicare for false hospice services, including giving Schedule II controlled pain medication to patients who didn’t need them. Read More »