Risk Management

Who should do medication reconciliation safety: RNs, LPN or both?

Registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) have different skills and work processes when it comes to medication reconciliation, say researchers at the University of Missouri. Read More »

The perfect gift for your maintenance team: Life Safety Code compliance

CMS is expected to adopt a new edition of the Life Safety Codes soon, so give your facilities management team the gift of a head start on upcoming changes. Read More »

$5M lawsuit filed in Ga. retirement community fire

The legal troubles continue over the June fire at Marshall Square Retirement Community, Evans, Ga., which killed one resident and displaced more than 80, as a new lawsuit alleges flawed management and a dangerous "shelter in place" policy. Read More »

Ohio SNF employee shot by estranged spouse

A nursing home caregiver is killed outside the Canton, Ohio, nursing home where she worked, police say. Read More »

Proactive medication management

Having an LTC pharmacist on the care team can provide aggressive strategies against adverse drug events and reap the benefits of a specialized skills set in the tricky business of geriatric medication management. Read More »

Texas ALF settles fire sprinkler suit

The owners of a Fort Worth, Texas assisted living complex learn the cost of sprinkler system violations. Read More »

A tale of two transfers

Avoiding legal issues with improper resident transfers takes close examination of the reason why transfers are needed and all the right documentation. Read More »

Report: Liability costs expected to rise in 2016

Liability loss rates vary widely among individual states depending on tort reform, use of arbitration, the jittery market and many other factors, notes a new analysis. Read More »

Team approaches needed to curb elder abuse in LTC

Aggression and physical abuse toward residents often comes from other residents, and an interdisciplinary team approach can help unearth and curb violence, a new study shows. Read More »

Powering up for power outages

Short power outages can wreak havoc on a skilled nursing facility's processes and ability to care for residents. Long outages can be devastating. These tips can help you beef up your preparedness. Read More »

Reexamine elopement risk assessments

Your answers to five questions may reveal that your program is missing key risk factors in keeping your residents safe from wandering. Read More »

Resident smoking policies

Where there's smoke.... If you allow your residents to light up, don’t get burned by your safety policies. Long-Term Living's legal expert Alan C. Horowitz explains CMS rules on resident smoking and shares strategies for safe smoking policies. Read More »

Former nursing assistant pleads guilty to resident rape

A male former nursing assistant has pleaded guilty to raping a female resident with severe dementia in 2014. Read More »

CDC releases guidance to help nursing homes combat antibiotic-resistant infections

CDC data indicates that up to 75 percent of antibiotics prescribed in nursing homes are given incorrectly. This new tool encourages antibiotic stewardship in nursing homes. Read More »

Former nursing home employee convicted of theft

A nursing home business office manager has been found guilty of writing checks from resident accounts and keeping the money for herself. Read More »

WVa now requires state, national criminal background checks for LTC workers

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources now requires fingerprint-based state and national criminal background checks for long-term care workers. Read More »

Gearing up for OSHA lifting policy changes

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is about to get tougher on injuries casued by lifting- and transferring-related activities. Here's how to rework your lifting protocols and educate your staff. Read More »

Pennsylvania creates task force to oversee nursing home care

The task force has been asked to identify ways the health department can advance quality improvement in the state's LTC facilities.  Read More »

FDA warns of infusion pump vulnerability

The federal Food and Drug Administration warns healthcare facilities using the Symbiq infusion pump system to be aware that the drug system is vulnerable to hacking. Read More »

Coordinated data-sharing could cut “superbug” infections in half

Aggressive intervention using a coordinated approach could prevent healthcare-related infections and death, saving the healthcare system billions of dollars in treatment costs. Read More »

Arizona law requires disclosure from in-home care agencies

One of the fastest-growing retirement states in the country, Arizona senior advocates applaud the state legislature for taking this first step toward transparency. Read More »

Wide beds: Added inches, added safety

Wide beds and wider mattresses can reduce the number of falls experienced by long-term care residents, notes a new case study. Read More »

OSHA guide: Transgender restroom access

If you have transgender employees—even if you don’t—it’s important for employers to be aware of the requirements in providing restroom access based on gender indentification. Read More »

Assisted living owner turns off the air conditioning

An assisted living owner looking to sell the building puts the heat on residents to vacate the premises by turning off their air conditioning. Read More »

Upgraded SNF restorative program reduces falls

Dramatic results from a recent study indicate that integrating Progressive Resistance Exercise (PRE) into the active range of motion portion of a restorative program improves strength and balance. Read More »

Women impersonate nursing home staff, allegedly steal $11k of jewelry

Police in North Carolina are looking for two women who suited up in hospital scrubs and allegedly stole jewelry from residents at two nursing homes. Read More »

150 seniors evacuated from W. Hollywood floods

The 134-unit senior apartment building was flooded by heavy rain on Sunday. Read More »

Side-tracked by side rails

Side rails may sound like a great safety tool, but unless the use of side rails is properly assessed and documented, their usage can pose great risks to residents and the facility. Read More »

OSHA inspections target tuberculosis in healthcare settings

A new directive is aimed to further reduce the risk of tuberculosis (TB) to employees working in healthcare settings, including new rules for screening and bloodwork. Read More »

A fire system check can be unnerving

Fire alarms are one of the most important protections to residents and staff to ensure their safety. But the alarm system must be checked regularly tor a faulty fire alarm system could be fatal. Read More »