More standardization and consistency in protocols would help nursing homes reduce urinary tract infections, notes a new study cross-examining policies and infection data at nearly 1,000 SNFs. Read More »
Seniors who have recently been discharged from the hospital often downplay or even lie about their capabilities and risk factors in an attempt to return to “the old normal,” notes a new study. Read More »
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the leading body for medical screening recommendations, has given visual skin cancer screenings a rating of “I,” which means insurers don’t have to cover it in wellness checks for beneficiaries. Read More »
Keeping up with wellness appointments can be a challenge—but SNF resident blogger Kathleen Mears shows why it’s important to communicate with the primary care providers and the facility when scheduling specialty appointments. Read More »
Five foundations are launching a new collaboration to improve care delivery for those with multiple conditions and a lack of self-care resources, including the elderly. Read More »
As drug manufacturers continue to race for the leg-up in Hepatitis C treatments, providers need to be aware of seniors' special risk factors. Read More »
A wrist fracture may be deemed a harmless injury, but it’s a bellwether for future trouble. Balance training can help decrease risks, a new study says. Read More »
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is reaching deeper into primary care assessments to develop individualized treatment plans to reduce risks and promote wellness. Read More »
Fewer than one in five women who break their hip receive at least one of the recommended osteoporosis screening tests or treatments within six months of incidence, according to a metaanalysis from the AARP Public Policy Institute. Read More »
Got arthritis? The two primary drug makers of arthritis medication have submitted new patents that may keep the drugs off the generic shelf for now. Read More »
The program is the first in the country to offer an advanced degree based on person-centered decision making, and will include courses in palliative care, dementia care and gerontology. Read More »
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is investigating manufacturer claims and three active ingredients to make sure hand sanitizers reduces bacteria on hands without any unwanted residue—or consequences. Read More »
Molecular scientists in the U.K. have discovered new breakdowns at the cellular level, challenging previous thinking on what causes the degenerative disease. Read More »
The idea of a live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) administered by nasal spray may be appealing, but it’s not effective and shouldn’t be used next flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Read More »
Opioid addiction isn’t limited to young people or to shifty characters in a back alley. Many older adults struggle with addiction to painkillers, warns a leading addiction specialist. Read More »
The AMDA—Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine Population Health Workgroup has released new data on the long-term/post-acute care population and the types of care and supports needed, especially in nursing homes. Read More »
SNF resident blogger Kathleen Mears explains why some residents prefer to have their portions of their care delivered by an aide of a certain gender. Read More »
Cases of Legionnaire’s disease have been reported at three long-term care facilities since May. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the number reported cases has quadrupled since 2000. Read More »
Unclear or incomplete documentation of end-of-life care choices makes a paramedic’s job even harder, especially when transferring residents from a nursing home to the hospital, says a British explorative paper. How much training are you giving residents and families on the importance of a POLST form? Read More »
An eight-site accountable care organization (ACO) is using point-of-care HbA1c testing, care management and nutrition intervention to bring its population of patients in good control of their Type 2 diabetes from 12 percent to nearly 50 percent. Read More »
A new program, Serving Smiles to Seniors, informs older adults on the importance of good oral health, access to oral healthcare services and techniques for a healthy smile. Read More »
New data supports the use of the drug NUDEXTA to treat pseudobulbar affect (PBA), a condition found in those with brain injuries, neurological damage from stroke or dementia and certain neuromuscular diseases. Read More »
Are residents having trouble sleeping at night and focusing during the day? Pump up their exercise regimen, suggests a study on the circadian rhythms of older adults. Read More »
A new study found residents with Alzheimer’s disease were less likely to be restrained or medicated at nursing homes where frontline staff spoke regularly with memory care specialists, suggesting quality outcomes can improve with expert intervention. Read More »
Data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows there are some distinct causes of death that warrant public attention, preventive programs and classification reconsideration. Read More »
Researchers have documented the first known U.S. case of an E. coli bacteria with the resistance gene mcr-1. But researchers worry that if the hard-wired resistance spreads, it could change the face of the bacterial battle for good. Read More »
