CMS has followed the lead of a preventive services agency and proposed coverage of annual lung cancer screenings for certain older adults. But can Medicare afford it? Read More »
This week’s departure of the top two executives at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology are the latest in a series of leadership turnovers at ONC. What will it mean for IT initiatives for quality improvement and transitions of care? Read More »
New federal guidance outlines the responsibilities and actions a facility needs to take when it suspects a resident is a victim of a financial crime. Read More »
Medicare and Social Security Boards of Trustees today released reports predicting the financial future of funds that support benefits, and they offered suggestions for addressing challenges. Read More »
You can learn a lot from those who love you, those who like you and those who hate you. Put that knowledge to work to improve your financial well-being. Read More »
A new standard proposes the implementation of stronger safeguards against Legionnaires' disease, the incidence of which is increasing. The elderly are particularly vulnerable, and long-term care facilities that don't take precautions might find themselves at risk for mitigation and litigation expenses. Read More »
Drug-resistant infection rates are rising in long-term care. Healthcare-associated infections result in at least 100,000 resident deaths per year. When was the last time you examined your facility’s cleaning and disinfection protocols? Read More »
A just-announced five-year, $30 million research project in falls prevention may yield lessons for senior living providers and the residents they serve. Read More »
The state of the economy and the continuing aging of the population mean that interest in the "affordable assisted living" model–serving those receiving Medicaid assistance–is growing, according to speakers at the Assisted Living Federation of America annual conference. They shared tips for those interested in operating properties under this model. Read More »
I thought all healthcare workers knew the signs and symptoms of stroke. I was wrong. But May, National Stroke Awareness Month, presents an ideal opportunity for long-term care facilities to offer education. Read More »
Some healthcare professionals are raising concerns that more stringent glucose monitoring system standards proposed by the FDA would affect availability of the devices for use in nursing homes and other settings. Read More »
Proper care of an ostomy site can avoid unnecessary infections and maintain a resident’s dignity and comfort. These tips and resources can help caregivers manage the challenges associated with pouching systems and help them foster positive attitudes in residents who have them. Read More »
From courtship to a permanent union, hospitals and long-term care facilities have a lot to gain by working together. A look at the evolution of the AC/PAC relationship. Read More »
This Kentucky couple embarked on a six-state journey seeking a continuing care retirement community that could suit their needs. What they learned from their multiple-day stays at CCRCs can serve as important lessons for all LTC communities on what future residents are looking for—and not looking for—in their next home. Read More »
The rising acuity of nursing home residents and the prevalence of increasingly resistant infections are compelling many long-term care organizations to ramp up infection control training and institute antibiotic stewardship programs. Read More »
A plan by Congress may finally fix sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula issues for physicians, but long-term care and outpatient therapy services could suffer in the process. Read More »
OSHA is taking a harder look at workplace violence in long-term care facilities. These tips can help you prepare your staff and shore up your documentation procedures. Read More »
It's estimated that more than 2 million seniors in New York will need some kind of long-term care by 2015. Read about the assisted living initiatives under way in that state—and how communities elsewhere might benefit. Read More »
Without administrative buy-in, leadership and active participants, resident committees have difficulty being effective and relevant. Kathleen Mears shares her experience on various resident committees. Read More »
As Falls Prevention Awareness Day approaches, experts offer tips staff members can implement to improve resident safety as well as insights into how falls contribute to vision-related costs to the government, private insurers and individuals. Read More »
Got tech? Many long-term care communities are already adopting electronic health records, but Long-Term Living’s readers told us their technology plans also include e-medication administration technology, wander management/safety systems and an increasing awareness of the business impacts of technology on delivering quality care. Read More »
From medical-model nursing homes to the advent of Medicare/Medicaid to the adoption of the ACA and beyond, caring for our seniors has been a constantly evolving mission and challenge. Read More »
Updated 3:30 p.m. Last night’s PBS documentary on assisted living has enraged many, both because of what it revealed and what it didn’t reveal. Read More »
