Mobility

The case of the missing jewelry

Facility life can lead to accidental loss or damage to a resident’s personal belongings as Long-Term Living’s resident blogger Kathleen Mears recently discovered. Read More »

Practice to protect

Staff readiness to react to a natural disaster or dangerous situations is imperative in long-term care environments. Read More »

A surprise transport

Not only distance but transportation arrangements can make a trip to the doctor’s office a logistical nightmare for a person with disabilities. Read More »

They’re older and loving it

Older adults in the news, surveys and research show that aging can be something to look forward to. Read More »

Fall risk: Older adults safer when walking for pleasure rather than necessity

Older adults are at a greater danger of falling when walking for utilitarian purposes such as shopping and appointments than when walking for recreation, according to a new study. Read More »

Night shift frolics

Is it an emergency? Does the resident need assistance? Is it an equipment malfunction? These questions cannot be answered unless staff responds to call lights. Read More »

Sleep problems may signify Parkinson’s disease

Vivid, violent dreams may be one indication that the neurodegenerative disease is in someone's future, according to new research. Read More »

Exercise: An important 25 minutes in a senior’s day

Engaging in a daily fitness regimen of moderate to vigorous exercise can help seniors maintain a better standard of health, according to a UK study. Read More »

Doctor at a distance

We are expected to be on time for medical appointments but usually end up sitting in the waiting room. Compound that wait with a long round-trip ride and that one appointment can take all day.  Read More »

Projects for frail elderly receive federal funding

Collaboration and technology figure prominently in projects across the country earmarked for up to $360 million in funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Care Innovation Awards program. Read More »

Doctors helpful when it’s time for seniors to stop driving

Physicians can be valuable allies when adult children or others think it’s time for seniors to stop driving, according to a new survey of older adults. Read More »

OSHA resource looks to reduce, prevent LTC workplace injuries

Muscle strains, sprains, low back injuries and tendinitis are some of the workplace hazards LTC workers face each day. A new resource offers recommendations to prevent these painful and costly incidents. Read More »

Design guidelines aim to assist those with dementia, sight loss

New design guidelines from the Thomas Pocklington Trust and University of Stirling in the United Kingdom seek to enable those with dementia and sight loss to remain as independent as possible in seniors housing or at home. Read More »

An unfortunate involuntary discharge

The kindness of strangers helps an involuntarily discharged nursing home resident with his immediate needs and plans for the future. Read More »

Battery blues

Car problems can be a problem for anyone. Imagine the frustration and fear of someone with disabilities when his or her vehicle breaks down. Read More »

Osteoporosis treatment successful in frail, functionally impaired women

A new study confirms that zoledronic acid is effective in preserving bone density and improving skeletal integrity in women formerly not included in clinical trials. Read More »

‘Manhattan Project in fall injury prevention’ gets under way

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 »

Partnerships@Work: Hip protection goes high-tech

One senior living provider sought a way to reduce hip fractures due to falls and found a product that residents actually will wear. Staff members like it, too, because it's relatively easy to care for. Read More »

The walk-and-roll outing

An outdoor outing might seem like a simple pleasure, but it can present challenges to long-term care residents. Overcoming the difficulties mobility issues can present are worth it to give residents a break from the routines of facility life. Read More »

Wheelchair workouts improve mobility and more

Sitting in a wheelchair does not mean that a person is incapable of physical activity or the benefits that regular exercise can bring.  Read More »

Adult portable bed handles recalled

A potential for injury and/or death from bed handles that can cause entrapment without safety straps triggers a voluntary recall. Read More »

2 die in nursing home attack

A wheelchair part is the weapon of choice in a nursing home crime for at least the second time in six months. Read More »

May is Older Americans Month

Their numbers continue to grow and they still exert a powerful impact on their families, friends, community and society as a whole. It’s time to honor and celebrate older adults. Read More »

Senior gambling: Amusement or addiction?

Are residents being treated like children by giving them “permission” to pursue their interests or are facilities and families protecting them from themselves?  Read More »

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month

It's not too late to inform your residents and community about Parkinson's disease, a chronic, progressive and life-changing movement disorder. Read More »

Care coordination meets sensor technology

More partnering activity for Caremerge combines sensor-based monitoring technology and care coordination.  Read More »

Out of the blue, I fainted

Professional caregivers must try to prepare for the unexpected in their daily work, says our resident blogger. Read More »

Treadmill program may help seniors avoid falls

Seniors and physical therapists one day may benefit from a computerized treadmill program under development to prevent falls and fall-related injuries in older adults. Read More »

Low-cost program reduces falls in elderly by 17 percent

As more seniors receive long-term care in their homes and communities, a recent study has found a low-cost way to use existing aging services to aid in falls prevention. Read More »

Chemical restraint replaces physical restraint in SNFs

Public reporting of the use of physical restraints has led to the increased use of antipsychotic medications in nursing home residents whose cognition is severely impaired, according to new research. Read More »