Prescribing medication is an art form requiring the physician to weigh the delicate balance between a medication’s benefits and potential risks. Read More »
The final chapter in the series “12 Steps to QAPI” shows how preparation, organization, data and action can correct and improve processes to enhance the quality of care your residents receive. Read More »
Do you know what nursing facilities' obligations are when it comes to reporting and investigating claims of abuse or neglect? The Office of Inspector General has new recommendations to help ensure that you do. Read More »
In hospitals and long-term care settings, caregivers often have to change tubing on medical equipment. A high risk of misconnection exists because of various compatible delivery systems, so the Joint Commission has issued a Sentinel Event Alert. Read More »
Providing 24/7 RN coverage in nursing homes is the goal of a new bill introduced July 31. Having the most highly qualified professionals available ensures that residents receive optimal care at any hour of the day. Read More »
What’s for dinner? Are you planning and serving residents meals that are in line with the new dining standards? A new toolkit helps to implement these requirements. Read More »
When a problem is identified, QAPI Step 11 shows how to perform a root cause analysis so an effective remedy can be implemented to prevent future events and keep residents safe from harm. Read More »
It’s nearing that time of the year again when it's important to review your residents’ history of vaccinations and to schedule the various inoculations, including pneumonia, that will protect them from infections in the coming months. Read More »
In Texas, some nursing homes with serious violations have avoided penalties without correcting violations, according to a recent report by the Texas Sunset Commision. Read More »
Maintaining a healthy weight might not be helpful for a senior with a sepsis infection, according to a new study. Excess weight can help the body fight infection. Read More »
You cannot retaliate against an employee just because he or she exercised the right to demand a safe work environment and perhaps filed a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. But here's what you can do. Read More »
Bring staff on board to apply reliability principles in their efforts to prevent and control the incidents of infection in the congregate setting of long-term care. Read More »
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 »
Insurance coverage and healthcare professional awareness could increase the frequency of senior driving evaluations, leading to improved safety on the roads, researchers say. Read More »
Smoke-free nursing homes are becoming the norm. Long-Term Living blogger Kathleen Mears shares her opinions on the benefits of a total ban on tobacco products. Read More »
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 »
A five-year-old case in which a nursing home resident with dementia remains accused of strangling her roommate to death is continuing to raise issues of resident rights, family requests and legal responsibilities for long-term care providers. Read More »
The National Quality Measures Clearinghouse database of the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is adding 22 evidence-based quality measures related to pain management in long-term care. Read More »
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 »
The official start of summer is just about a week away. Make sure you’re ready to assist and advise your residents on simple solutions to “beat the heat.” Read More »
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 »
A jury has returned a $3.3 million verdict against a Colorado skilled nursing facility after the sister of a resident claimed negligence in a civil suit. Read More »
Older adults in poor health or with disability are more at risk to suffer from long-term effects of medical injury (adverse medical events), a study finds. Read More »
A state survey is an important facet of ensuring that residents receive quality care, yet it always creates a sense of dread for administrators and staff. Residents know instinctively when their home is being inspected. Read More »
Elder abuse happens more often than people like to admit. Whatever form the abuse takes—whether it’s physical, mental or financial—the costs are too high. Read More »
