Safety

The benefits of dysphagia evaluations

Speech language pathologists outline the advantages of instrumental evaluations to capture residents’ swallowing abilities for diagnosing dysphagia.  Read More »

When domestic violence comes to work

Employers should create safety policies and procedures for handling domestic violence before it arrives on the doorstep. Read More »

When domestic violence doesn’t stay at home

Employers should create safety policies and procedures for handling domestic violence before it arrives on the doorstep. Read More »

Woman impersonates cleaner, steals from residents, police say

A Florida woman has been charged for allegedly rummaging through resident rooms. Read More »

Emergency: Is evacuation the best choice?

Evacuate? Shelter in place? A new study shows that fleeing an emergency can still have harmful effects on elderly residents. Read More »

Back on my feet

After some missteps, the nurse manager told resident blogger Kathleen Mears she can once again stand to transfer.  Read More »

The risks of being home alone

Seniors can jeopardize their health when they refuse home health services after being discharged from the hospital.  Read More »

Balancing resident safety with quality of life

Four senior living executives weigh in on the threat of litigation and demands of helicopter children while providing a meaningful life for residents.  Read More »

Elderly resident faces arson, aggravated assault charges

A 76-year-old resident faces charges over a fire in his bedroom at a Georgia personal care home. Read More »

Mobility aids increase falls risk with dementia

Researchers examine the likelihood of falling when people with dementia use a cane or walker.  Read More »

Getting a lift

Hoyer lifts may help staff feel more secure about resident transfers, but blogger Kathleen Mears feels more uncomfortable and less independent when she can’t stand on her own two feet.  Read More »

4 dead in Ohio nursing home shooting

Two nursing home employees and the town’s police chief are among those killed. Read More »

Lending a hand to infection control

May 5 is World Hand Hygiene Day, a great time for a staff refresher in the importance of maintaining proper hand hygiene protocols. Read More »

Loud, proud and aging

New research shows how lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender seniors are stronger but also more vulnerable to health risks as they age, highlighting the importance of community and understanding. Read More »

Flooring company wants patients to step in line

Ecore flooring is expanding its research project to see if flooring can reduce falls risk in healthcare environments. Read More »

Top 10 patient safety concerns for 2017: ECRI Institute

Electronic Health Record information management tops the list of this year's key patient safety issues across all healthcare sectors, but assisted living and skilled nursing facilities are directly involved in three other items on the list. Read More »

Hoyer lift can handle more weight

Joerns Healthcare has released a new and improved version of its Hoyer lift for bariatric residents. Read More »

Guarded purse strings

Resident blogger Kathleen Mears manages her money with a close eye to keep track of her own spending and to make sure someone isn’t spending her money.  Read More »

Caregiver fired for behavior toward resident with dementia

A nursing home employee was fired and faces criminal charges for a sexually provocative dance directed at a resident with dementia. Read More »

TX hospice indicted for $60M fraud, overmedicating

Sixteen people are mired in a $60 million scheme to rip off Medicare for false hospice services, including giving Schedule II controlled pain medication to patients who didn’t need them. Read More »

Age-friendly dining

Researchers have designed a new tool to assess how elder-friendly a dining space is. Turns out, healthy dining for older adults is about a lot more than food. How would your dining venues rate? Read More »

An unanswered call light

It wasn’t a bump in the night, but resident blogger Kathleen Mears explains how scary it was waiting for her aides to come in one morning. Read More »

A co-managed approach to hip fractures

The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is pairing geriatricians and geriatrics-trained clinicians with orthopedic surgeons to improve outcomes for seniors with hip fractures. Read More »

Domestic dispute unfolds at nursing home

Nursing home staff and law enforcement put training into practice and followed procedures after a man entered the secured facility and threatened violence.  Read More »

Fighting superbugs with genetic warfare

As antibiotic resistance grows, scientists are learning how to attack killer bacteria at the genetic level. Read More »

Delirium causes confusion for patients, caregivers

Delirium in long-term care settings is subtle, deadly and more prevalent than caregivers think, according to new findings.  Read More »

Two SNF residents died from neglect

State investigations on two resident deaths highlight the importance of proper procedures and intervention documentation. Read More »

Elder falls prevention

While there's no silver bullet to prevent falls, several strategies can reduce the risks, says a rehabilitation services provider. Read More »

Aide fired for slapping resident with dementia

A memory care aide has been fired and charged with assault and disorderly conduct for slapping a resident who wandered out of bed during the night. Read More »

CMS offers compliance guidelines to HCBS settings on wandering

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released compliance guideline fact sheet for home- and community-based providers who care for people who exhibit wandering or exit-seeking. Read More »