Skilled Clinical Care

The ‘thankful for’ tree

This holiday season, blogger Kathleen Mears is grateful for the opportunity she and her fellow residents had to give thanks and participate in the celebrations. Read More »

AMDA strengthens partnership with gerontology nurses

AMDA is continuing to expand its historically-physician-based membership scope by forging deeper relationships with the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association. Read More »

U. Pitt to study exercise and brain health

How much does exercise matter to brain aging? Does the type of exercise affect outcomes? University of Pittsburgh researchers just got $21 million to explore the questions. Read More »

OIG scrutinizes SNFs and therapy reimbursement

The office’s 2017 workplan targets rehabilitation, hospice and hyperbaric oxygen therapy services, in addition to SNF billing. Read More »

12 steps to reducing antianxiety/hypnotic meds

Want to extend the efforts to reduce unnecessary medications even further? Here’s how you can cut back on other behavior medications in a non-pharmacological way. Read More »

PAC more important than hospital for hip fractures

A new study has found that for older adults hospitalized with hip fracture, the quality of post-acute care has more of an affect recovery than care received at the hospital.  Read More »

New bathing glove eases hygiene tasks

The parent company of the Tena products has launched a disposable bathing glove designed with seniors in mind. Read More »

The changing season of CMS

As the season shifts into fall, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is launching a new season of regulations for long-term and post-acute care. Read More »

How the RAI Manual changes encourage collaboration

AANAC's Judi Kulus, RN breaks down the impacts of the new RAI Manual changes and why SNF needs to collaborate better among their care teams and with their outside partners—including therapy providers and home health. Read More »

The psychology of rehab

Fretting about CJR and rehab outcomes? Here’s why one of the best additions to your rehabilitation service line might be a psychologist. Read More »

NPs improve nursing home transfer process, clinical outcomes

New findings from the OPTIMISITC study found nurse practitioners improved clinical outcomes and safety for residents transitioning from the hospital back to the nursing home. Read More »

Most diabetics don’t get eye exams, study finds

A majority of people with diabetes don’t receive annual eye exams despite the fact that they are at an increased risk of developing serious eye conditions, according to new research. Read More »

SigmaCare, Health Outcomes Worldwide partner for wound care

SigmaCare will integrate Health Outcomes Worldwide’s how2trak Wound Care platform into its electronic health record to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs and manage risk of pressure ulcers. Read More »

PointClickCare launches new wound care app

PointClickCare announced its latest skin and wound smartphone app to track wound status and healing. Read More »

Admissions, discharges and data-sharing

Will hospitals and nursing homes ever be able to agree on a standard set of data to share during patient transfers? Thought leaders at the annual NASL meeting discuss the current regs—and what needs to happen next. Read More »

Personality and perceptions of aging linked to depression

A new study found that improving self-perceptions related to efficacy and aging in older adults can reduce signs of depression in older adults.  Read More »

Is senior care going to pot?

As more states pass laws legalizing medical marijuana, how will federal lawmakers react to the new climate? Read More »

Watch for signs of malnutrition

When it comes to malnutrition among older adults, quality matters more than quantity. Read More »

Animal comforts

Aminals have a special power to connect with seniors, including those whose dementia makes it hard for them to communicate. Furry, fuzzy and feathered assistants help their human counterparts engage residents with company and comfort near the end of life. Read More »

Wanted: A room of my own

Blogger Kathleen Mears lives in a semi-private room but prefers to live alone. She’s been lucky to have a room to herself but knows it’s a matter of time when, not if, she’ll get a roommate. Read More »

Defuse disputes with arbitration clauses

Properly drafted arbitration clauses can help reduce resident disputes, but families may still need help understanding the terms. Read More »

Shortage of female urologists met with growing need

A recent study has found women prefer to see female urologists, but that can be a challenge because female urologists are a small minority.  Read More »

Ethnicity and aging: Latina es mejor!

Latinos have higher rates of diabetes and other illnesses—so why do they age slower than other ethnicities? Read More »

Warning labels reduced improper medicine crushing

Researchers found that medicine packaging and training classes reduced the number of pill-crushing errors at nursing homes in the Netherlands.  Read More »

Pill organizers could put seniors at risk

Researchers studied the effectiveness of pill organizers and found seniors who used multi-compartment compliance aids (MCAs) had a higher incidence of falls. Read More »

Seniors with RA may have lower cancer survival rate

Researchers found relationship between cancer mortality rate and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is more pronounced in tumors with longer expected survival rates, including breast and prostate cancers.  Read More »