RACs are now allowed to request a maximum of 400 medical records in a 45-day period, while SNFs must provide documentation for Medicare beneficiaries’ entire episodes of care. Read More »
This second of four Environments for Aging Citation of Merit winners illustrates creative solutions to design and healthcare challenges. Fresh, contemporary design meets residents’ needs at this CCRC. Read More »
More that 200 residents at Greenspring Retirement Community receive well-deserved recognition for the exceptional service they provide to others. Thousands of hours of dedicated giving not only benefits the the people and organizations they serve, but these selfless individuals achieve hours of self-fulfillment. Read More »
This first of four Environments for Aging Citation of Merit winners illustrates creative solutions to design and healthcare challenges. The homey skilled nursing facility excels in both form and function. Read More »
Final rule implements provisions of the Affordable Care Act that terminated several eligibility categories for Medicaid in favor of an income-based standard of 133 percent of the federal poverty level. Read More »
As spring approaches, the back dining room grows warm and Melinda's plants will sprout. Soon our staff members will be buying the seedlings to plant in their gardens at home—for a price, of course. Read More »
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission recommends SNF payments rebasing in 2014 with an initial reduction of 4 percent and reduced payments to SNFs with higher rates of rehospitalization. Read More »
LTC providers should be as proactive and savvy as the American Medical Association when it comes to lobbying Congress by convincing residents to go to war for them when necessary. Read More »
The initiative aims to fund organizations that would partner with nursing facilities to provide enhanced on-site services to residents through evidence-based interventions. Read More »
Researchers said recognizing the differences between RNs and LPNs could lead to fewer medication errors in nursing homes, where an estimated 800,000 preventable adverse drug events occur annually. Read More »
A new mandate included in the Affordable Care Act requires a compliance and ethics program for nursing home providers. To achieve quality care through this regulation, staff education on RAI processes will become necessary. Read More »
LTC educator and consultant Leah Klusch offers critical guidance in navigating upcoming revisions in the resident assessment process. Providers, take note: The definitions for many terms and items have been changed. Read More »
Representatives from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare last week visited an Evercare office to learn more about an “advanced nurse practitioner care model.” Read More »
Investing in a senior living community through targeted interior design can significantly increase its value and marketing potential while creating a comfortable home for residents. Read More »
The movement to change the culture of nursing homes to create environments that are real homes, not institutional warehouses, is also changing approaches to staff education. But what types of learning activities support culture change? Read More »
The LeadingAge Center for Applied Research will study the role that publicly assisted, service-enriched housing for older adults can play in helping residents "age in place." Read More »
The hospital staff was amazed at the solid stream of people that was in and out of Clifford’s room. He never spent a second alone. Often the hospital nurses would ask, “Are you family?” The answer was always the same: “We are from the nursing home, and yes, we are his ‘family.’” Read More »
To have longstanding success, organizations need to view repositioning as a “state of mind,” not an event. Repositioning should take a holistic approach that focuses on the entire organization and its future, resulting in the examination of the organization’s strategic direction and goals. Read More »
More than half of respondents to a Canadian health survey of men aged 55 to 97 fear ailments that would risk compromising independence and quality of life. Read More »
Scuffles are common here among residents. They sort of come in spurts of two or three. If a resident is loud and another resident does not like it, a slap for hit may be the result, especially when staff is not looking. Read More »
It’s time to ring in Long Term Care Administrators Week. ACHCA's Grachek begins the celebration by reflecting on the profession’s challenges, praising your resolve and encouraging all to remain steadfast toward the future. Read More »
The drug denepezil, used for the treatment of dementia and mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, may help patients with more severe cases as well. Read More »
As the Greatest Generation begins its curtain call, the Baby Boomers are waiting in the wings of the long-term care theater. Providers need to begin changing their settings now--There is no intermission. Read More »
Since my last blog there have been a number of meetings and reports that are very important to long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) providers and IT vendors. Here’s a review of these events and some information on how you can get involved. Read More »
Prudential Financial, Inc., has discontinued the sale of individual LTC insurance plans and will focus solely on group long-term care insurance, according to a company announcement. Read More »
All of the policy in the world likely would not stop someone from going as heinously rogue as this nursing assistant. That type of behavior considers neither rules nor decorum and should be met with zero tolerance on the part of employers. Read More »
The recovery in assisted living occupancy took a pause at the end of 2011, as occupancy remained unchanged, according to NIC MAP. Absorption continued to remain positive, as did year-over-year rent growth. Read More »
