Over the next 10 years, SNFs will face $65 billion in Medicare cuts. Have they been pushed off the fiscal cliff as Medicare payments continue to be reduced for skilled care? Read More »
Too much wasted pharmacy stock, no access to the right drugs late at night and nurses spending more time with medication punch cards than with residents. Sound familiar? As managing the pharmacy delivery in long-term care becomes more complex, a mature technology sees a brand new life in long-term care. Read More »
While the original filing deadline has passed, states have been given another extension for compliance with Obamacare’s health insurance exchange mandate. Read More »
As of the fourth quarter of 2012, units under construction in assisted living properties equated to 3.0 percent of the existing assisted living inventory within the top 31 metropolitan markets. Construction activity has been oscillating for more than a year, but has clearly moved past the lows established in 2009. Read More »
MedPAC recommends that Congress vote to keep the special needs plans under Medicare Advantage, although some of the plans perform better than others. Read More »
Each year, hundreds of people die in fires caused by heating equipment, including portable space heaters, according to the National Fire Protection Association. While prohibited in smoke compartments where residents are present in skilled nursing facilities, portable electric space heaters continue to find their way into LTC facilities of all types. Read More »
Which marketing tactics are working best for your facility? Direct referrals aren't the only way to measure the worth of your marketing strategies. Read More »
Studies and plans are worthless if they end up gathering dust on a shelf. Eric Hall, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, is determined to shape the federal government's national Alzheimer's plan to include concrete, practical steps that address the insidious disease. Read More »
When it comes to longevity, a healthy attitude about aging matters. Colorado researchers are working on a way to measure self-perceived age. Read More »
Because of the stronger likelihood that more women will access benefits than men, long-term care insurance providers are rethinking their policy premiums. Read More »
Another 106 provider organizations make the CMS list of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), bringing the number of covered beneficiaries to more than 4 million. Read More »
Properly installed bed rails can be protective devices, but if misused or improperly installed/maintained, they can be unsafe for the elderly long-term care resident—even deadly. Read More »
An especially aggressive influenza strain and a nationwide outbreak of norovirus are joining forces to form one of the worst flu seasons in decades. Read More »
Noting that “more needs to be done” to tackle the escalating incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) has released a report that offers more than three dozen recommendations to build upon the current goals of the federal government’s national Alzheimer’s plan. Read More »
When tidal surges and flood waters from Superstorm Sandy damaged or completely washed away homes this past November, many independent, elderly homeowners began to rethink their housing and safety options. Read More »
The Joint Commission has revised its skilled nursing and rehabilitation accreditation standards, and now offers specialty services facilities a new way to certify their expertise. Read More »
Some memory lapses are a normal part of aging. However, when quality of life and daily functioning are disturbed, accurately diagnosing the type of dementia is necessary for treatment. Read More »
Hospitals have had electronic health records (EHRs) for years. Now it's long-term care's turn. Industry leaders weigh in on EHR technology and long-term/post-acute care's newly respected role in the patient-centered care continuum. Read More »
The long-term care market is poised for growth in 2013 after the industry experienced a significant increase in mergers and acquisitions activity, refinancings and development projects over the last couple of years. To access capital that is increasingly available, borrowers should review their funding options and do their homework about specific lenders before submitting a financing request. Read More »
Always a stressful situation, a trip to the ER and a subsequent admission present challenges for those with physical challenges that require adaptations in caregiving. Read More »
Congress is considering new legislation that would erase many of the barriers to telehealth adoption and create better incentives for providers. Read More »
As my long-term care administrator and clinician friends and colleagues know, there’s rarely true respite from the unrelenting demands of the healthcare industry. And as if you didn’t have enough work-related issues on your plate, 2013 has kicked off with a political and regulatory bang. Read More »
Want to play a game? Things that are fun CAN be good for you: Computer-enabled gaming can get residents to do their physical and occupational therapy regimens and keep their brains sharp, too. Read More »
In many LTC facilities, nurse aides and practical nurses don't always have the benefit of regular contact with physicians and registered nurses. Do your NAs and PNs have the training they need to recognize skin conditions and administer the best wound care? Read More »
