December 29, 2014 |

Your 2014-2015 flu preparation kit

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s flu season and how to prepare your facilities, staff members and residents. Click on the headlines below to access the articles.

Flu vaccination low among long-term care workers

Flu vaccination among healthcare personnel is lowest among those working in long-term care settings, but employers can take two actions to encourage it, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Encourage residents, staff to get vaccinated against flu

Certain adults are more vulnerable than others, and vaccination rates vary by gender and geography. See what you can do, and find out what this year’s vaccine covers.

CDC releases new flu toolkit

A sick workforce can create staffing and resident wellness challenges for long-term care providers. A new toolkit is designed to help employers educate their staff members on the importance of being vaccinated against influenza.

3 ways to fight the flu

A three-pronged approach can help prevent influenza or reduce its effects, according to the CDC.

Flu season could be severe, CDC predicts

The prevalence of particularly nasty flu viruses this year is prompting the CDC to predict a potentially severe flu season. The agency recommends immediate vaccination or quick treatment as warranted.

CDC recommends 2 pneumonia vaccines for older adults

Following advice from the CDC, you’ll want to ensure that older residents and employees are vaccinated against pneumonia at the same time that they receive the flu shot. The government now recommends two pneumonia vaccines over the course of most people’s lives.

NCOA gears up for flu season

The National Council on Aging’s annual Flu + You campaign offers updated educational materials and new technology for teaching seniors and their families about the risks associated with the flu and ways to protect older adults from infection.

Flu: High-dose vaccine shows benefit in LTC residents

A high-dose flu vaccine is significantly better than a regular flu shot at boosting the immune response to the flu virus in frail, older residents of long-term care facilities, according to the results of a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study.

I Advance Senior Care

I Advance Senior Care is the industry-leading source for practical, in-depth, business-building, and resident care information for owners, executives, administrators, and directors of nursing at assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities, post-acute facilities, and continuing care retirement communities. The I Advance Senior Care editorial team and industry experts provide market analysis, strategic direction, policy commentary, clinical best-practices, business management, and technology breakthroughs.

I Advance Senior Care is part of the Institute for the Advancement of Senior Care and published by Plain-English Health Care.