Nicole Stempak
Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.
Connecticut to require comprehensive employee background check for long-term care facilities
The state Department of Public Health launched an applicant background check Web portal designed to protect residents and help long-term care providers identify offenders who might not be suited to work at their facilities. Read More » Leg strength associated with brain health in older women
Researchers found older women with strong legs had better cognition, suggesting leg power can be used to predict cognitive ageing in women. Read More » Boost the bottom line by boosting staff morale
Surveys show that engaged staff improves morale, productivity and the bottom line. A healthcare staffing and engagement consultant offers four ways to engage with staff, shift the workplace culture and create a better experience for both staff and residents. Read More » Brain fitness program improved cognition and brain size
A multidisciplinary study of seniors with mild cognitive impairment not caused by Alzheimer’s disease was found to improve cognition and reverse hippocampal atrophy through a 12-week program. Read More » Two-thirds of Alzheimer’s disease cases attributed to 9 risk factors
A comprehensive review of past Alzheimer's disease research identifies nine strong risk factors. Some of those risks are modifiable, suggesting preventative treatments could reduce disease onset. Read More » Repurposing an old tool to yield new insights about quality of care
The National Core Indicators – Aging and Disabilities (NCI-AD) assessment tool has been adapted to measure quality for millions of seniors and adults with physical disabilities. Read More » Study: More insurance options can improve long-term services and supports
A new study sponsored by LeadingAge, The SCAN Foundation and AARP found the number of Americans who need long-term help with daily activities will more than double by 2055. New insurance options are needed to pay for increasing costs. Read More » Next year’s calendar girls (and guys) revealed
A Virginia retirement community poses to the tune of classic hits to highlight its clubs and activities while raising money for residents experiencing financial difficulty. Read More » Seniors with dementia who visit ER fare worse than those without dementia
A new study finds older adults with dementia are frequent emergency department visitors, have greater comorbidity, higher hospital admittance rates, higher emergency return rate, higher mortality rate after an ED visit and incur higher charges than people without dementia. Read More » University of South Carolina establishes aging institute
The University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health received a $7 million endowment to focus on health concerns for young children and older adults. Read More » Authorities rule nursing home resident death a heroin overdose
A Southern Ohio nursing home resident died earlier this year from a heroin overdose. The woman had been an addict, and her husband has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for supplying the drugs. Read More » Cancer drug may help treat advanced Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia
An FDA-approved drug for leukemia improved cognition, motor skills and non-motor function in patients with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia in a small phase 1 clinical trial. The drug, nilotinib, led to statistically significant changes in toxic proteins linked to disease progression. Read More » Turning physical therapy into a game
A team has created a series of fun-to-play video games that track repititions, evaluate speed and range of movement. The games entertain people, give them feedback and provide a sense of accomplishment while also sending reports to physical therapists, who can measure progress between appointments. Read More » Women with Alzheimer’s disease saw no cognitive benefit taking raloxifene
Researchers found raloxifene did not improve cognition for women with late-onset mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. The selective estrogen receptor modulator has been reported to improve verbal memory in older women without dementia. Read More » Study to test whether HRMS improves patient outcomes
Eventa and American Green Technology partner to measure how effective the Health Risk Management System (HRMS) is at improving outcomes for ventilator patients. Read More » Office of Inspector General plans to crack down on fraud and cut costs
The OIG released its Work Plan for fiscal year 2016. Long-term care providers can expect reviews of claims and payment documentation as well as consolidated equipment and pharmaceutical purchases. Read More » Tracking Alzheimer’s-associated protein tangles spread through the brain
New research tracks how a rare version of the tau protein moves from neuron to neuron as the disease progresses through the brain. Read More » Unidine gives memory care patients nutritious, delicious and bite-sized food to chew on
The company announces a 2016 launch for new line of cuisine prepared specifically for memory care residents. Read More » A Round up of LeadingAge 2015
A look at what attendees were talking about in the hallways and online about LeadingAge's 2015 annual conference and expo in Boston. Read More » LeadingAge transitions but pledges to continue leading
LeadingAge’s president-elect Katie Smith Sloan and board chair-elect Kathryn Roberts vow to keep changing to meet changing industry needs. Read More » Skilled nursing facility provider accused of falsifying Medicare claims
Department of Justice intervenes in three separate lawsuits alleging SavaSeniorCare provided unnecessary therapy treatment and delayed discharges to increase Medicare payments to help meet unrealistic corporate financial goals. Read More » Hospital, healthcare software company announce partnership
Mountain States Health Alliance hospitals will use SilverSearch searchable tablet directory to help patients search post-acute care facilities. Read More » Lower cholesterol levels, lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease
Study finds relationship between gene variation and increased risk factor for cognitive decline, particularly among people with high cholesterol and heart disease. Read More » Online connectivity connected to seniors’ well-being
Helping older adults use technology to connect with others may improve their quality of life, survey finds. Read More » Next Avenue announces 2015 Influencers in Aging
Next Avenue, public media’s national news service for people over age 50, honors 50 experts and everyday people who are improving the lives of older adults. Read More » Guide helps nursing home residents, their families talk about hospitalization
Florida Atlantic University has created an evidence-based decision guide to educate nursing home residents and their loved ones available treatment options ahead of an emergency. Read More » Does for-profit status make a difference between life and death in long-term care?
Researchers found publicly funded for-profit nursing home facilities in Canada have significantly higher rates of both mortality and hospital admissions. Read More » Treatment the leading threat to elderly patient safety
The greatest threat to older patients’ safety in primary care is the risk of treatment itself, according to research from New Zealand. Read More » Low vitamin D levels a dementia risk factor for darker-skinned individuals
Researchers found participants with low vitamin D levels experienced cognitive decline at a rate three times faster than those with adequate vitamin D levels, a concern because darker-skinned people have more difficulty absorbing the vitamin naturally from the sun and were found to have lower dietary intake. Read More » 