Patricia Sheehan
Patricia Sheehan was Editor in Chief of I Advance Senior Care / Long Term Living from 2010-2013. She is now manager, communications at Nestlé USA.
Survey: Nursing home costs approach $84,000 a year
Long-term care costs are on a steep upward trajectory while home healthcare services are rising at a much more gradual pace, according to The Genworth 2013 Cost of Care Survey. Read More » Dementia care cost is projected to double by 2040
A new study reports the cost of treating Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia at $109 billion, making it more expensive to society than either cancer or heart disease. Read More » New research looks at effects of traumatic brain injury in older adults
Considerable opportunity exists to improve interventions and outcomes of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in older adults, according to three studies published in the recent online issue of NeuroRehabilitation. Read More » What 55+ consumers (don’t call them ‘seniors’) want in their living environments
Margaret Wylde, PhD, president and CEO, ProMatura, has her fingers firmly on the pulse of the booming 55+ demographic. She spoke with Long-Term Living Editor-in-Chief Patricia Sheehan in advance of her keynote address at the Environments for Aging conference, to be held April 6-9 in New Orleans. Read More » HHS finalizes rule on funding payment rates for new Medicaid beneficiaries
The federal government last Friday announced a final rule that provides 100 percent payment of the cost of certain newly eligible adult Medicaid beneficiaries. Read More » C. diff risk rises with antihistamine use to treat stomach acid, study finds
Patients receiving antihistamines to suppress stomach acid are at greater risk of infection from Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, a common cause of diarrhea, Mayo Clinic researchers have found. Read More » Study outlines risk factors for poor outcome, mortality after hip fracture
A new study identifies predictors of complications and mortality following a hip fracture, including dialysis, cardiac disease, diabetes and a longer time before surgery—the only modifiable risk factor when patients are hospitalized. Read More » NCAL: More than one-third of states changed AL regulations in 2012
States have refined survey systems and are demanding more disclosure for assisted living, according to the Assisted Living State Regulatory Review, released Wednesday by The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL). Read More » Report: 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia
A new report from the Alzheimer's Association shows that while deaths from other major diseases, such as heart disease, HIV/AIDS and stroke continue to experience significant declines, Alzheimer's deaths continue to rise—increasing 68 percent from 2000-2010. Read More » Study links activity levels post-discharge to rehospitalization rates
A new study has found a link between the activity levels of elderly people who have just been released from the hospital and the risk that they will require readmission within 30 days. Read More » AHCA promotes immigration reform before Congress to solve caregiver shortage
The American Health Care Association (AHCA) today will voice its support for comprehensive immigration reform and offer solutions to the nationwide mid-level caregiver staffing crisis before a House Education & Workforce Subcommittee on Workplace Protections. Read More » Stroke risk linked to drug actions in elderly treated with antipsychotics
Antipsychotic administration in the elderly is associated with an increased risk for cerebrovascular accident, more commonly known as stroke, according to findings from a new study. Read More » Texas SNF survey: Funding cuts portend staff layoffs, deferred tech investment, facility closures
A new survey of Texas nursing homes finds the series of state and federal funding cuts to seniors’ skilled nursing facility care is creating a dangerous strain on facilities’ ability to care for growing numbers of older, more medically complex residents. Read More » Drugs targeting blood vessels may help fight Alzheimer’s
Researchers claim to have successfully normalized the production of blood vessels in the brain of mice with Alzheimer’s disease by immunizing them with amyloid beta, a protein widely associated with the disease. Read More » Study reports seniors who play video games are happier
New research finds that older adults who play video games report higher levels of emotional well-being. Read More » Public outrage over CPR incident raises questions for LTC providers
The report of a retirement community’s nurse who refused a 911 dispatcher's pleas to perform CPR on a woman who had fallen unconscious and later died has sparked public and media outrage. LTC providers have some critical issues to consider when it comes to emergency care procedures. Read More » Senior community defends nurse who refused CPR for dying resident
Glenwood Gardens, Bakersfield, Calif., a Brookdale Senior Living independent living community, is defending one of its nurses who refused pleas by a 911 operator to perform CPR on an elderly woman who later died, saying the nurse was following policy, according to news reports. Read More » Proactive strategies to reduce hospital readmissions
Skilled nursing providers (SNFs) are all too familiar with the challenge of preventing hospital readmissions for residents. In a recent Long-Term Living webinar that addressed this very issue, Maria Arellano, MS, RN, Clinical Product Manager, American HealthTech, reviewed the scope of the challenge and offered proactive strategies for providers to consider in their continuing quest to reduce hospital readmissions. Read More » Report details 10 states facing greatest impact from SNF Medicare cuts
With the clock ticking on March 1 Medicare cuts to nursing homes resulting from the onset of the federal Budget Relief Act's sequester provision, the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care on Wednesday released a state "Top Ten List" detailing the Medicare cut total to state nursing homes, their residents and their workforce. Read More » 2013 Citation of Merit winners: Celebrating excellence in LTC design
The Environments for Aging annual design issue showcases the latest trends and best practices in senior housing and long-term care design. Congratulations to this year's Citation of Merit winners, four projects recognized for excellence in design with a resident-centered focus. Read More » Male nurses becoming more common, earn more than female nurses, Census Bureau reports
The new study shows the proportion of male registered nurses has more than tripled since 1970, from 2.7 percent to 9.6 percent, and the proportion of male licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses has more than doubled from 3.9 percent to 8.1 percent. Read More » LTC group praises bill addressing hospital observation stays
The Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care (AQNHC) on Monday praised the introduction of New York Senator Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) bill, the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act, which changes Medicare law to permit nursing home residents access to skilled nursing care after hospital “observation stays.” Read More » Study: Seniors who use Facebook may gain a cognitive boost
Preliminary research findings from the University of Arizona suggest that men and women older than 65 who learn to use Facebook could see a boost in cognitive function. Read More » Final rule implements 5 key provisions of the ACA
Under the reforms, all individuals and employers have the right to purchase health insurance coverage regardless of health status. Read More » Study finds LTC pharmacies face higher dispensing costs
Long-term care pharmacies incur dispensing costs that are 25 percent higher than those of traditional retail pharmacies while providing additional services to meet the unique health needs of LTC residents, according to the findings of a new study. Read More » Pope’s resignation puts spotlight on aging and ageism
The stunning news earlier this week that Pope Benedict XVI was stepping down as leader of the Catholic Church put all the complicated and often confounding issues surrounding aging in a global spotlight. Read More » Long-Term Living takes break in observance of Presidents’ Day
Long-term Living will take a short break from news, articles, blogs and social media on February 18. We'll be back on Tuesday, February 19. Read More » Hormone therapy blocks accelerated biological aging in women with Alzheimer’s risk factor
A new study finds that healthy menopausal women carrying a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease showed measurable signs of accelerated biological aging. However, in carriers who started hormone therapy at menopause and remained on that therapy, this acceleration was absent. Read More » Emeritus Senior Living plans to hire 1,000 veterans, military spouses
One of the nation's largest assisted living and memory care providers on Thursday announced plans to hire at least 1,000 former members of the military and military spouses over the next five years. Read More » 