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.
Report: Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control program shows record recovery
The government’s healthcare fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recovered $4.2 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, up from nearly $4.1 billion in FY 2011, from individuals and companies that attempted to defraud federal health programs. Read More » Tavenner renominated to head CMS
The Obama administration on Thursday renominated Marilyn Tavenner to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Read More » Number of people with Alzheimer’s may triple by 2050
The number of people in the United States with Alzheimer’s disease is projected to almost triple by 2050, straining the healthcare system and burdening caregivers, according to a new study. Read More » Share your LTC community’s award-worthy care program
It's OPTIMA Award season! Share your long-term care community's award-worthy resident-centered care program for a chance to garner Long-Term Living's prestigious honor and recognition by industry peers. Read More » Most Americans oppose Medicare cuts, according to poll
While most Americans say that Washington should act quickly to bring down the deficit, there is little public support for major reductions in federal spending on Medicare, according to the results of a national poll. Read More » Guidelines provided for brain amyloid imaging in people with Alzheimer’s
The first criteria for the appropriate use of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging technology to aid in the diagnosis of people with suspected Alzheimer's disease were released Monday by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) and the Alzheimer's Association. Read More » Casting a critical eye on our environments for aging
The long-term care industry has advanced dramatically in recent years when it comes to innovations in healthcare and living environments for our aging population. At St. John's on the Lake in Milwaukee, 20 LTC designers, architects and academics have gathered to judge 59 new senior housing projects. They are a tough and demanding group. Read More » Long-Term Living takes break in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Long-term Living will take a short break from news, articles, blogs and social media on Monday, January 21 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We'll be back on Tuesday, January 22. Read More » New HIPAA rule expands liability for healthcare providers and business partners
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thursday issued a final “omnibus” rule, expanding the direct liability of contractors and subcontractors of healthcare providers, plans and insurers that violate patient privacy. Read More » Diet may not impact certain health outcomes in elderly
Eating diets high in sugar and fat may not affect the health outcomes of older adults ages 75 and up, suggesting that placing people of such advanced age on overly restrictive diets to treat their excess weight or other conditions may have little benefit, according to a new study. Read More » A dogged advocate for the national Alzheimer’s plan
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 » AFA report recommends updates to national Alzheimer’s plan
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 » And we’re off!
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 » Top 10 LTC news stories of 2012
The long-term care industry was buffeted by forceful winds of change in 2012. Regulatory, political, economic and societal transitions tested providers’ mettle as the LTC landscape struggles to evolve and adapt. Technological advances and an improving senior housing market were bright spots in a busy news year. Read More » Providing shelter in the storm
One of the more compelling stories that came out of Superstorm Sandy in late October was the major blow dealt to New York City-area nursing homes. Staff and management at The Hebrew Home at Riverdale, N.Y., went above and beyond the call of duty in offering shelter and care for displaced area seniors. Read More » Study: Constant assessment of medication regimens critical to patient care
A new study suggests that acknowledging healthcare practitioners’ varying perspectives on the purpose of medication reconciliation and their roles in the process might increase implementation in healthcare settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. Read More » One-on-one with … Sharon Yester
Sharon Yester, chief asset management officer for CNL Financial Group, the investment management firm of CNL Healthcare, spoke with Long-Term Living on emerging senior housing markets, finding good operators to partner with and meeting the exploding demand for memory care products. Read More » A cliffhanger for long-term care
A year ago, who would have thought such terms as “sequestration” and “fiscal cliff” would roll off our tongues so easily (even as some of us still grapple with comprehending the full impact of these concepts on our lives and industry). Read More » SNFs: Be nimble, resourceful and ready to fight
The clarion call to action grows ever louder: In addition to lobbying their local lawmakers, long-term care providers must best position their organizations to serve a rapidly changing healthcare system or face demise. Read More » How to help new residents adapt to nursing home life
The Savvy Resident’s Guide, a book written by psychologist and Long-Term Living contributing writer Eleanor Feldman Barbera, covers just about every concern a new nursing resident might have, explaining how nursing homes work and how people can make the most of their stays. I encourage LTC providers to consider providing this book to residents and their families upon admission. Read More » Study shows drug costs for normal aging conditions surpass costs of treating most chronic diseases
Prescription drug treatment regimens for conditions that are a normal part of aging are now costing the nation more than many serious and potentially life-threatening diseases, according to a new study. Read More » NYC nursing homes struggle in wake of Hurricane Sandy
Several nursing homes in the Rockaways area of New York City, which were heavily impacted by Hurricane Sandy, struggled with flooding and damaged generators, according to a report in The New York Times. Read More » LeadingAge to LTC providers: Demand change in healthcare delivery system
The overriding message from LeadingAge thought leaders at the group's annual meeting is that providers must step up to the plate and demand a say in the future of the country’s bloated and broken healthcare delivery system. Read More » Managing assessment and documentation for a successful incontinence program
Incontinence management is a critical issue in skilled nursing facilities, especially as it relates to increased regulatory oversight, budgetary considerations, rehospitalization rates and quality of life for residents. The proper documentation of incontinence is essential in the clinical record and in the MDS database. Read More » One-year look-back: Assessing 2012’s Final Rule and its impact on providers
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) skilled nursing facility 2012 Final Rule has had a huge impact on SNFs that were still adjusting to the transition to MDS 3.0 the previous year. Read More » The Q word dominates long-term care
October looms as a month of major change for the skilled nursing industry with the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program slated to launch next Monday. With hospitals facing stiff penalties for patient readmissions, SNFs are poised to play a key role in efforts to reduce readmissions with quality issues taking center stage. Read More » 5 steps to manage your LTC community’s online reputation
The rise of the Internet has resulted in a major shift not only in consumer buying behavior but also the consumer’s influence on the buying behavior of others. In fact, consumers today wield a power that can make or break a company. The result: Companies need to monitor and manage their online reputations carefully. Read More » NIC National Conference: Lenders poised to deal with quality operators
Senior housing developers and lenders are engaging this week in the delicate art of the deal at the 22nd NIC (National Investment Center) National Conference. This year’s mood is decidedly less gloomy than in recent years and even, observers suggest, cautiously optimistic. Read More » 2012 OPTIMA Award winner: St. Leonard Franciscan Living Community, Centerville, Ohio
Since 1996, Long-Term Living has honored long-term care communities that are proactive with programs that go “above and beyond” routine care for their residents with our prestigious OPTIMA Award. It is conferred by a jury of LTC peers from submitted entries. This year’s winner is St. Leonard Franciscan Living Community of Centerville, Ohio. Congratulations! Read More » 