Sandra Hoban
Sandra Hoban was on I Advance Senior Care / Long-Term Living’s editorial staff for 17 years. She is one of the country’s longest-serving senior care journalists. Before joining Long-Term Living, she was a member of the promotions department at Advanstar Communications. In addition to her editorial experience, Sandi has served past roles in print and broadcast advertising as a traffic and talent coordinator.
Medicare rule is a barrier to hospice, study finds
Skilled nursing or hospice? Medicare policy prevents residents from seeking both types of care simultaneously, which can result in unwanted levels of treatment at the end of life, especially for residents with dementia. Read More » HHS waives Medicare, Medicaid requirements for NYC facilities affected by hurricane
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today declared a public health emergency for New York City. This declaration allows HHS to waive or modify certain Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program requirements. Read More » Nursing homes in Hurricane Sandy’s path…This is not a drill
A full moon, high tides and colliding storm systems are conspiring to create a “perfect storm” that will bear down on the East Coast next week. Long-term care facilities should initiate their disaster plans now. Read More » Congratulations to the 2012 LeadingAge honorees
The future of aging is in good hands as LeadingAge presented its 2012 awards to outstanding individuals dedicated to serving America’s senior population. Read More » Criminal activity found in background checks of disciplined aides
Long-term care facilities advised to conduct background checks on employees with direct access to residents to reduce abuse, neglect and theft. Read More » Study suggests social factors play a role in hospital readmissions
A new study suggests that nonmedical factors may hamper hospitals’ efforts to meet CMS’ outcome and readmission guidelines that went into effect Oct. 1. Read More » Minority seniors fare well in ethnically similar communities, study finds
African- and Mexican-American seniors living in a neighborhood infused with their respective cultures may lead to better health. A recent study attributes cultural homogeneity as contributing factor to reduced rates of heart disease and cancer. Read More » Low RN staffing hours linked to higher hospitalization, mortality rates during norovirus outbreaks, study finds
Gastroenteritis outbreaks are common in nursing homes. A recent study found that the rates of hospitalization and mortality increased during norovirus gastroenteritis outbreaks in nursing homes as compared with non-outbreaks periods. Read More » Nursing home customer satisfaction improves, employee satisfaction stays level, according to survey
Resident and family satisfaction rates in nursing homes show improvement from when the National Research Corporation began assessing satisfaction levels in 2006. Employees’ responses allow managers and administrators to address areas in need of improvement. Read More » RICO suit filed against nursing home workers unions
HealthBridge files a RICO lawsuit against nursing home workers unions as the strike begun in July continues. Read More » New drug may slow memory loss in cases of mild Alzheimer’s
Studies on the effectiveness of a new Alzheimer’s drug developed by Eli Lilly score a hit with data that showed it reduced memory decline in patients with mild cases of the disease. Read More » Surveys show AL providers dedicated to providing high-quality care
The results are in. Two surveys measuring resident and staff satisfaction show that participating assisted living providers are focused on not only resident satisfaction, but staff satisfaction as well. Read More » Seniors and students stir up a recipe for success
At-risk teens learn about growing old and growing up by interacting with nursing home residents. The aroma of freshly baked cookies at The Palace Gardens proves that wonderful things can happen when people work together. Read More » Seniors, caregivers need food safety education
Seniors are highly susceptible to foodborne illnesses. Providers, caregivers and independent seniors need better access to materials that explain safe food handling practices to reduce this threat. Read More » Seniors housing outlook: Road to recovery
Seniors housing has staged a recovery from the dark days of 2006. Today, lenders have money to deploy and developers and owners have plans on the drawing board to make senior living and attractive and quality option for the new generation of older Americans. Read More » Look good, feel good
No matter what level of care a woman is receiving in a senior setting, there’s nothing that makes her day more pleasurable than a trip to the beauty salon. Read More » Environmental Services’ role in infection control
A facility’s infection control program should start from the bottom, the top and sides. Housekeeping and maintenance departments are key players in infection control. Read More » Look who is (or will be 65) this year
It’s getting hip to be old these days. Medicare cards are becoming fashion accessories as celebrities pass the milestone of 65. It seems like 1947 was a banner year! Read More » Fostering friendships in LTC
“Getting to Know You” is not just a tune from The King and I. Having friends—close or casual—helps to make long-term residency an enjoyable experience. Read More » Leaving life on your terms
As the boomers deal with aging parents, while they are aging themselves, dying with dignity has become a concern. Do your residents and their families have advance directives? If not, do they know what to do to create these documents? Read More » An Olympic preview
Whether you enjoy playing sports or just watching, people (including those in your communities) and others around the globe will be tuning in to cheer on their favorite country and/or athletes. Opening ceremonies for the 2012 Summer Olympics begin on Friday, July 27, in London. Read More » GPOs offer bottom-line advantages
GPO membership gives facilities a boost to their bottom lines as two GPO executives explain. From office supplies to clinical products to furniture and more, GPOs are the best deal in town. Read More » Do the incontinence products you use hold water—and more?
The loss of bladder control also is a loss of dignity and an invitation for skin problems associated with incontinence. To ensure that a person with incontinence is getting the best protection possible, The National Association for Continence (NAFC) has issued recommendations for quality standards. Read More » One-on-one with…Gary Wheeler
Long-Term Living talks with Front Porch CEO Gary Wheeler about helping not-for-profits (NFPs) survive these challenging economic times.People and organizations need to do more with less. For stand-alone NFP organizations, this has become increasingly difficult. Read More » Ladies and gentlemen, restart your engines!
This past week I was entertained and enlightened at the eHDS User Group meeting. The general session focused on becoming a better, happier and more successful person professionally and personally. Here’s a little of what I took away from that enjoyable hour. Read More » TV show inspires creativity in LTC staff
I admit it. On Sunday nights I watch The Apprentice. Watching the team dynamics and project development is compelling entertainment for me. I recently heard about a CCRC in Spring, Texas, that has adopted the show’s format as a team-building project. Read More » What’s for dinner? Nothing
In 2012, it's hard to believe that people still go hungry in the United States. When a senior doesn't have enough food or good nutrition, that is a recipe for health complications. Read More » Dedicated staff enhances a facility’s reputation
In every walk of life there are people who go beyond the parameters of their job description. Long-term care has no shortage of these dedicated employees who give the best of themselves to the residents they serve. Read More » Repurposing a property—LA style
Many developers and architects are putting old building to new purposes. In Los Angeles, an abandoned hospital will shake off its horror-story reputation to provide a new lease on life for low-income seniors. Read More » 