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.
Read this: Books can beat dementia
Thoughtful activities such as reading, writing and engaging in mind-stimulating activities provide more than a distraction from everyday life. An engaged mind can defend against dementia. Read More » Heat wave poses a serious threat to frail elderly
To paraphrase a Sonny and Cher hit…”The heat goes on and on and on” west of the Mississippi. Beating the heat isn’t easy and for seniors it’s a challenge to keep them comfortable—and safe. Read More » Same-sex couples guaranteed access to partners in nursing homes
While LGBT couples are celebrating the Supreme Court’s decision that they should receive the same rights and benefits as straight married couples, they might not be too happy with some of the financials. Read More » Tracking residents the Hogwarts way
Scientists take a page from the Harry Potter series to develop a resident locating system to track nursing home residents in an effort to improve care. Read More » Texas fertilizer plant blast takes its toll on SNF residents
The Texas nursing home’s evacuation plan was executed, residents were removed from harm’s way, but the facility experienced a spike in resident deaths. Why? Read More » $30 million in funding earmarked for falls prevention study
A serious fall at home can have far-reaching consequences to a senior’s quality of life. A government-funded study will look into ways to reduce or prevent the instances of debilitating falls in community-dwelling seniors. Long-term care providers are asked to help. Read More » Federal LTC Commission is set to begin its work
When the CLASS Act was kicked off the “fiscal cliff,” Congress established the Commission on Long-Term Care to serve in its stead. With a six-month lifespan, is the Commission a boon or a boondoggle? Read More » Armed robber hits Illinois nursing home
Are robbers shifting their targets from private homes to long-term care facilities? A southern Illinois skilled nursing facility experienced the ordeal. Read More » The changing face of assisted living
As the American populations continues to age, assisted living looks at a new role of providing housing care to higher acuity residents and those with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Read More » The Internet: An antidepressant for seniors?
A new study assesses the relationship between Internet use by seniors and its effect on the symptoms of depression and the possible impact on healthcare costs. Read More » A D-Day salute to WWII veterans
To the young, World War II is a lesson in the history books. But the courage, sacrifice and bravery shown by those who served will live on. Read More » CMS recruits seniors to become Medicare fraud watchdogs
CMS administrator Marilyn Tavenner launches another effort to identify and prevent Medicare fraud, waste and abuse by using seniors as the agency's "eyes and ears." Read More » New York State institutes emergency electronic tracking system for LTC residents
As 2013’s hurricane season begins, the lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy have helped New York State prepare to quickly locate evacuated patients and residents. Read More » Vast inconsistencies in Personal Care Aide training across states
No federal training standards exist for personal care aides employed through publicly funded programs. A new report takes a state-by-state look at the inconsistencies of education for these direct-care workers. Read More » Immigrants contribute more to Medicare than they take out
Native-born senior Americans benefit from the contributions of taxpaying immigrants, according to a new study. Read More » Texas passes the nation’s first Medicaid life settlement law
To help defray long-term care costs, Texas seniors about to apply for Medicaid can cash in their life insurance policies to cover the costs of long-term care. Read More » Nursing home associations merge
The new American Health Care Association will be a major force in Washington as it focuses on the challenges and issues of providing long-term care for America’s millions of elderly persons. Read More » Hospitalists see new opportunities in LTC
Long-term care is a growing field for hospitalists to explore, which will enable them to fill the void in post-acute care as they do in the hospital setting. Read More » Costs of stroke treatment may double by 2030
A new report predicts that the costs associated with strokes will double in the next 17 years, putting a strain on the healthcare system. Read More » Evacuation costs may be levied on ill-prepared La. SNFs
Ignoring evacuation plans may become costly for Louisiana facilities that do not have adequate systems in place to move their residents out of harm's way. Read More » Signature HealthCARE acquires six Kindred Healthcare SNFs
Signature HealthCARE has acquired six facilities from Kindred Healthcare, increasing Signature’s national presence to 78 facilities. Read More » Skilled nursing: The continuing quest for quality
While quality and satisfaction scores have improved, skilled nursing facilities need to continue to improve and adapt to government policy and reimbursement cuts to survive. Read More » Can sleep quality predict the need for nursing home care?
Counting sheep, warm milk and a quiet room are not cure-all remedies for insomnia. A recent study finds that sleeplessness may predict the need for extended care. Read More » Staff shortages trigger investigation of W. Va. veterans nursing home
Too many hours, too little pay and too few staff are the accusations at a West Virginia nursing home for veterans currently under state investigation. Read More » Celebrate National Nursing Home Week
It’s time to stand up and recognize those dedicated individuals for all they do to make life in long-term care a positive and fulfilling experience for America’s frail elderly. Read More » Contaminated mattresses: A new source of concern in infection control?
Don’t take infection control lying down. The most effective risk management program can be undone by not taking a few simple precautions. Read More » Florida loses its court battle to override HIPAA requirements
Who is entitled to access a deceased person’s protected health information? In Florida, the state’s law allows access to a range of unauthorized representatives. Read More » Physical activity won’t chase the blues away for seniors
“Head, shoulders, knees and toes!” While exercise may be good for the body, it doesn’t ease depression, according to a recent study. Read More » Leaders of Tomorrow: G. Allen Power, MD
Congratulations to Long-Term Living's final 2013 Leaders of Tomorrow award winners: G. Allen Power, MD, Eden Mentor at St. John's Home in Rochester, New York and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester. Read about Dr. Power's mission to bring culture change to seniors, with a special focus on dementia. Read More » 