Last Friday was this facility's second Summer Fun Day. A cookout was held at a local park promising lots of food, pop and even a DJ. Since I am not much of a picnic person, and had much to do, I decided to remain behind. Read More »
The key to your future data-sharing compliance may already be within your own daily data. Mining that data can reveal a lot about the organization's strengths--and its weaknesses. Read More »
U.S. hospitals are making little progress in reducing patient readmissions despite government initiatives and looming financial penalties, according to Medicare data released Thursday, reports Kaiser Health News. Read More »
CMS offers $275 million to 25 more states the funding to design and build new payment models that bring multiple payers together and improve the care delivery system. Read More »
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ controversial Five-Star Quality Rating System, which rates the nation’s nursing homes, is in the news this week with CMS unveiling its revamped Nursing Home Compare website. Since its introduction in 2008, the rating system has been maligned by LTC providers for its perceived faults and omissions. Read More »
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 »
The new version of CMS' Nursing Home Compare website now includes data on readmission rates, nursing home inspections and antipsychotic drug use. Read More »
A team approach and solid planning upfront are crucial to a successful EHR implementation, according to new report from LeadingAge’s Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST). Read More »
It was a large group of states with GOP governors whose challenge of the ACA led to the Supreme Court’s ruling, and many of them have either decided, or reportedly may decide, to forgo the additional federal payments that would come from expanding Medicaid eligibility in their states. Read More »
The Health Information Management Systems Society has released a free guide to help healthcare facilities select the best mobile apps for their work tasks and environments. Read More »
Renovating existing facilities entails much more than a new coat of paint. Miles Girouard and Amy Ruedinger, RN, discuss the strategies involved in upgrading the physical environment and the care culture at the same time. Read More »
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 »
Senior living designers have yet to recognize that boomers entering communities will demand the same resources in senior living just as they have upped the ante by demanding restaurant style dining, fitness centers, spas and coffee shops. Read More »
Infusions of antibodies seem to help those with mild to moderate Alzheimer's to retain cognition and daily functions, according to a study presented at the 2012 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. Read More »
Studies showing how sleep patterns can be a risk factor and indicator of cognitive decline and how mild cognitive impairment is linked to social isolation and a risk of death are presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC). Read More »
LeadingAge has started a financial and legal advice service for its not-for-profit members. Struggling facilities can request an assessment and receive advice from experts for free. Read More »
New research presented at the Alzheimer’s Association’s International Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, looks at the correlation of gait speed and stride to varying degrees of cognitive decline. Read More »
Bold colors, modern artwork, sleek lines…this isn’t your grandmother’s nursing home. Long-term care owners and administrators have heard it before but it bears repeating. Today’s seniors, more active and engaged in mainstream culture than any other generation before them, appreciate good design. Read More »
To me cleaning out my nose is a very private thing. I do not like depending on others to do it. Having an aide assist me to blow my nose does not always do the job. It needs to be cleaned with a cotton swab. I understand some aides are squeamish about doing it. But if it is not done, I am uncomfortable. Read More »
State reform to limit medical liability claims and facility-based arbitration agreements can have huge impacts on long-term care’s finances, notes a study by ACHA/NCAL and Aon Global Risk Consulting. Read More »
Four academic research teams and a pharmaceutical company are joining forces to study the gene that includes the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer’s other than old age. Read More »
New progress on the mysteries of Alzheimer’s may be within the DNA of Iceland. Many Icelanders have a gene mutation, rare in other countries, that seems to protect the brain from the onset of Alzheimer’s, a new study reveals. Read 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 »
According to a recent study, one in every six admissions to nursing homes was for individuals who had a history of emphysema or COPD. This puts greater pressure on LTC facilities to gain a stronger understanding of the disease and to meet new demands in terms of assessment and treatment. Read More »
One group cheering the court’s decision is the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA), which maintains that upholding of the healthcare act will result in earlier detection of Alzheimer’s disease—with care thereby starting sooner—while helping millions with more effective and efficient treatment. Read More »
What tops your retirement wish list? Most retirees would gladly trade the dream of a beach house in Florida for lower healthcare and prescription drug costs, as well as more education on financial planning, an insurer survey shows. Read More »
With the crackdown on “pill mills” in Ohio, nursing homes have become targets for employee theft of narcotic prescription drugs. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine intensifies anti-drug abuse efforts. Read More »
