I recently witnessed how a person’s desire to go home can motivate her to concentrate on changing her behaviors and to follow the advice of caregivers. A visit home can incentivize a resident to reach that goal. Read More »
As concerns over hospital readmissions grow, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has launched a program to encourage SNFs and state agencies to collaborate on avoidable conditions and the costs they incur. Read More »
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 »
Knee replacements are one of the most common surgical procedures for those over 60. But the risks of infection and hospital readmission are increasing. Does your facility have a plan to provide best-practices care to residents on knee rehab? Read More »
Former Sunwest Management CEO Jon Michael Harder surrenders to federal authorities, facing more than 50 charges of fraudulent activities and accusations of $130 million in investor losses. Read More »
Five of the leading U.S. healthcare organizations got a prickly letter from the Department of Justice and Health & Human Services Monday: Stop misusing documentation and electronic medical record technology systems for fraudulent billing purposes, or else. Read More »
The United States isn’t the only country experiencing explosive growth within the senior demographic. As the elderly population and the costs of senior care rise across the globe, other countries are weighing the U.S. long-term care experience. How will they handle the need for expanded senior services? Read More »
The United States isn’t the only country experiencing explosive growth within the senior demographic. As the elderly population and the costs of senior care rise across the globe, other countries are weighing the U.S. long-term care experience. Read More »
A longitudinal study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society has linked poor dental care to higher dementia rates among seniors. The number of teeth, quality of oral health and frequency of dental exams could all be influences on later dementia, researchers say. Read More »
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 »
For senior mental health outreach, one size does not fit all. Programs designed to engage seniors within their specific spaces and cultures have the highest success, say behavioral health experts. Are you reaching out across the diversity within your communities? Read More »
Long-Term Living talks with Dianne Timmering, vice president of spirituality at Signature HealthCARE, about how Signature has revamped its corporate culture and employee retention strategy while providing spiritual support for its residents. Read More »
A bipartisan Congressional group introduces the Medicare Transitional Care Act of 2012, moving ahead to formalize reimbursement for care transitions. Read More »
The long-term care industry has launched a campaign to oppose "devastating" sequestration cuts. An AHCA ad campaign came less than a week after the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a report detailing how federal agencies would implement the $110 billion in mandatory, across-the-board budget cuts for 2013. Read More »
Nursing care occupancy continued its slow decline, which is a trend that has been in place since 2007, reports NIC MAP. During the second quarter of 2012, nursing care occupancy was 87.9 percent, which was a 30 basis point decline from the prior quarter and 40 basis points lower than a year ago. Read More »
Medicare providers could be facing a $11 billion reduction in reimbursements if the government's sequestration process goes forward, according to an OMB report released today. Read More »
As the baby boomer generation ages, long-term care is seeing an emergence of care facilities and policies that are designed to bring care equity to residents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. How have you taken proactive steps to make sure your caregivers are educated in cultural acceptance? Read More »
Five years of data from Center for Medicare & Medicaid’s largest experiment in performance-based reimbursement are mixed, but physician groups succeeded in slashing the costs for dual-eligibles. Read More »
As nursing homes compete in the post-reform environment for new direct patient admissions and more hospital discharges, several data driven tools—from Five Star rankings to hospital readmission benchmarks—that form the core of CMS’ focus on quality will be critical to nursing homes’ success. Read More »
Skilled nursing facilities should carefully consider what constitutes legitimate quality assurance or otherwise privileged documents and how best to protect those documents. Read More »
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 »
What started out as a comparative analysis on reimbursement rates related to catheter-based urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) has opened a huge can of worms concerning hospital datasets and their reliability as performance measurements. Read More »
Dementia treatments and memory care regimens have come a long way—if we can first get past the biggest initial obstacle: Patient-centric denial. Read More »
The last five years of life can cost a bundle, even with Medicare coverage, reveals a new study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Read More »
The late Art Modell, longtime NFL franchise owner, may still stir up feelings in the Cleveland sports scene, but the hospice legacy he leaves behind is one of serenity amid nontraditional end-of-life care. Read More »