Administration

$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 »

CMS’ plans to reform payment to post-acute healthcare cause concern

CMS’ plans for payment reform designed  to cut costs in the post-acute sector for the FY2014 budget may be a cause of concern for the long-term care industry. Read More »

Experiencing a medication error

Residents and their families trust that close attention is paid to the medications each individual requires. LTL blogger Kathleen Mears talks about the time she was given the incorrect medication. Read More »

New online intervention tools will grapple with impact of dementia on Hispanics

Researchers at Columbia University School of Nursing are developing a new system of online tools to address the unique issues of dementia care within the Hispanic community. Read More »

The challenges of hiring or housing registered sex offenders

Even people with criminal histories grow old; others have served their time and need to work. Caroline Berdzik, Esq, offers some tips to follow in this tricky situation. Read More »

FDA: Boost drug research for C. diff, MRSA, pneumonia

The FDA wants to speed up research on new treatments for LTC’s drug-resistant infections. 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 »

DIY Marketing Part 2: The 4 elements of the Marketing Improvement Plan

In the second installment of Do-It Yourself marketing, Luke Fannon discusses how a Marketing Improvement Plan plays a crucial role in your organization's marketing makeover. Read More »

ConnectedLiving launches new learning center for seniors

Resident empowerment goes back to school as one company adds an online "university" of content and tools to engage seniors in learning about health topics. Read More »

Assisted living, memory care construction continues to rebound

Activity in the construction of assisted living and memory care facilities nears their pre-recession peaks, according to the latest NIC MAP data. In several cities, it's all about building memory care spaces. 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 »

FDA softens stance on Avandia

The FDA votes to ease restrictions on the once-popular diabetes drug, but concerns will likely remain in the minds of many. Read More »

Court of Appeals agrees with SNF, reverses HHS

Were the residents' eggs served runny or undercooked? Ambiguity in language convinces an Appeals Court to reverse a noncompliance ruling in a recent case where CMS had accused a nursing home of poor food preparation. Read More »

Senate revisits Positive Aging Act

A bipartisan Senate bill hopes to bring senior mental health services back to the Congressional fore. Read More »

Metonyms: What’s in name?

If it’s been a while since you’ve been in an English class, here’s a brief reminder on why what you call a person has significance, especially in long-term care. 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 »

Medication costs may lead to higher ER use

Those who have difficulty affording their medications may alter their doseage, skip doses or never fill the prescription at all--increasing the risk of a trip to the ER. 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 »

MDS Manual update brings welcome clarity

The RAI User's Manual received section revisions and clarifications on dental status (section L), skin conditions (section M) and other items in the May update release. Read More »

Matchmaker, matchmaker

Expanding service lines and increasing referrals from acute care could depend on a growing trend within long-term and post-acute care organizations: Find your business's perfect mate and partner up. Read More »

Medicare Part A fund to outlast predictions, remain solvent til 2026

The Medicare funds for hospital Part A could last two years longer than expected, notes today’s annual trustees report. Read More »

CMS clarifies confusing scoring for ADLs

AANAC's Judi Kulus explains the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services attempt to iron out the confusing rules for coding activities of daily living (ADLs) under the RAI User's Manual. 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 »

Occupational therapy’s role in LTC

Conducting targeted in-services helps staff understand the goals and benefits of occupational therapy for residents in a facility setting. Read More »

DIY Marketing Part 1: Assess thyself

Blogger Luke Fannon provides six simple steps to assess your facility and its services (and your competition's) in his new series on DIY marketing for long-term and post-acute care organizations. 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 »

Disaster primer: When Mother Nature strikes

How "ready" are you for whatever Mother Nature can dish out? This disaster primer can help your organization prepare for—and live through—the financial impacts of a disaster. Read More »

One-on-one with… Kristy Brown

Long-Term Living sits down with Kristy Brown, MS, CCC-SLP, president and CEO of Centrex Rehab, Minneapolis, to discuss today's new opportunities for therapy services within the senior care market--including partnerships with companies once viewed as competitors. Read More »

Steroid fails as cure for high-stage pressure ulcers

The promise of anabolic steroids as treatment for severe pressure ulcers took a hit in a recent clinical trial testing oxandrolone. Read More »