Risk Management

AL salary report shows investments in memory care, proactive wellness

The annual assisted living salary report is out: Find out which positions and regions pay the most—and which staff positions are garnering new attention this year. Read More »

Snowbirds in Florida

In this blog, Pamela Tabar recounts her two-week visit with a group of septuagenarians, and how snowbirding seniors can teach us a lot about the high-tech, high-service expectations senior living organizations are going to have to meet--starting now. Read More »

Skilled or unskilled nursing: Feds ramp up investigations, prosecutions

An increased focus by the Attorney General’s office on the conditions in SNFs throughout the state of California mirror the trend of enforcement and prosecution against those in the healthcare industry across the country. Read More »

Hospice accused of detaining, billing patients who were not terminally ill

A Florida hospice becomes the latest whistleblower lawsuit targeted by the Department of Justice’s Medicare fraud squad. Read More »

3 ways to measure marketing tactic effectiveness

Which marketing tactics are working best for your facility? Direct referrals aren't the only way to measure the worth of your marketing strategies. Read More »

Long-term care insurance rates become gender based

Because of the stronger likelihood that more women will access benefits than men, long-term care insurance providers are rethinking their policy premiums. Read More »

Bed rails may cause harm to long-term care residents

Properly installed bed rails can be protective devices, but if misused or improperly installed/maintained, they can be unsafe for the elderly long-term care resident—even deadly. Read More »

The Joint Commission issues revised rules for LTC accreditation

The Joint Commission has revised its skilled nursing and rehabilitation accreditation standards, and now offers specialty services facilities a new way to certify their expertise. Read More »

Tragedy in Connecticut reinforces need to protect vulnerable populations

Safety and security is a matter that every type of LTC facility should take very seriously. Assuming that seniors are immune from the type of violence that was witnessed at Sandy Hook Elementary School is a mistake. Read More »

Prepare for disaster before disaster strikes

Creating a detailed emergency response plan—and keeping it updated—is crucial to safeguarding your organization’s residents, staff and property. These disaster planning checklists can help you manage risk and keep your staff ready for anything. Read More »

Genesis HealthCare buys Sun Healthcare Group

One of long-term care's largest skilled nursing companies just got bigger, as Pennsylvania-based Genesis HealthCare adds to its service lines in a $215 million deal. Read More »

Brain fitness, risk and safety

The elderly can benefit from the “use it or lose it” tenet of good geriatric practice, which encourages them to make choices from among meaningful alternatives. This practice requires no special technology because it’s what we do countless times every day. Read More »

Thinking outside the box

The status quo never inspired innovation. Dr. Tellis-Nayak, a medical sociologist and Senior Research Advisor at the National Research Corporation, explains why improving long-term care means being willing to look beyond "the way things are" and considering the way things could be. Read More »

Short-term rehab soars to No. 1 service in SNFs

Still think the majority of residents at skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are grannies? Not anymore. Check out the fastest-growing demographic in today’s LTC market. Read More »

Senior care planning takes a woman’s touch, men better at LTC’s financial aspects

When it comes to long-term care planning, it takes a village—or at least the input of both men and women. Read More »

Brookdale mulls restructuring options amid Medicare reductions

Brookdale Senior Living is considering several financial options to refit its operations in an era of Medicare reductions, announced Brookdale's CFO and co-president Mark Ohlendorf today at the Stephens Fall Investment Conference. Read More »

Piercing the corporate veil: Strategies to reduce corporate negligence claims in LTC lawsuits

Nursing home and assisted living operators are seeing a marked increase in “piercing the corporate veil” theories and corporate negligence claims in malpractice litigation. The good news is facilities can and should employ strategies that can help insulate them from these claims. Read More »

2012 LTC rate report: Nursing homes reach $90k, market ripe for adult day services

Skilled nursing facility private room rates rose by 3.8 percent compared to last year, reaching a national average of $90,520 per year. But two sectors of long-term care had no cost increases at all, according to the annual survey from MetLife Mature Market. Read More »

Blanket waivers issued for New York and New Jersey in Hurricane Sandy’s wake

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has granted blanket waivers for New York and New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy, easing the regulations required of long-term care and other health providers. Read More »

What are your employees’ most expensive health risk factors?

A recent study links almost one-quarter of employer/employee health spending to a list of just 10 health risks. What’s the No. 1 health risk? Surprise: It’s not smoking. Read More »

ACA health benefits: Some employers rethink their workforce to avoid paying

The new employee benefits rules created under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) don’t go into effect until Jan. 1, 2014, but some employers are making changes to their workforce structures already, hoping to avoid the the coverage changes and penalties. 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 »

Henry Ford and Beaumont health systems to merge hospitals, LTC care sites

Updated: 5/21/13: Both parties have decided to cancel merger talks for now. The continuum of care gets bigger and broader in Michigan as two health systems join to form one of the largest non-profits in the state. 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 »

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 »

How do you spell nurse retention? R-e-s-p-e-c-t

The challenge of retaining quality nursing staff and reducing turnover rates can be eased through a few crucial changes in management strategy, say session leaders at this week’s LeadingAge annual meeting. Read More »

Crisis? Don’t cringe; be prepared

Crisis communications doesn’t have to make you cringe. If you plan accordingly and understand how to protect your reputation in a crisis, you can successfully navigate the situation and avoid the potentially negative impact an unexpected event could have on your long-term care organization. Read More »

LTC trends report: Reimbursement #1 challenge, technology #1 game changer

Amid the cuts in payments and struggles with occupancy rates, the current long-term care business environment has opportunities for innovation in cost models, care delivery models and technology-driven value, notes the 28th annual Licensed Nursing Facility Cost Comparison. Read More »

Managing risk in volunteer programs

Volunteers are key components to the success of many organizations, especially LTC organizations. However, without a good risk management plan, volunteer programs can expose your organization to additional risks of a loss, damage to your reputation or even imperil operations. 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 »