Departments

Giving thanks on July 4

Resident blogger Kathleen Mears reflects on how her Fourth of July celebrations have changed over the years—and how thankful she is for memories of both. Read More »

Ethics and professionalism

Integrity and ethical standards can open doors for caregivers and show how professionalism can be a differentiator both in terms of staff and the business. Read More »

Collision in my new power chair

Getting used to piloting a new power chair was part of SNF resident blogger Kathleen Mears' planned day out, but not the crash inside the salon. Read More »

MedPAC launches plan for new payment system

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) submits it recommendations to Congress for how to establish a unified, cross-setting post-acute care payment system. The plan would redistribute payments among types of stays, making profits more uniform and hopefully reducing unnecessary services and admission preferences.  Read More »

MDS Update: Gearing up for Section GG charting

The new section, which documents a resident's functional ability and assistance levels, has a compliance date of October 1, 2016. Read More »

The murky LTPAC interoperability landscape

Providers, vendors and techies are gathering at the 2016 Long-Term and Post-Acute Care Health IT Summit in Reston, Va., this week to discuss the challenges to interoperability and the cost felt by patients, providers and payers. Read More »

A mini class reunion

When SNF resident blogger Kathleen Mears emailed her high school reunion committee to say she wouldn't be able to attend the 50-year reunion, several of her classmates decided to surprise her with a visit. Read More »

Computer engagement reduces antipsychotic usage, improves quality of life

A Chesapeake Bay nursing home's two-year pilot uses technology to improve social engagement and life quality for those with dementia. Read More »

Study finds MEND could reverse memory loss

Memory and cognition improved in a small study of people with cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease by following a personalized therapeutic approach called metabolic enhancement for neurodegeneration (MEND), a 36-point diet, lifestyle and vitamin regimen. Read More »

Leftover medications

The new Drug Enforcement Agency rules on medication reclamation and disposal protocols have been out since October 2014, but some nursing homes are still using improper methods to deal with unused or expired medications. Read More »

A warmed-over craving

Food cravings have SNF resident blogger Kathleen Mears ready for a warm, crunchy taco, but some foods just aren't the same when reheated. Read More »

Slow medicine pioneer Dennis McCullough dies

Dennis McCullough practiced geriatric medicine for several years but it was his own personal experiences inspired him to rethink end of life care. He became an advocate for hospice and palliative care. Read More »

How chart audits affect your reimbursement

The pressure is on for skilled nursing facilities: Compliance for CMS reimbursement means proper charting, documentation of therapy minutes and shaking out those RUGs. Read More »

Getting stiff

Getting that handy touchpad laptop made life seem easier, but it wasn't so great for her hand's range of motion, says SNF resident blogger Kathleen Mears. Read More »

FDA recommends reducing sodium intake

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued draft guidance to reduce sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams per day. One in three Americans has high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Read More »

Long-Term Living a finalist in ASBPE award competition

Long-Term Living’s design team is competing as a finalist in the Best Magazine Redesign regional category of the 2016 American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) awards competition. The winners will be announced later in June. Read More »

“We are the solution,” industry execs tell Congress

A two-day AHCA/NCAL congressional briefing brings 450 long-term interests to Capitol Hill. Read More »

Couples become more similar as they age

New research suggests people who have been in relationships for decades are more likely to age to become more like each other mentally, physically and emotionally. That means doctors need to monitor the health of their patient--and their patient’s partner. Read More »

The fate of your stars: CMS and the new quality measures

As the opening keynote at the Memory Care Forum in Philadelphia, NASL policy guru Cynthia Morton discusses what’s coming next from CMS on long-term care quality measures and how that data might affect your five-star quality rating. Read More »

Working on dreaming

Senior Editor Nicole Stempak reflects on lessons learned from Argentum’s annual Senior Living Executive conference. Read More »

Crusading to protect the elderly

Are the new Justice Department Elder Justice Task Forces a smokescreen to cut costs? Long-Term Living's politics and policy reporter, Robert Gatty, examines the forces at play in the new initiatives. Read More »

What we now know about long-term care

Activity consultant Susan Rauch, BA, AC-BC, reflects on how far the long-term care industry has come during her 32 years in the field and looks forward to even more advances in the years to come. Read More »