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Long-Term Living editors are finalists for top journalism honor

An editorial package by the editors of Long-Term Living has earned them places as finalists for a Jesse H. Neal Business National Journalism Award, which has been called the Pulitzer Prize of business-to-business journalism. Read More »

Nominations open for 2014 OPTIMA Award

Nominations are now being accepted for Long-Term Living's OPTIMA Award, which recognizes innovative, outcome-oriented staff teamwork in long-term care facilities—teamwork that contributes to the optimum function and well-being of residents. All nursing homes and assisted living facilities nationwide are eligible. Find out more here. Read More »

Effects of Quebec fire extend south and across an ocean

In the wake of a Quebec senior home fire, Tennessee officials give thanks for their sprinklers and U.K. fire safety experts call for more protections for the elderly in housing facilities there. Read More »

HHS rule grants direct access to residents’ lab results

A new federal rule will allow senior care residents and their family designees direct access to lab test results, encouraging consumer care involvement. Read More »

12 steps to QAPI: Step 1: Leadership

In the first installment of our series on achieving Quality Assurance Performance Improvement, Nell Griffin, LPN, EdM, a quality improvement facilitator and TeamSTEPPS trainer, explains the importance of leadership engagement, responsibility and accountability through proactive care practices and administrative policies. Read More »

Assisted living sees modest pay hikes, lower turnover

The annual assisted living pay rates report is here. How do your organization’s salaries and hourly rates compare to the national averages? Read More »

One-on-one with… Phenelle Segal, RN, CIC

The rising acuity of nursing home residents and the prevalence of increasingly resistant infections are compelling many long-term care organizations to ramp up infection control training and institute antibiotic stewardship programs. Read More »

Caffeine, mental exercise benefit brain

Mental exercises and a common stimulant found in food and beverages can benefit brain function, according to two recent studies. Read more in this article—and see the accompanying video, too. Read More »

Long-Term Living observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Long-Term Living will take a short break from news, articles, blogs and social media on Monday, Jan. 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We’ll be back on Tuesday, January 21. Read More »

Senior housing occupancy up from cyclical low

The National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry's MAP Data and Analysis Service has released its latest figures on occupancy, rent growth and construction for nursing care, assisted living and independent living properties. Read More »

CMS clarifies use of Medicaid funds in home, community-based settings

Stakeholder input helps CMS improve the accessibility of services for seniors and people with disabilities. Read More »

Cholesterol’s role in brain health pondered as statin guidelines come under fire

Keeping cholesterol levels healthy can be good for the brain as well as the heart, according to a newly published study. The results come at a time when some experts are questioning new recommendations for the prescription of statins to address cholesterol levels to prevent cardiovascular disease. Read More »

Leveraging LTC data

Data, data, everywhere... How can LTC providers leverage resident monitoring data and facility information to make better patient care and business decisions? Read More »

Merwick wins senior living landscape architecture award

Rehabilitation for the real world inspired this award-winning design for a  therapy garden that brings long-term and short-term residents together in year-round outdoor therapy spaces. Read More »

U.S. spends more on SNF, CCRC care, but home healthcare spending growing faster: report

The United States spends more money for care provided at skilled nursing facilities and continuing care retirement communities than for care provided through home healthcare agencies, according to a new report, but spending for home healthcare is growing at a faster rate.  Read More »

Recovery audits: SNF psychiatric conditions

Does your skilled nursing facility care for residents with mental heath conditions? Medicare recovery audit contractors for mental illness issues may threaten access to care. Read More »

Happy New Year!

Long-Term Living is taking a short break for the holiday. We'll be back with news, articles, blogs and eNewsletters on Thursday, Jan. 2. See you in 2014! Read More »

Partnerships@Work: Using nutrition to battle readmissions

Food for thought: A post-acute provider and a foodservices company combine efforts to reinvent the nutrition and hydration program for residents. Read More »

Happy holidays

Long-Term Living will be taking a short break for the holiday. We'll be back with news, articles, blogs and eNewsletters on Monday. Have a safe and happy holiday! Read More »

6 ways to foster staff satisfaction

Communities can take six steps to build effective teams that not only benefit facilities but also benefit the individual employees that make up the teams. Staff satisfaction is at the foundation of it all. Read More »

Top 10 Long-Term Living stories of 2013

Long-Term Living's Leaders of Tomorrow Awards, senior living environments and nursing home regulations were among the hot topics for our social media friends and followers this year, as an examination of analytics reveals. Read More »

Killing the SGR and therapy caps

Congress may be ready to do away with the sustainable growth rate (SGR), re-fix the “doc fix” and ditch therapy caps, but will skilled nursing become the scapegoat for the costs? Read More »

NCOA ‘cautiously optimistic’ for permanent QI fix in 2014

The National Council on Aging is “disappointed” that Congress has not acted to make permanent a program that pays Part B premiums for some Medicare recipients, but the organization remains hopeful that the program will be made permanent in 2014. Read More »

Challenges: Disinfecting soft surfaces [PODCAST]

In Long-Term Living's "Challenges" Editorial Podcast series, we ask industry experts to help solve specific problems within the long-term care and post-acute care environments. This installment: How to combat infectious microbes on soft surfaces like curtains, chairs and sofas. Read More »

Hospice care gets big help from big data

Predictive modeling software helps hospice service providers identify care candidates. Read More »

Complying with HIPAA: Avoid financial penalties by following these steps

The financial penalties for not securing protected health information have become greater under the final Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act omnibus rule that went into effect Sept. 23. Taking certain actions can strengthen your ability to avoid violations. Read More »

Information sharing, integration needed in LTC: survey

A survey of the 100 largest not-for-profit providers of senior care identifies strengths and weaknesses in the industry's use of technology. Read More »

Assisted living construction continues to accelerate

Assisted living construction is going strong and steadily rising, according to the latest NIC MAP data. Much of the construction is concentrated in six major metropolitan markets. Read More »

A dementia cure by 2025?

G8 countries gathered for a summit in London have committed to identifying a cure or disease-modifying therapy for dementia by 2025 and to significantly increasing research funding to reach that goal. Read More »

Fraud claims involve SNFs, home healthcare and DME providers

Several recent multimillion dollar Medicare fraud case convictions and settlements relate to the actions or alleged actions of skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare agencies and durable medical equipment companies and their employees. Read More »