Operations

Energy: Let the label be your guide

In 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the ENERGY STAR® program to promote and identify products that were energy Read More »

Creating the right impression with your sign system

At many senior living facilities, change is constant. Rooms are repurposed and redesigned. Residents are always moving in, moving between rooms, and Read More »

Don’t be afraid to ask for more

At a glance… Renegotiating vendor contracts presents no-nonsense, cost-cutting opportunities. It's no secret long-term care professionals have a Read More »

Nursing home safety issues

When I initially came here I was very concerned about wandering residents. They came into my room whether my door was closed or not. As an Read More »

Proper laundry protocol

At a glance… Laundry workers at long-term care facilities can help stem the outbreak of the H1N1 virus by washing hands before and after being in a Read More »

Coping with pollution ‘hot zones’

The conversation that you never want to have with your insurance professional is the one when he or she informs you that there is no coverage Read More »

Safety is focus

Ask any manufacturer of transportation vehicles for the seniors care market what the most important factor in a vehicle is and the answer will be Read More »

Using digital signage to build community

Digital signage is a technology that has roots in the earliest days of TV-some would argue, all the way back to radio. It delivers community news Read More »

Disaster planning for elderly ‘woefully inadequate’

While much of Washington's attention is focused on healthcare reform and how to pay for it, the feds have been told that existing resources and Read More »

e-Procurement

Long-Term Living asked Malcolm H. Morrison, PhD, president and CEO, Morrison Informatics, Inc., a healthcare information technology and data Read More »

Green dining

Seniors are no exception to practicing sustainable and green living efforts, especially for some 500 residents of continuing care retirement Read More »

Cogeneration turns waste into cash

It's been seen many times before in American film. A camera is resting ground level, capturing white vapor as it slowly billows up through a Read More »

Tracking environmental enhancements

When the National Institute of Medicine issued its report to Congress on the condition of the nation's nursing homes as of 1986, few saw the Read More »

Eliminate odors for resident satisfaction

Maintaining a pleasant, friendly atmosphere in your long-term care facility is a top priority. The way a place smells can be as important as the way Read More »

Everyone has a voice in environmental upgrades

Second article in the series “Creating Home and Building Community II: The Urban Experience” Read More »

Tell cockroaches to hit the road

It may take new residents some time to think of your facility as home, and ensuring that their space is comfortable and the staff is friendly goes a Read More »

Planning for protection

The 9-11-2001 terrorist attacks, the massive disruption that followed Hurricane Katrina, the recurring Midwest floods, and the devastation caused by Read More »

Surface sanitation

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 15% of nursing home residents have infections, including wound Read More »

Top six ways to manage supply expenses in long-term care

With rising costs and the threat of reduced reimbursements looming, now is the time to evaluate how your facility's supply expenses are managed. To Read More »

When equipment malfunctions

Over the years, nursing homes have been required to provide increasingly complex medical care for their residents. To meet those challenges, the use Read More »

Breathing easier through proper air filtration

Odors and gaseous contaminants can permeate throughout your facility, leading to a variety of potentially bad health effects for patients as well as Read More »

Serving Up Hospitality Through Community Initiatives

Based in Evanston, Illinois, just north of Chicago, Mather LifeWays is a not-for-profit organization that enhances the lives of older adults by Read More »

Outwit and outsmart pests

When it comes to attracting residents, the last ones you want to move into your long-term care (LTC) facility are the multilegged kind. Pests like Read More »

Finding and using greener cleaners

Constructing a “green” building is only the first step to sustainability in healthcare. Operations and maintenance also play a significant role in Read More »

Floor maintenance: A scientific approach to slip/fall prevention

While studies show that elderly and infirm people often slip and fall because of reasons related to their age, medication, illness, or other Read More »

Serving culture change at mealtimes

The nutritional status of nursing home residents typically is poor and often results in negative health outcomes such as increased illness, Read More »

The benefi ts of the regionally focused operator

All seniors housing is local. That's Raymond W. Braun's belief when it comes to developing financing partnerships with operators. Braun is president Read More »

ANATOMY OF AN EVACUATION

When the Pine Barrens in southeastern New Jersey caught fire in May, residents and staff of Genesis HealthCare's Southern Ocean Center in adjacent Read More »

How Assisted Living Should Prepare for Disaster

Assisted living regulations vary widely from state to state, and official involvement in a facility's disaster preparedness can vary, as well. No Read More »

Protect your residents from pests with sanitation

Piling trash close to the building exterior can attract pests and encourage them to go inside. Photos courtesy of Orkin, Inc. Caring for your Read More »