Operations

Rat problem lands nursing home on watch list

While it’s challenging to maintain a completely pest-free facility, vigilance and professional attention are necessary to prevent infestations and provide a safe and healthy environment for residents and staff. Read More »

5 environmental tips to surviving allergy season in LTC

For many people, autumn is their favorite time of year. The air is crisp, the foliage is brilliant and warm days still pop up occasionally, drawing residents outdoors. It is also the season when pollens, molds and other allergens contaminate the air and trigger allergic reactions. Read More »

Seniors housing demand up, construction down, NIC MAP says

”Stronger job growth, growing consumer confidence and the broad recovery in the stock market are contributing to the gains seen in occupancy and rent growth in seniors housing in the third quarter," according to the latest NIC MAP data. Read More »

Kindred, Gentiva to merge

Kindred Healthcare and Gentiva Health Services will merge in a $1.8 billion transaction that will create the fourth-largest healthcare employer in the country. Read More »

AHCA/NCAL gives Gold Awards

Six care centers were honored with 2014 Gold – Excellence in Quality Awards from the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living today at the closing session of the organization’s annual meeting, where other award winners also were celebrated. Read More »

CMS issues categorical waiver for using power strips in care areas

The increasing use of electrical equipment in areas where patients/residents receive treatment has  increased the need for more electrical outlets to accommodate the appliances/devices. Read More »

CARF accredits first independent living community

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities has awarded its first accreditation to an independent living community after implementing standards for such environments in July. Read More »

Your unused drugs can benefit your facility, those in need

Skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities seeking to improve efficiencies and finances while helping the less fortunate and contributing to sustainability efforts may find an ally in a California-based nonprofit organization.  Read More »

Group releases nursing home report card

Where do nursing homes provide the most hours of care and the highest levels of staffing? Find out what Families for Better Care says in its latest rankings. Read More »

NCAL updates assisted living principles

The National Center for Assisted Living puts an increased focus on culture change, training and safety in a newly revised guide. Read More »

Post substitute menu selections

“Choice.” It is the magic word of culture change. What happens when residents are not given enough choices, especially at mealtimes? Read More »

Brides share wedding festivities with memory care residents

Has your community ever hosted a marriage ceremony? One memory care center did, so that a father could participate in his daughter's celebration. At another, a bride stopped by on the way to her wedding so that the residents for whom she cared could see her gown.  Read More »

Join us for a Twitter chat Aug. 26 at 2 p.m. ET

The interface of long-term care and home health will be the topic. Get all the details here. Read More »

How to align resources for post-acute care

A post-acute care operator needs to take advantage of seismic changes in healthcare delivery and get in the game. Here's how. Read More »

Skilled Healthcare, Genesis HealthCare to merge

The 100 percent stock transaction will create one of the largest providers of post-acute care in the country, according to company executives. Read More »

Sunrise Senior Living to manage Health Care REIT properties in UK

Health Care REIT has acquired 11 properties from Gracewell Healthcare, and they will be managed by Sunrise Senior Living. Read More »

Mainstreet, Health Care REIT partnership valued at $2.3 billion

Agreements between a post-acute healthcare developer and a healthcare real estate company are expected to be finalized later this year. Read More »

Brookdale, Emeritus complete merger

The expanded Brookdale Senior Living Inc. now operates in 46 states via 1,100 communities covering the full spectrum of senior living options. Read More »

Nursing care, assisted living occupancy rates down

Overall seniors housing occupancy rates are up in the second quarter of this year compared with the previous quarter—spurred by the independent living sector, but occupancy rates are down in nursing care and assisted living communities, according to data released today by the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry's MAP Data and Analysis Service. Read More »

Disappearing washcloths

Everyone knows that washing machines and dryers live on a diet of socks. Long-Term Living resident blogger Kathleen Mears notes that washcloths seem to be the meal of choice of facility laundry equipment. Read More »

3 keys to facility security

Three steps can help long-term care facility administrators ensure that security is an integral part of their overall management plans. Read More »

2014 Buyers Guide reader survey: Technology

Long-Term Living's readers weigh in on how technology is enhancing business processes and improving clinical care. Read More »

2014 Buyers Guide reader survey: Facility operations

Long-Term Living's readers are expanding their service lines, evaluating outsourcing partnerships, renovating their spaces and focusing on memory care. Read More »

Challenges: Environmental hygiene for infection control [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 improve environmental hygiene to combat infection. Read More »

How to serve those on Medicaid through assisted living

The state of the economy and the continuing aging of the population mean that interest in the "affordable assisted living" model–serving those receiving Medicaid assistance–is growing, according to speakers at the Assisted Living Federation of America annual conference. They shared tips for those interested in operating properties under this model. Read More »

Survey reveals senior living wishes of prospective residents

A new survey provides some insights into how Americans select senior living communities for themselves or their loved ones. Read More »

A small house can mean a big difference, speakers say

A senior living provider and general contractor share what they have learned through the process of building of five small house neighborhoods and delivering person-centered skilled nursing care. See the photo gallery, too. Read More »

Memory boxes? Forget about them

Long-term care communities are moving away from using memory boxes as cuing tools for residents, experts say. Thankfully, they add, less expensive and more effective options exist. Read More »

Household dining yields lower costs, higher satisfaction

A household dining model using satellite kitchens results in lower net costs for communities and an improved dining experience for residents, based on the experiences of one facility owner and operator. Read More »

Intimate by design

Sex in nursing homes? You bet. How does your facility design support healthy residents' rights to intimacy and sexuality? Read More »