Nursing home and memory care residents were moved to another facility until repairs can be made. Both facilities are owned by the same company but operate under different state regulations. The facility accepting evacuees doesn’t accept Medicaid, causing a major snag in the disaster preparedness plan. Read More »
Several companies, backed by major investors and big pharma, are working to develop prescription video games. They're interested in video game therapy as an extension of treatments for a variety of mental illnesses, including Alzheimer's disease. Read More »
The central Texas chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is separating from the national organization, citing dissatisfaction over the recent reorganization at the national level. Read More »
A college vocal performance major will spend the semester living in a retirement community as a result of a partnership between the CCRC and Drake University. Haley Jenkins will sing two concerts a month in exchange for free room, board and utilities. Read More »
New research is emphasizing just how much social connectedness affects the physical side of aging, including chronic conditions like obesity and high blood pressure. Read More »
The Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare has a new tool that has helped many hospitals lower their falls rates by one-third. Can its methodology help your long-term care facility do the same for one of Medicare's "never events"? Read More »
Treating elderly residents—especially those with dementia—with antipsychotics requires a careful balance between medication and behavioral treatments. Read More »
A new diet designed to lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease has far reaching benefits and has been ranked by US News & World Report as surprisingly easy to follow. Researchers reported significant benefits for those who made modest changes and, as an added bonus, the diet recommends drinking wine. Read More »
Following the fall 2015 restructuring of the national Alzheimer's Association, the Los Angeles chapter has decided to leave the national group and form its own association. Read More »
An Activities Department does more than organize bingo games. The department helps residents maintain cognitive function and gives them a sense of independence and dignity. That deserves every department's respect. Read More »
A Maryland retirement community featured a photo and words to live by from a resident or staff member each day in 2015 in the vein of popular blog Humans of New York. Read More »
Lumos Labs, the makers of the Lumosity brain training program, have reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission on allegations the company deceived consumers with unfounded claims about cognitive and health benefits from playing its online and mobile games. Read More »
New recommendations for the delivery of quality care for geriatric surgical patients were released today by the American College of Surgeons and American Geriatrics Society. Read More »
Researchers found an extra hour of therapy for seniors recovering from hip fractures in Skilled Nursing Facilities saw improved outcomes, though seniors with the highest levels of impairment saw no benefit. Read More »
Deep sleep means a deep cleanse of brain toxins, including those that form Alzheimer's plaques. Researchers found a lack of sleep sped the accumulation of Alzheimer's disease plaques in mice, suggesting a possible link and potential new treatments that start with catching some zzz's. Read More »
Researchers have found a correlation between negative views on aging and developing Alzheimer's disease. People who held negative views of aging were found to have greatest volume loss of the hippocampus, a part of the brain central to memory. They were also found to have a significantly greater number of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles than their peers with a positive outlook on aging. Read More »
Most recommendations for osteoarthritis tend to favor low-impact exercise, but some research indicates that if the osteoarthritis is mild, a little bit of higher impact exercise might do a lot more good. Read More »
New residents can struggle to combat their fears and find a way to feel useful, but everyone can help them adjust, says resident blogger Kathleen Mears. Read More »
Canadian music icon John Mann has early-onset Alzheimer's disease, and medications on the market haven't been effective. He will go to Mexico for experimental stem cell therapy. Read More »
New research suggests accumulation of the tau protein hinders the brain's ability to clean out and replace cells. A drug already on the market was found to help flush out old cells and improve memory in mice, suggesting new therapies for neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Read More »
A multi-year study of norovirus outbreaks at long-term care facilities found seniors are more prone to contracting the virus, suffer severe outbreaks and shed the virus for at least three weeks. People usually get better within one to three days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read More »
Patient safety events reveal healthcare organizations are concerned about alarm hazards, IV mix-ups, failure to conduct independent double checks, inadequate patient handoffs and medication errors. These are all new to the ECRI Institute’s annual list. Read More »
Everyone has “internal timing genes” that regulate sleep and wake cycles and other body processes. New research shows older people might have an internal clock that younger people don’t. Could this provide a clue on sundowning? Read More »
What do seniors want for the holidays? Hint: It’s not slippers. We asked residents what types of technology they wish they had, and you may be surprised what's on their lists. Read More »
The fiscal year 2016 federal spending bill includes $350 million more for Alzheimer's disease research funding. It's the first time in 12 years the National Institutes of Health have seen a boost in funding. Read More »
Occupational therapy can promote healing, independence and well-being for residents, but all too often treatments are misunderstood or missing. That prevents barriers to providing the best possible care for long-term care residents. Read More »
Researchers found older adults who took college courses saw an increase in their capacity to process information, make decisions, plan and retain memories. Age, gender, feelings of well-being or level of social connectedness did not affect their cognitive capacity. Read More »
