Resident Care

New app helps families and caregivers coordinate visits, tasks

CareMonster, a caregiving app startup, helps families take care of elderly loved ones, but also has a business model that can be adopted by providers. Read More »

Alzheimer’s Foundation stresses relationship building in new training video

The six-hour video training course taps the insights of several geriatrics experts and incldues the oppportunity to apply for an AFA certificate in dementia care. Read More »

FDA warns of errors with same-sounding drugs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration  (FDA) warns of prescribing errors among same-sounding drugs, including several that are used to treat conditions common among older adults. Read More »

Report: Antipsychotic drug use in nursing homes drops

Data from the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes shows a significant drop in the use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes. Read More »

Ohio may integrate convicts into nursing homes

The costs of caring for sick and frail older convicts are skyrocketing and soon so will the numbers of elderly inmates in the nation’s prison systems. The Ohio Department of Corrections thinks it has found the answer to reducing the state's costs of providing care. Read More »

Some dementia drugs contribute to weight loss

A new study ties some of today’s most common dementia drugs to sharper weight loss and gastrointestinal complications.  Read More »

Pennsylvania creates task force to oversee nursing home care

The task force has been asked to identify ways the health department can advance quality improvement in the state's LTC facilities.  Read More »

Senator questions integrity of five-star nursing home rating system

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Penn.) has called for an investigation of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid's five-star nursing home compare tool.  Read More »

MDS assessment accuracy and quality outcome success

MDS coordinators are charged with the responsibility to ensure all of the data accurately reflects all residents and the care that is being provided to them. Read More »

Jack’s quest for ice

Sometimes residents have simple needs such as a refilling a pitcher of ice. Is ice that precious a commodity that it has to be locked up? Or is it a safety issue to avoiding accidental spills and contamination? Read More »

FDA warns of infusion pump vulnerability

The federal Food and Drug Administration warns healthcare facilities using the Symbiq infusion pump system to be aware that the drug system is vulnerable to hacking. Read More »

Addiction in seniors: ‘It’s at epidemic levels’

A "silver tsunami" of addicted seniors is coming, warned a speaker at this week's National Conference on Addiction Disorders, hosted by sister-publication Addiction Professional.  Read More »

Technology advancements improve documentation and care

Point-of-care (POC) technology solutions reduce costs and improve quality of care for hospice, home health providers. Read More »

Coordinated data-sharing could cut “superbug” infections in half

Aggressive intervention using a coordinated approach could prevent healthcare-related infections and death, saving the healthcare system billions of dollars in treatment costs. Read More »

Senior mental health: Too many pills, not enough services?

Seniors seem to be getting plenty of mental health medications, like antidepressants and anti-anxiety pills. But a recent report shows that older adults are far less likely than younger adults to receive the supportive mental health services that often accompany a mental health diagnosis. Read More »

Wide beds: Added inches, added safety

Wide beds and wider mattresses can reduce the number of falls experienced by long-term care residents, notes a new case study. Read More »

Dementia spending priorities: care or cure?

How should the National Alzheimer’s Project Act spend its funding? A new survey shows that many consider long-term care resources, education, financial support for in-home care and respite care resources to be a more important use of the money than researching a cure. Read More »

LeadingAge to study how person-centered care affects depression, dementia

Does person-centered care help residents with depression and/or dementia? LeadingAge is teaming up with the N.J.-based Francis E. Parker Memorial Home to study how person-centered care and the household model environment affect residents with these conditions. Read More »

The aging brain and its influence on sound processing

For years, greeting card companies have spoofed some seniors’ inability to accurately interpret what is said to them to what they actually hear. There’s a reason why this happens and it’s all in their heads, according to new research. Read More »

6 resident care pitfalls for SNFs

Six common resident care issues can become big problems for skilled nursing facility care if not dealt with carefully. The Justice in Aging organization suggests ways to confront and solve them. Read More »

Upgraded SNF restorative program reduces falls

Dramatic results from a recent study indicate that integrating Progressive Resistance Exercise (PRE) into the active range of motion portion of a restorative program improves strength and balance. Read More »

Photo project captures the picture of joy

Residents at Avanti Senior Living are getting camera-ready for a new photography project about living life passionately in older years. Read More »

An eye drop that dissolves cataracts under development

The eye drops shrink cataracts until they are dissolved. Read More »

New Alzheimer’s drugs may also help people with Parkinson’s

Drugs that target "protein misfolding" could be useful for many neurodegenerative diseases. Read More »

Women with cognitive impairment decline faster than men

Women with mild cognitive impairment decline twice as fast as men with the same condition. Read More »

Saliva could predict early onset Alzheimer’s

A saliva test could predict Alzheimer's even in people who don't yet have memory or cognition problems associated with the disease. Read More »

CMS proposes mandatory antibiotic stewardship programs in LTC

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' proposed rule would require long-term care facilities to establish an antibiotic stewardship program in order to participate in Medicare. Read More »

When laughter is the best medicine

A hospital in Washington has learned what long-term care facilities have known for years: There is no better medicine than laughter. Read More »

ONC creates roadmap for Health IT Safety Center

An Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology task force has created a roadmap to improve identification and sharing of information on health IT-related safety events. Read More »

NCAL lauds nation’s best AL caregivers

The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) honors the skills and dedication of four assisted living professionals in its national award program. Read More »