Resident Care

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 »

Study: Seniors in subsidized housing have poorer vision

Compared to the rate of visual impairment in the general older adult population, seniors living in subsidized housing have considerably worse vision. Read More »

On the road to burnout

It happens in most professions, but the tensions that lead burnout in long-term care are magnified by the pressures—and responsibilities—of caring for people. Read More »

Uber teams up with senior living communities to offer on-demand transportation

At the White House Conference on Aging this week, Uber announced it is teaming up with senior living communities to make transportation easier for residents. Read More »

ALFA forms partnership to support Dementia Friendly America

ALFA is working with US Against Alzheimer's on an initiative that aims to build a more dementia-friendly nation. Read More »

Alice Bonner, MD, earns Champion of Quality Award from AHCA/NCAL

Alice Bonner, MD, earned the award for her contributions to quality in the long-term and post-acute care community, especially in dementia care. Read More »

Florida senior living provider partners with NFL to build 33 new communities

Validus Senior Living and the NFL Alumni Association have partnered to build assisted living and memory care facilities in major cities with a high concentration of retired NFL players. Read More »

NIH’s Go4Life Month encourages active living in seniors

Go4Life Month in September aims to encourage exercise and daily activities in adults over age 50. Read More »

White House Conference on Aging: New program and initiative roundup

The White House Conference on Aging was held Monday, and several new programs and initiatives were announced.  Read More »

Government audits find extensive Medicare Advantage overcharges

Some Medicare Advantage patients were overpaying by thousands of dollars a year, according to government audits. Read More »

ProPublica report: Blood thinner Coumadin is causing deaths, injuries in nursing homes

The president of Geriatric Practice Management calls Coumadin "the most dangerous drug in America." Read More »

‘Smart’ patch could nix insulin injections

A penny-sized patch under development could replace daily insulin injections for diabetics. Read More »

OIG says SNF billing for changes in therapy needs improvement

The OIG recommends the CMS accelerate its efforts to begin a new method for paying for therapy.  Read More »

Many experience accelerated cognitive decline following a stroke

A study published in JAMA followed stroke survivors and found that cognitive decline persists long after the first few weeks of the incident. Read More »

Study: Wearing protective gowns, gloves may not protect residents from contracting MRSA

Two studies discuss the effectiveness of wearing protective gear when performing daily care activities in guarding against incidences of MRSA. Read More »

Bill would allow FDA to regulate medication information on social media

If the proposed bill is passed, drug information can soon be found on social media platforms.  Read More »