Resident Care

Exercise benefits seniors in many ways, new research says

Encouraging residents to exercise may help them improve their mental and physical health as well as their fitness for and recovery from surgery, according to results of two new studies. Read More »

New model indicates when memory loss is Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers may have found a way for you to let residents know whether to relax or take other action. Read More »

Have the conversation everyone avoids

Holidays are times of reunion, love, togetherness and present the perfect opportunities to plan for the future. Read More »

Keeping the faith in a nursing home

Maintaining one’s spiritual life in a long-term care facility can be a challenge if it’s up to the resident to find ways to fulfill that need for worship and reflection. Read More »

EHR provider bites into meal management

A leading EHR provider for the LTC market acquires a leading provider of nutritional management software.  Read More »

Eye doctor may diagnose Alzheimer’s disease in the future

The eye holds clues to Alzheimer’s disease, according to one study. Another study, however, finds no association between a common age-related eye disease and dementia. Read More »

Fighting diabetes in the workplace and at home

Preventing or managing diabetes can mean lower health insurance and other personnel-related costs for employers as well as healthier employees and residents. Here are some tips to help combat the disease, in observance of National Diabetes Month and World Diabetes Day. Read More »

Mining databases for Alzheimer’s disease drug treatments

German and American companies will collaborate on data mining to develop new drugs to fight Alzheimer's disease.   Read More »

New research, guidelines affect care of overweight and obese seniors

Three new studies and a new guideline on obesity and health from a government-convened panel have implications for medical, nursing, nutrition and activities personnel in long-term care environments. Read More »

Volunteering has physical benefits for seniors

Seniors who regularly donate their time to their favorite causes are physically healthier than those who don’t, according to new research. So think about encouraging volunteerism among residents. Read More »

Two-hour turns may no longer be the standard, study finds

For more than 50 years, caregivers turned nursing home residents every two hours to prevent pressure ulcers. Do improved mattress manufacturing methods extend the time between turns? Read More »

4 factors linked to heart failure death

Many deaths from congestive heart failure might be prevented if healthcare professionals look for four risk factors, according to new research. Read More »

Long-term care-related comedy to air on HBO

You may see some familiar faces on Nov. 24 when HBO debuts a comedy about a “ragtag crew” caring for elderly women at a hospital’s extended care unit. Read More »

One medical visit reveals much about Alzheimer’s progression: study

One medical visit is all it takes to gather enough data to predict how long it will be before someone with Alzheimer’s disease needs professional long-term care or dies, according to new research. Read More »

Nine nursing home employees die at work in 2012, data show

The injuries and illnesses might not be dramatic, but government data show that nursing homes are dangerous places to work. Read More »

CMS clarifies ADL scoring process

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services emphasize the importance of following the “Rule of 3” sequence when coding activities of daily living, as noted in the recently updated RAI User's Manual. Read More »

New alliance dedicated to person-centered dementia care

As seniors become the dominant population in the American landscape, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are predicted to increase at an alarming rate. Read More »

IRS increases tax deductions for LTC insurance

If you or those for whom you care are concerned about how to pay for long-term care, you may be interested to learn that the Internal Revenue Service has increased the tax deductions allowed for the purchase of long-term care insurance policies in 2014. Read More »

Dental, heart health linked in study

A new study provides another reason to promote brushing and flossing among residents. Read More »

Johnson & Johnson to pay $2.2 billion to resolve off-label marketing and kickback allegations

In what the federal government maintains is one of the largest healthcare fraud settlements in U.S. history, Johnson & Johnson and subsidiaries will pay more than $2.2 billion for allegedly promoting three drugs for unapproved uses in the elderly and others as well as purportedly paying kickbacks to doctors and the country’s biggest long-term care pharmacy provider. Read More »

Litigation on the rise for LTC industry

This society’s eagerness to seek legal action against perceived harm or injustice to their loved ones in long-term care gives plaintiffs’ lawyers a wide-open client base to pursue. Read More »

Hospitalization reduction is aim of nursing home resident study

A $13.4 million initiative funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services hopes to improve care and communication within nursing facilities and between nursing homes and acute care institutions so that problems can be caught and managed before it becomes necessary to transport residents to the hospital. Read More »

Getting weighed

Monitoring residents’ weights essential in providing quality care. At times, however, the process can present challenges to doing it accurately, comfortably and privately. Read More »

Injuries from falls lessened by exercise: study

Want to reduce injuries from falls in seniors? Encourage them to participate in balance-related exercise programs, a new study suggests. Read More »

MRSA levels in SNFs may be higher than assumed

A new study of nursing home residents in California indicates that there's much more community-acquired MRSA in LTC settings than medical professionals first thought. Read More »

Don’t let time change wreak havoc on health

As the end of daylight saving time approaches in most parts of the United States, here are some tips to keep you—and residents—healthy and alert in the coming weeks. Read More »

Alzheimer’s, caregivers highlighted in November observances

November observances put Alzheimer's disease and family caregivers in the spotlight. Read More »

Celebrating the angels of end-of-life care

Hospice takes the stage in November to educate the public on the services and supports available to help a loved one and family members make the transition together. Read More »

National survey reveals gaps in opioid PCA pump practices

The first national survey of patient-controlled pain medication pumps has revealed red flags in how patient vitals are monitored and how risk factors are calculated. Read More »

Medication prescribing reflects regional variations, study finds

Study investigates the geographical differences and patterns in drug prescribing and drug therapies for Medicare patients and the potential risks involved. Read More »