Resident Care

HHS updates national Alzheimer’s plan, adds initiatives on dementia’s impact on families

The 2013 update to the national action plan on dementia has added a gamut of initiatives to the plan, including new treatment guidelines, increased access to services and better education on the disease’s impacts on families and the healthcare system. Read More »

Study: Best SNF care teams involve primary care physicians and pharmacists

Putting pharmacists and primary care physicians on care teams can improve outcomes for long-stay residents in skilled nursing, according to a recent review of research from around the world. Read More »

Tracking residents the Hogwarts way

Scientists take a page from the Harry Potter series to develop a resident locating system to track nursing home residents in an effort to improve care. Read More »

Texas fertilizer plant blast takes its toll on SNF residents

The Texas nursing home’s evacuation plan was executed, residents were removed from harm’s way, but the facility experienced a spike in resident deaths. Why? Read More »

$30 million in funding earmarked for falls prevention study

A serious fall at home can have far-reaching consequences to a senior’s quality of life. A government-funded study will look into ways to reduce or prevent the instances of debilitating falls in community-dwelling seniors. Long-term care providers are asked to help. Read More »

Experiencing a medication error

Residents and their families trust that close attention is paid to the medications each individual requires. LTL blogger Kathleen Mears talks about the time she was given the incorrect medication. Read More »

New online intervention tools will grapple with impact of dementia on Hispanics

Researchers at Columbia University School of Nursing are developing a new system of online tools to address the unique issues of dementia care within the Hispanic community. Read More »

ConnectedLiving launches new learning center for seniors

Resident empowerment goes back to school as one company adds an online "university" of content and tools to engage seniors in learning about health topics. Read More »

The changing face of assisted living

As the American populations continues to age, assisted living looks at a new  role of providing housing care to higher acuity residents and those with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Read More »

FDA softens stance on Avandia

The FDA votes to ease restrictions on the once-popular diabetes drug, but concerns will likely remain in the minds of many. Read More »

Court of Appeals agrees with SNF, reverses HHS

Were the residents' eggs served runny or undercooked? Ambiguity in language convinces an Appeals Court to reverse a noncompliance ruling in a recent case where CMS had accused a nursing home of poor food preparation. Read More »

The Internet: An antidepressant for seniors?

A new study assesses the relationship between Internet use by seniors and its effect on the symptoms of depression and the possible impact on healthcare costs. Read More »

Senate revisits Positive Aging Act

A bipartisan Senate bill hopes to bring senior mental health services back to the Congressional fore. Read More »

A D-Day salute to WWII veterans

To the young, World War II is a lesson in the history books. But the courage, sacrifice and bravery shown by those who served will live on. Read More »

Metonyms: What’s in name?

If it’s been a while since you’ve been in an English class, here’s a brief reminder on why what you call a person has significance, especially in long-term care. Read More »

MDS Manual update brings welcome clarity

The RAI User's Manual received section revisions and clarifications on dental status (section L), skin conditions (section M) and other items in the May update release. Read More »

Healthcare IT and me

Even a simple visit to a physician’s office can become a complicated ordeal for a person with disabilities when filling out health information forms is involved. Read More »

CMS clarifies confusing scoring for ADLs

AANAC's Judi Kulus explains the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services attempt to iron out the confusing rules for coding activities of daily living (ADLs) under the RAI User's Manual. Read More »

Occupational therapy’s role in LTC

Conducting targeted in-services helps staff understand the goals and benefits of occupational therapy for residents in a facility setting. Read More »

Hospitalists see new opportunities in LTC

Long-term care is a growing field for hospitalists to explore, which will enable them to fill the void in post-acute care as they do in the hospital setting. Read More »

An update on my stolen credit card

Lingering doubts and suspicions are part of the aftermath of credit card fraud, as Long-Term Living blogger Kathleen Mears know firsthand. Read More »

Costs of stroke treatment may double by 2030

A new report predicts that the costs associated with strokes will double in the next 17 years, putting a strain on the healthcare system. Read More »

Steroid fails as cure for high-stage pressure ulcers

The promise of anabolic steroids as treatment for severe pressure ulcers took a hit in a recent clinical trial testing oxandrolone. Read More »

She’s our plant lady no more

What a difference a year makes as Kathleen Mears updates us on her facility's "plant lady," who no longer is allowed to exercise her "green thumb" to grow hardy, healthy plants that staff and residents enjoy. Read More »

Front Porch puts mHealth medication management on front burner

The Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing and CareSpeak Communications develop a patient-centric medications reminder service to improve seniors' medication compliance. Read More »

Skilled nursing: The continuing quest for quality

While quality and satisfaction scores have improved, skilled nursing facilities need to continue to improve and adapt to government policy and reimbursement cuts to survive. Read More »

Can sleep quality predict the need for nursing home care?

Counting sheep, warm milk and a quiet room are not cure-all remedies for insomnia. A recent study finds that sleeplessness may predict the need for extended care. Read More »

Skilled care in the south of France

Every country in the world--from Argentina to Zimbabwe--is confronted with the problem of caring for its elderly and paying for that care. Here's a firsthand look at how senior care is provided at a facility in France. Read More »

FDA approves 24-hour COPD drug

The FDA has approved the first once-a-day inhalant to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Read More »

Nighttime housekeeping is disruptive

While nursing homes are a 24-hour-a-day operation, maintenance/housekeeping staff need to schedule loud and/or noisy projects at times that won't limit accessibility to residents or disturb their routines. Read More »