Administration

CMS solicits advancements, interventions in care delivery through Special Innovation Projects

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services seeks ideas for improving care delivery through a Special Innovation Program and will offer 28 awards totaling $8 million. Statements of Objectives will be available early April.  Read More »

Case Study: Assistive services bridging the gap

Sometimes a bit of help and some occasional services are all seniors need to retain independence a little longer—and stay out of a higher level of care. Read how one senior living organization’s idea for boutique services changed its residents’ lives in just two years. Read More »

FBI investigates hospice owner for overmedicating, Medicare fraud

The FBI is looking into claims the 34-year old accountant himself chose which home healthcare patients would be moved to hospice, recruited unqualified patients and charged the government for services not medically necessary. Read More »

Bad news not necessarily bad for employee engagement

Administrators and executives, take note. Bad news doesn’t have to make employees feel blue, or worse, damper engagement and morale. The way people feel and react to news depends on how the information is presented.  Read More »

New association for DNSs launches

The American Association of Directors of Nursing Services (AADNS) will offer DNSs in long-term care and post-acute care training, certification and host conferences.  Read More »

Healthcare workers impaired on the job

Workers who drink or use drugs may be able to hide their impairment from the boss, but sometimes the residents can tell right away, explains SNF resident blogger Kathleen Mears. Read More »

Dealing with disruptive visitors

Residents have a right to visitors, but SNFs must maintain safety and the rights of others. Long-Term Living's Legal expert Alan C. Horowitz shares some complicated cases and offers intervention strategies from chief medical directors. Read More »

New CMS initiative to improve care for nursing home residents

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will test a new payment model for nursing facilities and practitioners to further reduce avoidable hospitalizations and lower Medicare and Medicaid spending while improving patient care. Read More »

Woodbriar residents in ‘immediate jeopardy,’ say Mass. regulators

In the course of an investigation of a resident's death, state regulators determined substandard care resulted in a second resident death and resident fall at Woodbriar Health Center, the latest in a mounting citation list for owner Synergy Health Centers. Read More »

Shooting at Ohio retirement community kills 2, wounds 1

UPDATED: Police are investigating the incident, which appears to have involved three staff members from the community and no residents. Read More »

Medicare unveils Diabetes Prevention Program

Older Americans with a high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes may receive preventive treatment from an unlikely source: Medicare.  Read More »

Watch your back

As OSHA rules become more stringent, senior living organizations are giving more attention to healthy habits to avoid staff back injuries—and not just when lifting a resident. Read More »

Preparing residents for emergencies

All long-term living communities need protocols for managing a wide range of incidents whether the law requires it or not, and residents need to be part of the annual practice drills, says safety expert Stan Szpytek. Read More »

CMS mapping tool tracks Medicare disparities

A new interactive mapping tool drills down to the state and county levels and reveals where the delivery of Medicare outcomes are falling short across 18 chronic conditions. Read More »

PA nursing home workers want $15 minimum wage

Current contracts for SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania are set to expire at the end of March, and nursing home workers fair wages, affordable healthcare and improved staffing in their new contracts. Read More »

Fla. regulators issue orders of suspension for CCRC

The Office of Insurance Regulation has issued two initial orders of suspension for a Tampa Bay, Fla., continuing care retirement community (CCRC), alleging the facility was acquired illegally and owes more than $4 million in refunds to residents, among other claims.  Read More »

Census success north of 90

Keeping units filled can be a struggle for CCRCs, especially in a sluggish economy. We asked successful CCRC operators to share their secrets to boosting census above 90 percent—and keeping it there. Read More »

Woodbriar’s plan to address resident death unacceptable, say Mass. state regulators

Woodbriar Health Center must resubmit a plan to the state health department. The facility, owned by Synergy Health, has been making headlines for a resident’s death, scabies outbreak and substandard care. Read More »

Champion your leader during Long Term Care Administrator’s Week

The American College of Health Care Administrators commends, salutes and thanks administrators in nursing homes and assisted living centers for a job well done, today and throughout the year.  Read More »

New CMS data set shakes out the RUGs

The data set examines the levels of care performed and resources used in skilled nursing facilities, including how many days are billed as the ultra-expensive “ultra-high rehabilitation.” Read More »

2016 OPTIMA Award competition is open

Is your community's new program or initiative OPTIMA Award-worthy? Learn how you can submit your innovative, resident-centered programs for Long-Term Living's national honor. Read More »

Study finds toxic co-workers surprisingly productive, rule abiding

Forget the blabbermouths, brown nosers, con artists and incompetent workers. The worker who could be causing the most harm to your organization could also be one of your most productive workers, researchers found.  Read More »

Genesis sells home health and hospice business to Compassus

Genesis Healthcare Inc., one of the nation’s largest post-acute care providers, will sell most of its home health and hospice operations to Compassus for $84 million. The company will use the proceeds to repay debt. Read More »

Post-acute provider expands to home health care

LifeCare Holdings will acquire Haven Home Health as the company continues expanding its post-acute service offerings.  Read More »

Harness the MDS for dementia care

The federally mandated minimum data set (MDS) is a documentation tool caregivers use every day that can help ensure quality dementia care. Read More »

Ziegler, My LifeSite launch state reports on CCRCs

Maryland is the first in the series of state-by-state reports examining the way continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) charge for services and how the communities are administered. Read More »

Washington state votes to oversee CCRCs

The state is one of the first to pass legislature to bulk up consumer protections relating to continuing care retirement communities. Could your CCRC meet their new requirements? Read More »

A closer look at CMS’ efforts to reduce avoidable hospitalizations

Does Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recognize industry improvements? Washington policy expert Robert Gatty looks at whether the government's efforts have been effective. Read More »