We’ve got high-tech flooring sensors, in-room monitors for falls management and remote home monitoring.. . but wait—did we forget to redesign the stairs? Today's IOM meeting in Washington, D.C., provides a backdrop for good discussions on technology, health space design and mission. Read More »
Long-term Living’s coverage from today’s "Public Workshop on Fostering Independence and Healthy Aging through Technology" in Washington, D.C.: Senior services leaders present the issues of “assistance technology” to keep seniors mobile and independent. Read More »
MedPAC proposes more cuts for 2014, and the skilled nursing industry objects. But the GAO issues a report that can only make the industry’s case more difficult. Read More »
A new report released today by the American Health Care Association shows historic shortfalls in what Medicaid pays and what skilled nursing care actually costs. Read More »
As the resident pay portion in long-term care has increased over the last several years, many facilities are finding it difficult to collect the resident’s entire portion when the resident doesn't have the resources to pay all at once. Here are five key tips for increasing the collection of the resident pay portion, thus reducing the account receivables that end up in collections. Read More »
One of the more compelling stories that came out of Superstorm Sandy in late October was the major blow dealt to New York City-area nursing homes. Staff and management at The Hebrew Home at Riverdale, N.Y., went above and beyond the call of duty in offering shelter and care for displaced area seniors. Read More »
Safety and security is a matter that every type of LTC facility should take very seriously. Assuming that seniors are immune from the type of violence that was witnessed at Sandy Hook Elementary School is a mistake. Read More »
The Department of Health & Human Services clarified its position Monday on funding ratios for state Medicaid expansions and published an extensive FAQ list on state health insurance exchanges. Read More »
Healthcare policy expert Blair Childs, vice president for public affairs at Premier healthcare alliance, gives his "insider impressions" of what’s happening on the Hill regarding a possible "doc-fix," Medicare funding, and possible Affordable Care Act policy changes as the deadline clock ticks down on the fiscal cliff. Read More »
Sharon Yester, chief asset management officer for CNL Financial Group, the investment management firm of CNL Healthcare, spoke with Long-Term Living on emerging senior housing markets, finding good operators to partner with and meeting the exploding demand for memory care products. Read More »
Eliminating tray service in the dining room has deinstitutionalized meal times. Resident satisfaction has soared and Winchester Rehabilitation and Nursing has saved money. Read More »
Healthcare associations appeal to Congress to keep the therapy cap off the calendar for another year, as the clock ticks toward the December 31 Congressional deadline. Read More »
Creating a detailed emergency response plan—and keeping it updated—is crucial to safeguarding your organization’s residents, staff and property. These disaster planning checklists can help you manage risk and keep your staff ready for anything. Read More »
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is continuing its aggressive efforts to identify fraud among healthcare providers. In October, the OIG released its 2013 work plan, which outlines the audit and enforcement initiatives for Medicare and Medicaid providers in the coming year. Let's take a look at the Nursing Homes section of the work plan. Read More »
One of long-term care's largest skilled nursing companies just got bigger, as Pennsylvania-based Genesis HealthCare adds to its service lines in a $215 million deal. Read More »
Speaker of the House John Boehner delivered a new proposal to solve the budget crisis this afternoon-- including billions in healthcare cuts. Read More »
A Nashville hospice care provider has become the first hospice organization in the country to publicize its care quality data, raising the bar for others in the palliative care industry. Read More »
Flu season demands greater attention to cleaning. “High-touch” surfaces require particularly close attention. Daily housekeeping in LTC facilities should include not only obvious reservoirs of micro-organisms such bathrooms and linens, but all horizontal and high-touch surfaces outside resident rooms and other care areas. Read More »
Important victories can be achieved when a resident is encouraged and enabled to use his or her abilities to achieve a personal goal through support and training. Read More »
According to news reports on Nov. 28 and 29, President Barack Obama has proposed cutting $340 billion from Medicare spending over 10 years, in his fiscal year 2013 budget, as part of his initial bargaining stance with Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner (R-OH) and congressional Republicans, during the so-called “fiscal cliff” negotiations. Read More »
The elderly can benefit from the “use it or lose it” tenet of good geriatric practice, which encourages them to make choices from among meaningful alternatives. This practice requires no special technology because it’s what we do countless times every day. Read More »
The status quo never inspired innovation. Dr. Tellis-Nayak, a medical sociologist and Senior Research Advisor at the National Research Corporation, explains why improving long-term care means being willing to look beyond "the way things are" and considering the way things could be. Read More »
The No. 1 factor impacting health status in residents with Parkinson’s disease isn’t the shakes and the loss of muscle control—it’s the depression. Read More »
I challenge LTC providers to think of creative ways to develop solid and meaningful relationships with their community’s first responders and providers of other essential services that will be mutually beneficial in good times as well as bad times. Read More »
