In 1752, when Benjamin Franklin flew his kite in a storm, little did he know how people would rely on his discovery for centuries to come. When that energy is interrupted, complications arise and Kathleen Mears shares her experience with a computer and a power interruption. Read More »
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released a new analytics tool to help providers understand multiple chronic conditions in seniors. Read More »
Patients receiving antihistamines to suppress stomach acid are at greater risk of infection from Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, a common cause of diarrhea, Mayo Clinic researchers have found. Read More »
A new program of self-management of chronic conditions is designed to provide seniors with the tools to take charge of their conditions to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Read More »
Pets, especially pets trained to respond to the elderly, are welcome guests—and even permanent residents—at some nursing homes. However, research indicates that it might be better to leave pups at home. Read More »
Those who suffer a stroke may want the emergency medical staff to be busy texting instead of using an overhead paging system, a new study finds. Read More »
Knowledge about the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers has come a long way, but has it come far enough to prevent and reduce the incidence of this problem in long-term care? Read More »
When long-term care residents perceive control over what is generally a highly structured new environment, it helps them cope with stressors, reduces their depression and anxiety and increases their satisfaction with care. Read More »
Mainstreaming elderly prisoners into LTC facilities has its champions and its critics. How do residents feel about sharing their space with convicts? Kathleen Mears shares her views. Read More »
A new study identifies predictors of complications and mortality following a hip fracture, including dialysis, cardiac disease, diabetes and a longer time before surgery—the only modifiable risk factor when patients are hospitalized. Read More »
The days of antibiotics being a "silver bullet" are long over, especially in nursing homes. And when it comes to antibiotic medication, more isn't necessarily better. The challenge of treating bacterial infections without inadvertently creating new resistant bacterial strains has LTC facilities stuck between a rock and a hard place. Read More »
A new report from the Alzheimer's Association shows that while deaths from other major diseases, such as heart disease, HIV/AIDS and stroke continue to experience significant declines, Alzheimer's deaths continue to rise—increasing 68 percent from 2000-2010. Read More »
A new study has found a link between the activity levels of elderly people who have just been released from the hospital and the risk that they will require readmission within 30 days. Read More »
Residents enjoy when family and friends come to call. However, these visits might trigger old memories or a glimpse of their own futures in long-term care. Read More »
Cardiology researchers discover that the latest help in reducing readmissions of those with chronic heart failure may come from a drug considered as "old hat" 10 years ago. Read More »
Colon cancer screenings save thousands of lives each year, but for those over age 75, the risks of invasive procedures like colonoscopies may outweigh the benefits, a new JAMA Internal Medicine study says. Read More »
Antipsychotic administration in the elderly is associated with an increased risk for cerebrovascular accident, more commonly known as stroke, according to findings from a new study. Read More »
New guidelines and strategies for controlling Clostridium difficile (C. diff) in long-term care facilities are among the highlights from today’s Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) educational conference in Baltimore. Read More »
Researchers claim to have successfully normalized the production of blood vessels in the brain of mice with Alzheimer’s disease by immunizing them with amyloid beta, a protein widely associated with the disease. Read More »
Even the average person can have trouble with cell phones. Long-Term Living blogger Kathleen Mears discusses some challenges she faces with her new equipment. Read More »
It’s said that no one can turn back (or ahead) the hands of time. But, au contraire, every year on the second Monday of March, people get up, get to work bleary-eyed and try to adjust to the TIME CHANGE!!! Read More »
During bacterial outbreaks, skilled nursing facilities carry an extra burden of surveillance protocols—since the illness can roll right in the door via a patient transfer. Read More »
Trepidation about tripping? Most seniors who have taken a tumble once, will develop a fear of falling again. Helping seniors to overcome the fear of falling starts with a deep understanding of what scares them--and then empowering them to change it. Read More »
The parent company of the California senior living facility involved in a controversial 911 call responds to public outcry over corporate policies and an employee's refusal to administer CPR. Read More »
Some of the newer medications for diabetes put the resident at increased risk for acute or chronic pancreatitis, notes a recent JAMA study. Read More »
