Changing medications can be difficult as Long-Term Living blogger Kathleen Mears shares her experiences in switching antidepressant medications. Read More »
Enjoying a glass of red wine not only lifts one’s spirits and reduces the risk of heart disease, but it can also help a person maintain hearing and mental acuity. Read More »
Preliminary research findings from the University of Arizona suggest that men and women older than 65 who learn to use Facebook could see a boost in cognitive function. Read More »
Pursuing personal interest helps residents fill their days with meaningful information and entertainment. LTL blogger Kathleen Mears uses a variety of technological devices to stay engaged. Read More »
Long-term care pharmacies incur dispensing costs that are 25 percent higher than those of traditional retail pharmacies while providing additional services to meet the unique health needs of LTC residents, according to the findings of a new study. Read More »
This year's flu shot is not protecting those over 65 from influenza A, warns a new update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read More »
In a new JAMA study, researchers question aggressive medical treatments that may keep terminally ill patients in acute care or skilled nursing instead of referring them to hospice care. Read More »
Nursing homes have become breeding grounds for community-assisted MRSA, a new strain of bacterial infection that can be contracted by residents, their visitors and employees. Read More »
A new study finds that healthy menopausal women carrying a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease showed measurable signs of accelerated biological aging. However, in carriers who started hormone therapy at menopause and remained on that therapy, this acceleration was absent. Read More »
A measure used by Medicare that penalizes hospitals for poor performance is not related to how many patients die after admittance, according to a new study. Read More »
The use of psychotropic drugs in long-term care is a significant issue that every facility deals with. This article examines a highly unusual case and also suggests what nursing facilities can expect from government regulators. Read More »
Learning, memory improvement, problem solving, vision, balance and depression can all be improved if we understand neuroplasticity and how to have fun while "teaching an old dog new tricks.” Read More »
The number of people in the United States with Alzheimer’s disease is projected to almost triple by 2050, straining the healthcare system and burdening caregivers, according to a new study. Read More »
LTC providers are poised to play a big part in turning around the trend of high hospital readmissions with the ever-increasing tools and support continuing to be generated by the innovative within their own industry. Three providers share their effective strategies. Read More »
Shelley Silverman King, RN, explains how a Massachusetts facility uses specially trained caregivers and a room full of sensory experiences—music, lighting, hand massage, aromatherapy and other stimuli—to reach its most isolated and lonely population: its residents with advanced dementia. Read More »
A new program designed for young adults with intellectual disabilities can help seniors overcome their challenges in positive, supportive long-term care environments. Read More »
Counting sheep from loss of sleep? Poor sleep can have a direct effect on more than just physical energy in elders, according to a new neurology study. Read More »
Most nursing home providers understand the importance of auditing the MDS against the medical record to ensure that the chart supports the coding decisions represented on the MDS. But analyzing MDS responses in the context of quality seems to be a missed opportunity for many providers. Read More »
The first criteria for the appropriate use of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging technology to aid in the diagnosis of people with suspected Alzheimer's disease were released Monday by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) and the Alzheimer's Association. Read More »
Whether at work computer or at home, lost data can be a game-changer. Kathleen Mears shares the lesson she learned through a recent experience with file backup. Read More »
Whether residents are in short-stay rehab or LTC units, providing the right physical environment backed by staff commitment, can improve mobility and, ultimately, reduce falls. Here’s how one LTC community did just that. Read More »
If deep brain stimulation can help patients with movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, might it not be effective in treating those with Alzheimer’s disease? Read More »
At times, health conditions, such as quadriplegia, can have some unusual manifestations on other parts of the body. Are they the result of an existing condition or a symptom of another health issue? Don't ignore spots, rashes, discoloration and other changes as Kathy Mears can verify. Read More »
