Operations

Kitchen safety in long-term care

From a safety and risk perspective, the kitchen provides us with an immediate opportunity to develop a workforce that is “cultured” to prevent potential hazards and losses. Deviation from procedures is usually when an incident occurs. Read More »

Vacuuming protects indoor air quality

Are your hard-surface floors making you—and your residents—sick? Brush up on these current best practices for cleanliness and maintenance with January's Focus On. Read More »

Something weird: Don’t park your facility van on the streets of Santa Monica

Although this seems to be a quirky and light-hearted story, there are business and resident safety consequences associated with Santa Monica’s decision to ticket the Sunrise Senior Living van out of sight. Read More »

Senior living life safety tips during the heating season

Throughout winter, it is essential for LTC facilities and senior housing properties to ensure that the area around heating equipment is free and clear of all combustible material. Read More »

Ringing in 2012 with a new look

Welcome to our newly revamped website. Take a look around—and please, stay awhile! Read More »

Navigator to form biggest long-term care GPO after Extendicare acquisition

Navigator agrees to $56 million acquisition of UHF Purchasing Services and Star Purchasing Services, LLC. Read More »

5 holiday life safety tips you might have overlooked

Please, for the love of your residents, staff and all visitors, employ some common sense this holiday season. Read More »

Behind the 2012 Life Safety Code

Let it be known that even regulators see the point of a homelike environment. At least the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) understands. Read More »

Leave no ‘odd man out’ at the dining table this holiday season

After recently teaching my dining class in a senior care community, I had an illuminating conversation with a resident. During the class I had Read More »

Erickson community holds summit for its senior techies

The Greenspring Technology Summit. Today, nearly half of all seniors over 65 are on social media. Tablet PCs and Internet-based Read More »

Culture change in action at Villa Crest Nursing and Retirement Center

From left to right: Villa Crest Administrator Sarah McEvoy, Long-Term Living Editor-in-Chief Patricia Sheehan, and Villa Crest Executive Read More »

Computer games designed for Parkinson’s sufferers improve gait, balance

Playing computer-based physical therapy games can help people with Parkinson’s disease improve their gait and balance, according to a new pilot study Read More »

Focus on Housekeeping/Maintenance

In the professional cleaning industry, Stephen Ashkin is known as the “father of green cleaning.” He and his consulting organization, The Ashkin Read More »

Culture change drives CHOICES

Photo by Rick Friedman Server Amy Laroche presents a tray of tempting delicacies to Villa Crest residents. Read More »

The comfort of bedside dialysis

When a resident requires dialysis, it can be an emotional and logistical nightmare. Not only does the resident have the inconvenience and discomfort Read More »

Power in purchasing

Group purchasing organizations (GPOs) have been around for a long time. The first healthcare GPO for hospitals was created in 1910 by the Hospital Read More »

Are facility beauty salons going to fade like a bad color job?

For years women visited the beauty salon weekly for a wash and a set. This ritual involved not only beautification but a head massage and Read More »

Smoking update: Three approaches

Bogey did it. Bette Davis did it. James Dean did it. Soldiers in foxholes did it. In the 1920s, ″30s and for the greater part of the 20th century, Read More »

Safe-lift programs require commitment

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics It's no surprise that long-term care (LTC) facilities incur work-related injury rates that are greater than Read More »

Individualize nutrition care

It's dinnertime and residents are being seated at impeccably dressed tables. Tonight's dinner is nutritionally well-balanced, colorful, and Read More »

Update: Hazardous waste risks

Pharmaceutical and hazardous wastes are ever-present management challenges for long-term care (LTC) administrators. They are regulated by several Read More »

The wellness premium

“You saved my life,” a Redstone Highlands' staff member once exclaimed to John Dickson, president and CEO of this faith-based, not-for-profit Read More »

A cross-country ‘walk’

Emily “Lizzie” Tobin, one of the program's farthest walkers, holds her certificate of recognition. Mary Ann Morse Nursing and Rehabilitation Read More »

Feeding the Faithful

Chef Scott Rouse (right) and Rabbi Binyomin Yudin at Cedar Village, Mason, Ohio. Photo courtesy of Angie Tapogna. Read More »

An old friend makes a comeback

Picture used with permission from Orkin Commercial Services. It comes out at night to gorge on human blood. It prefers unpleasant, uncomfortable Read More »

Nursing home supply shortages

After I moved into a for-profit nursing home in 1996, it appeared there was plenty of everything, from food to linens. To me it seemed extravagant Read More »

West Coast tsunami response

The impact of last week’s tsunami in Japan was felt around the world and our hearts go out to all of the people affected by this terrible tragedy. Read More »

Emeritus communities respond to tsunami

Emeritus Senior Living has issued emergency plans for all West Coast communities in response to today’s tsunami, according to its Web site. Read More »

Service drives transportation at The Peaks

Drivers Bill Och (left) and Dave Bramer keep The Peaks' vehicles in good condition while juggling the demands of busy schedules and dependent Read More »

Should resident names be used on room signage?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act restricts a resident’s either medical or personal information from being released to anyone Read More »