Good design in environments for the aging improves not only the quality of life for residents, but it resonates, and hopefully improves, every aspect of the senior living business, from marketing to housekeeping. Nowhere will LTC professionals find a more comprehensive and qualified collection of minds from the architecture, interior design and building fields than at Long-Term Living’s 2013 Environments for Aging Conference. Read More »
This could be the year to address perennial problems plaguing your organization. Take advantage of the new year’s momentum by making minor adjustments in three areas for a big impact: appreciation, repair and organization. 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 »
Eating diets high in sugar and fat may not affect the health outcomes of older adults ages 75 and up, suggesting that placing people of such advanced age on overly restrictive diets to treat their excess weight or other conditions may have little benefit, according to a new study. Read More »
The end of the paper trail for Social Security checks is near as the March 31, 2013 deadline for enrolling for a direct deposit to a bank account or debit card approaches. Read More »
An out-of-order elevator can not only be inconvenient, but it can also present a safety hazard, as one Canadian long-term care facility recently learned. Read More »
Too much wasted pharmacy stock, no access to the right drugs late at night and nurses spending more time with medication punch cards than with residents. Sound familiar? As managing the pharmacy delivery in long-term care becomes more complex, a mature technology sees a brand new life in long-term care. Read More »
As of the fourth quarter of 2012, units under construction in assisted living properties equated to 3.0 percent of the existing assisted living inventory within the top 31 metropolitan markets. Construction activity has been oscillating for more than a year, but has clearly moved past the lows established in 2009. Read More »
MedPAC recommends that Congress vote to keep the special needs plans under Medicare Advantage, although some of the plans perform better than others. Read More »
Each year, hundreds of people die in fires caused by heating equipment, including portable space heaters, according to the National Fire Protection Association. While prohibited in smoke compartments where residents are present in skilled nursing facilities, portable electric space heaters continue to find their way into LTC facilities of all types. Read More »
Which marketing tactics are working best for your facility? Direct referrals aren't the only way to measure the worth of your marketing strategies. Read More »
Studies and plans are worthless if they end up gathering dust on a shelf. Eric Hall, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, is determined to shape the federal government's national Alzheimer's plan to include concrete, practical steps that address the insidious disease. Read More »
When it comes to longevity, a healthy attitude about aging matters. Colorado researchers are working on a way to measure self-perceived age. Read More »
An especially aggressive influenza strain and a nationwide outbreak of norovirus are joining forces to form one of the worst flu seasons in decades. Read More »
When tidal surges and flood waters from Superstorm Sandy damaged or completely washed away homes this past November, many independent, elderly homeowners began to rethink their housing and safety options. Read More »
Hospitals have had electronic health records (EHRs) for years. Now it's long-term care's turn. Industry leaders weigh in on EHR technology and long-term/post-acute care's newly respected role in the patient-centered care continuum. Read More »
The long-term care market is poised for growth in 2013 after the industry experienced a significant increase in mergers and acquisitions activity, refinancings and development projects over the last couple of years. To access capital that is increasingly available, borrowers should review their funding options and do their homework about specific lenders before submitting a financing request. Read More »
Always a stressful situation, a trip to the ER and a subsequent admission present challenges for those with physical challenges that require adaptations in caregiving. Read More »
Congress is considering new legislation that would erase many of the barriers to telehealth adoption and create better incentives for providers. Read More »
Want to play a game? Things that are fun CAN be good for you: Computer-enabled gaming can get residents to do their physical and occupational therapy regimens and keep their brains sharp, too. Read More »
In many LTC facilities, nurse aides and practical nurses don't always have the benefit of regular contact with physicians and registered nurses. Do your NAs and PNs have the training they need to recognize skin conditions and administer the best wound care? Read More »
While the music of the legends of ’60s and ’70s rock is still popular, relevant and enduring, the performers themselves have adapted to aging—or not. Read More »
Occupational therapists are trained to focus on a framework made up of the person, the environment and the occupational performance, which can be applied to healthcare design. Read More »
“Respecting your elders” has gained a new meaning in China, where the national elder law has been amended to allow elders to sue their children for not taking care of them. Read More »
No one’s sure what key bargaining chips will be in play at today’s 3 p.m. meeting between President Obama and congressional leaders, but raising the Medicare age isn’t going to be one of them, according to a key Democratic Senator. Read More »
