Assisted living

2012 Elections: President Obama wins, balance of Congress retained

Voters returned President Obama to the White House, overcoming a resistance to his agenda by Congressional Republicans, an anemic economic recovery and a divided nation. Watch for Long-Term Living's continuing coverage and analysis of the presidential election. Read More »

Prescriptions for disaster

During health emergencies and disasters, two resources can play important roles in keeping seniors and their medications connected. Read More »

Blanket waivers issued for New York and New Jersey in Hurricane Sandy’s wake

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has granted blanket waivers for New York and New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy, easing the regulations required of long-term care and other health providers. Read More »

Incontinence: Documentation risks and payment issues

How many of your residents have some sort of incontinence? More than you think. Improper assessment and MDS 3.0 coding of incontinence can result in inadequate treatment for residents, costly overuse of incontinence products and payment issues for caregivers. Read More »

What are your employees’ most expensive health risk factors?

A recent study links almost one-quarter of employer/employee health spending to a list of just 10 health risks. What’s the No. 1 health risk? Surprise: It’s not smoking. Read More »

ACA health benefits: Some employers rethink their workforce to avoid paying

The new employee benefits rules created under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) don’t go into effect until Jan. 1, 2014, but some employers are making changes to their workforce structures already, hoping to avoid the the coverage changes and penalties. Read More »

CMS: Waiver status issued for New York state in Sandy’s wake

An emergency response meeting held by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services answers some questions on coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in New York, but many issues remain for long-term and acute care facilities in other states. Read More »

HHS waives Medicare, Medicaid requirements for NYC facilities affected by hurricane

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today declared a public health emergency for New York City. This declaration allows HHS to waive or modify certain Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program requirements. Read More »

LTC transitions of care: Get collaborative or play catch-up, says national TOC group

Are transitions of care on your mind? You’re not alone. Read our on-site coverage of the National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC) Midwest Regional Summit, held this month in Cleveland, for tips and free tools to improve your TOC efforts. Read More »

Henry Ford and Beaumont health systems to merge hospitals, LTC care sites

Updated: 5/21/13: Both parties have decided to cancel merger talks for now. The continuum of care gets bigger and broader in Michigan as two health systems join to form one of the largest non-profits in the state. Read More »

Law firm launches nursing home neglect site

One law firm has created a website to educate consumers about nursing home neglect—and to give them easy access to lawyers who specialize in eldercare neglect cases. Will other states follow suit? Read More »

Hurricane Sandy releases fury on east coast; LTC facilities evacuate

Updated 11:05 p.m. Thousands of LTC facilities evacuate the coastline from Maryland to New York as Hurricane Sandy sets her sights on inland states. Read More »

5 tips to keep emergency generators performing in LTC facilities

The danger of complacency and not performing the necessary “due diligence” as it relates to the installation and maintenance of your facility’s generator(s) and emergency power systems can lead to catastrophic failures. Here are five tips to help ensure that your emergency power system performs to its maximum potential at all times. Read More »

Targeting the adult day care market

Need new service revenue? Two executives from the Francis E. Parker Memorial Home, Highland Park, N.J., share how offering adult day programs can open up opportunities to provide well-needed services while building new bridges to skilled nursing services. Read More »

National collaborative will foster innovation in senior housing and financing models

A national learning collaborative, launched at this week’s LeadingAge conference, is focused on creating new financial and service strategies for senior living. Read More »

Nursing homes in Hurricane Sandy’s path…This is not a drill

A full moon, high tides and colliding storm systems are conspiring to create a “perfect storm” that will bear down on the East Coast next week. Long-term care facilities should initiate their disaster plans now. Read More »

A better picture of falls prevention

A three-year video study provides deep insights into falls, including the activities and circumstances that cause the most falls. Read More »

High-cost healthcare consumers remain steady despite recession

Those who accrue high healthcare out-of-pocket expenses got an unexpected cost-saver during the recent recession, according to a Health Affairs report. Read More »

Need technology? Take the trauma out of your IT initiatives

Technology projects planned with the input of all departments have the best staff buy-in and training engagement, says a panel of long-term care project managers who have tackled the IT challenges in their own organizations. Avoid “tech trauma” by learning their tips on IT project strategy. Read More »

The laundry room: Room for savings?

A facility laundry incurs many expenses--labor, equipment, energy and more--that factor into the costs of operation. Investing in new equipment and attention to detail can pay off. Read More »

Congratulations to the 2012 LeadingAge honorees

The future of aging is in good hands as LeadingAge presented its 2012 awards to outstanding individuals dedicated to serving America’s senior population. Read More »

Criminal activity found in background checks of disciplined aides

Long-term care facilities advised to conduct background checks on employees with direct access to residents to reduce abuse, neglect and theft. Read More »

LeadingAge to LTC providers: Demand change in healthcare delivery system

The overriding message from LeadingAge thought leaders at the group's annual meeting is that providers must step up to the plate and demand a say in the future of the country’s bloated and broken healthcare delivery system. Read More »

How do you spell nurse retention? R-e-s-p-e-c-t

The challenge of retaining quality nursing staff and reducing turnover rates can be eased through a few crucial changes in management strategy, say session leaders at this week’s LeadingAge annual meeting. Read More »

A better cup of tea

Enjoying a tasty and relaxing cup of tea might not be as simple as it sounds. In addition to proper preparation and service, hot beverages must be served safely to long-term care residents. Read More »

Crisis? Don’t cringe; be prepared

Crisis communications doesn’t have to make you cringe. If you plan accordingly and understand how to protect your reputation in a crisis, you can successfully navigate the situation and avoid the potentially negative impact an unexpected event could have on your long-term care organization. Read More »

Assisted living construction concentrated in select markets

As of the second quarter of 2012, construction in assisted living properties represented 3.0 percent of existing assisted living inventory within the top 31 metropolitan markets. Construction activity as a percent of existing inventory dropped as low as 2.1 percent in early 2010. Read More »

Low RN staffing hours linked to higher hospitalization, mortality rates during norovirus outbreaks, study finds

Gastroenteritis outbreaks are common in nursing homes. A recent study found that the rates of hospitalization and mortality increased during norovirus gastroenteritis outbreaks in nursing homes as compared with non-outbreaks periods. Read More »

Infection control: It’s time to get immunized!

Coming down with the flu can have serious complications in the elderly. Immunizing residents and staff can help to prevent a serious outbreak in your facility. Take a team approach to assess, plan, intervene and evaluate the threat of influenza for each individual and the facility. Read More »

Senior housing providers branch into at-home care models

With more Americans considering staying at home in their elder years instead of moving to a retirement community, many senior living providers are experimenting with alternative service models, including innovative programming and service partnerships. Read More »