Medication Management

NHPCO: Pain is not a complaint

Many residents believe pain is simply a part of growing older or living with disease. Not so, say palliative care organizations that are using September as Pain Awareness Month to re-educate caregivers and residents on how to converse about pain management. Read More »

Pneumonia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and dementia

Three recent studies provide new knowledge related to the development, prevention or prediction of dementia in various populations. Read More »

In Maryland, a new treatment directive replaces standard DNR form

How far does a “Do Not Resuscitate” order go? In Maryland, the state doesn’t think it goes far enough and replaces the DNR with a new, more comprehensive form. Read More »

Trends in resident care services and infection control

Now that providing quality resident care has grown far beyond mere Activities of Daily Living, we asked Long-Term Living's readers to tell us about their communities' new care initiatives, including their clinical monitoring programs, infection control protocols and, of course, how they’re training their nurses and other caregivers to meet the new care quality levels demanded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Read More »

5 tests to avoid in long-term care settings

Percutaneous feeding tubes, sliding scale insulin, urine cultures, antipsychotic medications and lipid-lowering drugs should be used only under certain circumstances, representatives of the long-term care field say in a national campaign. Read More »

Does Parkinson’s need to meet Mary Jane?

New drug-extraction techniques have turned the spotlight back on how CBD can help to treat those with neurological tremor disorders like Parkinson’s—and the new interest in a “transformed” version of medical marijuana. Read More »

9 new quality goals for nursing homes unveiled by initiative

Nursing homes participating in a new initiative may gain competitive advantages, organizers say. In the process, they could collect data helpful in establishing uniform national standards and evidence-based best practices. Read More »

Early-onset dementia: 9 risk factors identified

New research identifying nine risk factors for early-onset dementia ultimately could lead to treatments to prevent development of the condition. Read More »

Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s appear not to share genetic risk

Researchers try to pinpoint another possible connection between Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases as one study’s results seem to refute one idea. Read More »

What a difference one year makes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services birthed several key initiatives last year, including edicts to reduce unnecessary antipsychotic drug doses,  preventable readmissions and avoidable infections. In other words, edicts for long-term care to do its job right. Read More »

Anemia, dementia associated, researchers find

Investigators are theorizing why anemia and dementia might be linked as results from the Health ABC Study are published. Read More »

Seniors missing vaccinations, preventive care; geography affecting healthy life expectancy

Seniors are deficient in receiving certain preventive services, and where they reside could affect the number of years they can expect to live in good health, according to recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read More »

New TeamSTEPPS program tackles safety & communication issues in LTC

Health professionals in Connecticut adapt the TeamSTEPPS safety training program specifically for long-term care settings. Read More »

Integrative medicine is an effective approach to chronic pain management

Recent research shows that the management of chronic pain, can be enhanced by incorporating holistic, person-centered practices, such as touch, yoga and acupuncture, in the therapeutic regimen. Read More »

Certain GI infections alter effects of Parkinson’s medication

A common gut bacterium can interfere with the way motor-controlling drugs work in those with Parkinson’s disease. Read More »

‘Spy-cams’ in Ohio nursing homes unearth abuse, yet raise legal questions

Next time you think your loved one is being neglected or abused in a nursing home, you might not be the only one watching. Read More »

Overuse of diuretics is common and risky for elderly

Diuretics are common components in many medications used for hypertension, heart failure and renal disease. But overuse of diuretics can worsen the conditions they are meant to treat, warns a new study in JAMDA. Read More »

HHS updates national Alzheimer’s plan, adds initiatives on dementia’s impact on families

The 2013 update to the national action plan on dementia has added a gamut of initiatives to the plan, including new treatment guidelines, increased access to services and better education on the disease’s impacts on families and the healthcare system. Read More »

Experiencing a medication error

Residents and their families trust that close attention is paid to the medications each individual requires. LTL blogger Kathleen Mears talks about the time she was given the incorrect medication. Read More »

FDA: Boost drug research for C. diff, MRSA, pneumonia

The FDA wants to speed up research on new treatments for LTC’s drug-resistant infections. Read More »

FDA softens stance on Avandia

The FDA votes to ease restrictions on the once-popular diabetes drug, but concerns will likely remain in the minds of many. Read More »

Medication costs may lead to higher ER use

Those who have difficulty affording their medications may alter their doseage, skip doses or never fill the prescription at all--increasing the risk of a trip to the ER. Read More »

Disaster primer: When Mother Nature strikes

How "ready" are you for whatever Mother Nature can dish out? This disaster primer can help your organization prepare for—and live through—the financial impacts of a disaster. Read More »

Healthland buys American HealthTech

Two technology companies combine their products to provide electronic data documentation across the care continuum—from hospitals to SNFs to home care. Read More »

Front Porch puts mHealth medication management on front burner

The Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing and CareSpeak Communications develop a patient-centric medications reminder service to improve seniors' medication compliance. Read More »

CMMI rethinks its innovation program, sharpens focus for Round 2 funding

CMS’ Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) announces a significantly smaller and more-focused project list for Round Two of the funding awards. Read More »

FDA approves 24-hour COPD drug

The FDA has approved the first once-a-day inhalant to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Read More »

Qualcomm, HealthyCircles team up for care-coordination data

A telecom giant and a care-coordination software company join forces to improve care transitions and data capture at home. Read More »

Leaders of Tomorrow: G. Allen Power, MD

Congratulations to Long-Term Living's  final 2013 Leaders of Tomorrow award winners: G. Allen Power, MD, Eden Mentor at St. John's Home in Rochester, New York and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester. Read about Dr. Power's mission to bring culture change to seniors, with a special focus on dementia. Read More »

Leaders of Tomorrow: Roberto Muñiz

Congratulations to another of our five 2013 Leaders of Tomorrow award winners:  Roberto Muñiz, MPA, LNHA, FACHCA, president and CEO, the Francis E. Parker Memorial Home, Piscataway, N.J. Parker incorporates value-added services for adult day healthcare and social outreach to seniors in the community. Read More »