Safety

Clean air helps Brookdale residents shelter in place during wildfires

Proactive attention to air purification helped 22 facilities harbor safely during the emergency. Read More »

Tips on bringing loved ones home for the holidays

Brookdale Senior Living offers families tips for a successful visit when Grandma comes home for the holidays. Read More »

The polypharmacy epidemic

Medication management can reduce the number of unnecessary prescriptions, many of which have potentially harmful side effects, and can improve overall health. Read More »

Over-the-counter pain relievers work as well as opioids

A new study finds acetaminophen and ibuprofen relieve pain as effectively as Percocet, Vicodin or Tylenol No. 3, suggesting a pain management option without risk of addiction. Read More »

Fire safety for the holidays

Deck the halls, but be safe about it. National fire and life safety expert Stan Szpytek shares tips on reducing fire risk during the holidays. Read More »

Deer crashes into nursing home

A deer visited a Bronx nursing home, causing panic for residents, staff and the deer. Read More »

Ready for anything

As the new CMS emergency planning regulations go into effect this month, a crisis-filled 2017 has already given many states multiple reasons to be ready for anything. Read More »

Three employees fired for videotaping residents

An assisted living facility is investigating after employees shared videos on social media that made fun of residents. Read More »

Another involuntary discharge

SNF resident blogger Kathleen Mears shares her experiences on being involuntarily discharged and how she thinks the process could be avoided. Read More »

Quite the fright

Ghosts and goblins aren’t the only things that can spook. SNF resident Kathy Mears explains how a faulty call light rattled her. Read More »

New elder abuse protections law

The Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act expands federal agency perception and efforts to protect and prosecute elder abuse. Read More »

Best Buy tests the senior monitoring market

The electronic giant is betting baby boomers will spend plenty to keep an eye on grandma. Read More »

NV nurse charged with refusing to help resident after a fall

Co-workers at the assisted living community said they were ordered to let a memory care resident fall out of her wheelchair so the fall could be used as an excuse to remove the resident from the unit, according to police. Read More »

Plugging in

Powering on in a nursing home means meeting fire safety codes designed to keep residents safe, but compliance isn’t always easy or cheap for residents trying to make their space a comfortable, functional home.  Read More »

TheWorxHub adds security management application

The mobile application can be used on any device and integrates data reporting within TheWorxHub’s operations management system. Read More »

Weight considerations for care transitions

A focus on improving care transitions to prevent readmissions and complications in general often overlooks specific patient population needs for the obese.  Read More »

Disaster plans: perfect on paper

The criminal investigation into the eight South Florida nursing home deaths following Hurricane Irma is prompting a larger look at how long-term care facilities prepare—and practice—for natural disasters. Read More »

Transport troubles

Traveling from Point A to B is not as easy as getting in the car and going for blogger Kathleen Mears, who recently had a particularly harrowing drive. Read More »

Senate committee examines disaster planning for seniors

The Senate Aging Committee will review disaster planning following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Read More »

Update: 8 seniors dead from Hurricane Irma

A power outage from Hurricane Irma left residents in sweltering heat for a prolonged period of time.  Read More »

How Holiday Retirement is bracing for Hurricane Irma

An executive at the senior living provider shares what they’ve learned about emergency preparedness and what they’re doing before Hurricane Irma is expected to make landfall in Florida. Read More »

5 must-haves for emergency preparedness planning

New CMS regulations are an opportunity for providers to write policies and practice procedures that can prepare staff for the unexpected.  Read More »

The benefits of dysphagia evaluations

Speech language pathologists outline the advantages of instrumental evaluations to capture residents’ swallowing abilities for diagnosing dysphagia.  Read More »

When domestic violence comes to work

Employers should create safety policies and procedures for handling domestic violence before it arrives on the doorstep. Read More »

When domestic violence doesn’t stay at home

Employers should create safety policies and procedures for handling domestic violence before it arrives on the doorstep. Read More »

Woman impersonates cleaner, steals from residents, police say

A Florida woman has been charged for allegedly rummaging through resident rooms. Read More »

Emergency: Is evacuation the best choice?

Evacuate? Shelter in place? A new study shows that fleeing an emergency can still have harmful effects on elderly residents. Read More »

Back on my feet

After some missteps, the nurse manager told resident blogger Kathleen Mears she can once again stand to transfer.  Read More »

The risks of being home alone

Seniors can jeopardize their health when they refuse home health services after being discharged from the hospital.  Read More »

Balancing resident safety with quality of life

Four senior living executives weigh in on the threat of litigation and demands of helicopter children while providing a meaningful life for residents.  Read More »