Safety

Elderly resident faces arson, aggravated assault charges

A 76-year-old resident faces charges over a fire in his bedroom at a Georgia personal care home. Read More »

Mobility aids increase falls risk with dementia

Researchers examine the likelihood of falling when people with dementia use a cane or walker.  Read More »

Getting a lift

Hoyer lifts may help staff feel more secure about resident transfers, but blogger Kathleen Mears feels more uncomfortable and less independent when she can’t stand on her own two feet.  Read More »

4 dead in Ohio nursing home shooting

Two nursing home employees and the town’s police chief are among those killed. Read More »

Lending a hand to infection control

May 5 is World Hand Hygiene Day, a great time for a staff refresher in the importance of maintaining proper hand hygiene protocols. Read More »

Loud, proud and aging

New research shows how lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender seniors are stronger but also more vulnerable to health risks as they age, highlighting the importance of community and understanding. Read More »

Flooring company wants patients to step in line

Ecore flooring is expanding its research project to see if flooring can reduce falls risk in healthcare environments. Read More »

Top 10 patient safety concerns for 2017: ECRI Institute

Electronic Health Record information management tops the list of this year's key patient safety issues across all healthcare sectors, but assisted living and skilled nursing facilities are directly involved in three other items on the list. Read More »

Hoyer lift can handle more weight

Joerns Healthcare has released a new and improved version of its Hoyer lift for bariatric residents. Read More »

Guarded purse strings

Resident blogger Kathleen Mears manages her money with a close eye to keep track of her own spending and to make sure someone isn’t spending her money.  Read More »

Caregiver fired for behavior toward resident with dementia

A nursing home employee was fired and faces criminal charges for a sexually provocative dance directed at a resident with dementia. Read More »

TX hospice indicted for $60M fraud, overmedicating

Sixteen people are mired in a $60 million scheme to rip off Medicare for false hospice services, including giving Schedule II controlled pain medication to patients who didn’t need them. Read More »

Age-friendly dining

Researchers have designed a new tool to assess how elder-friendly a dining space is. Turns out, healthy dining for older adults is about a lot more than food. How would your dining venues rate? Read More »

An unanswered call light

It wasn’t a bump in the night, but resident blogger Kathleen Mears explains how scary it was waiting for her aides to come in one morning. Read More »

A co-managed approach to hip fractures

The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is pairing geriatricians and geriatrics-trained clinicians with orthopedic surgeons to improve outcomes for seniors with hip fractures. Read More »

Domestic dispute unfolds at nursing home

Nursing home staff and law enforcement put training into practice and followed procedures after a man entered the secured facility and threatened violence.  Read More »

Fighting superbugs with genetic warfare

As antibiotic resistance grows, scientists are learning how to attack killer bacteria at the genetic level. Read More »

Delirium causes confusion for patients, caregivers

Delirium in long-term care settings is subtle, deadly and more prevalent than caregivers think, according to new findings.  Read More »

Two SNF residents died from neglect

State investigations on two resident deaths highlight the importance of proper procedures and intervention documentation. Read More »

Elder falls prevention

While there's no silver bullet to prevent falls, several strategies can reduce the risks, says a rehabilitation services provider. Read More »

Aide fired for slapping resident with dementia

A memory care aide has been fired and charged with assault and disorderly conduct for slapping a resident who wandered out of bed during the night. Read More »

CMS offers compliance guidelines to HCBS settings on wandering

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released compliance guideline fact sheet for home- and community-based providers who care for people who exhibit wandering or exit-seeking. Read More »

OSHA issues rule to continue recordkeeping

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule upholding the agency’s longstanding position that it’s an employer’s duty to record any injury or illness continues for the full five-year record-retention period. Read More »

Value-driven senior living design

What values are driving the design of today’s senior living communities? Linden Wood Village is an example of how senior living communtities can balance amenities and variety with safety and security, all while being good neighbors. Read More »

Safety shines in 2016

OSHA rules, Life Safety Code compliance and anti-retaliation, oh my! 2016 was a busy year for new regs and documentation changes. Check out our top five safety stories of the year. Read More »

SNF liability rates could rise in 2017

Claims are growing in severity and frequency, according to an annual actuarial report. Read More »

Reducing HAIs and improving LTC resident health

Long-term care facilities and hospitals are becoming more aware of the need for diligent infection control in resident populations--including better training. Read More »

Cause for alarm

Resident blogger Kathleen Mears wonders about changing policy so the fire alarm isn’t a signal for residents and visitors to panic. Read More »