Safety

Life Safety Codes start 11/1/16

Is your organization ready for the new Life Safety Codes set to begin next month? Read More »

Nurse Assist issues I.V. flush syringe recall

The company is voluntarily recalling all unexpired lots of I.V. flush syringes because of a potential link to B. cepacia bloodstream infections.  Read More »

Should you allow employees to carry concealed weapons at work?

"My employees want to carry a concealed weapon to work." The decision to allow or prohibit "concealed carry" on your premises is a lot more complicated than you think, even if state law allows it. Read More »

Resident death shines spotlight on shift changes

A resident death at a five-star facility shows that accidents can happen anywhere—and serves as a reminder to shore up documentation and diligence during shift changes. Read More »

Maintaining resident sexual freedom with safety in assisted living

New research has found a majority of assisted living facilities lack formal policies for managing sexual behavior among residents. That means residents rights’ can be restricted by administrators and staff who are weighing concerns on an individual basis.  Read More »

Training, practice and technology pay off in real emergencies

Two real-life incidents show the importance of preparedness and training, so if the worst happens, your staff is ready. Read More »

OSHA launches anti-retaliation rules for injury and illness reporting

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has passed rules that forbid retaliation and discrimination for reporting injuries, including post-accident drug testing and "incentive" programs that retaliate against those who bring workplace safety violations to light. Read More »

CMS gives hospitals extension to meet new fire safety codes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced it will not begin surveying for compliance with the 2012 fire safety codes until November. The July 5 ruling still applies when considering which code chapters facilities must comply with.  Read More »

One in five nursing home residents victim of elder abuse

Resident-to-resident elder mistreatment is highly prevalent in nursing homes, according to a new study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.  Read More »

Antidepressants heighten fall risks in residents with dementia

CMS' recent attention has been on reducing the use of antipsychotics, but antidepressants may be dangerous in other ways for those with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. Read More »

CNA pleads guilty for planning sexual assault on residents with dementia

A former employee at an assisted living and memory care facility pleaded guilty for planning and trying to videotape the sexual assault of three female residents with profound memory loss. Read More »

FDA recommends reducing sodium intake

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued draft guidance to reduce sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams per day. One in three Americans has high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Read More »

Nurses celebrate Nursing Home Week

It’s time to say a double thanks to nurses, nursing aides and all nursing home staffers as the industry celebrates Nurses Week and Nursing Home Week. Read More »

A closer look at granny cams

To film or not to film—Two risk management experts discuss the pros and cons of cameras in senior living spaces. Read More »

Alaska cites AL for lack of training in workplace violence

State labor citations at an Alaska assisted living home have other LTC operators checking the status of their staff training on workplace violence. Read More »

OSHA gives whistleblower status for employee food safety complaints

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released the final rule that gives protection to employees who serve as whistleblowers on food safety violations. Read More »

Educating AND training for safety

Safety training only goes so far unless you train employees’ hands as well as their heads, says safety training expert Steve Wilder. Read More »

CMS imposes fines of more than $278k for Woodbriar Health Center

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has imposed steep fines and threatened to terminate Woodbriar Health Center from its programs if serious problems are not resolved by next week. Read More »

Training went unheeded at Woodbriar Health Center, say Mass. regulators

Employees at Woodbriar Health Center were retrained on falls-related injuries following the death of a resident, according to a revised plan submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Public Helath. The department says the second fall-related resident death is the result of deficient care.  Read More »

Dealing with disruptive visitors

Residents have a right to visitors, but SNFs must maintain safety and the rights of others. Long-Term Living's Legal expert Alan C. Horowitz shares some complicated cases and offers intervention strategies from chief medical directors. Read More »

Woodbriar residents in ‘immediate jeopardy,’ say Mass. regulators

In the course of an investigation of a resident's death, state regulators determined substandard care resulted in a second resident death and resident fall at Woodbriar Health Center, the latest in a mounting citation list for owner Synergy Health Centers. Read More »

Shooting at Ohio retirement community kills 2, wounds 1

UPDATED: Police are investigating the incident, which appears to have involved three staff members from the community and no residents. Read More »

Watch your back

As OSHA rules become more stringent, senior living organizations are giving more attention to healthy habits to avoid staff back injuries—and not just when lifting a resident. Read More »

Preparing residents for emergencies

All long-term living communities need protocols for managing a wide range of incidents whether the law requires it or not, and residents need to be part of the annual practice drills, says safety expert Stan Szpytek. Read More »

Woodbriar’s plan to address resident death unacceptable, say Mass. state regulators

Woodbriar Health Center must resubmit a plan to the state health department. The facility, owned by Synergy Health, has been making headlines for a resident’s death, scabies outbreak and substandard care. Read More »

SNF blames hospital for resident hepatitis C outbreak

48 residents infected with hepatitis C dropped their charges against the nursing home and are now seeking damages in a lawsuit against a local acute care provider. Read More »

Fla. assisted living home shuttered for filth, excessive animals

The owner of the ALF, which doubled as an animal shelter, has been charged with four counts of elder neglect as police find residents soiled and surrounded by stray cats and dogs. Read More »

Central catheter maintenance bundle cuts CLABSI rates

Using a bundled approach to catheter maintenance can reduce central line-associated blood stream infections, a high risk for patients in long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs). Read More »