Skilled Nursing

Is this help or harassment?

The following account illustrates the importance of screening before hiring. Bad employees can ruin a facility’s reputation and a resident’s quality of life. Read More »

Long-term care dentistry: A growing field

Unlike their grandparents, many of today's seniors keep their teeth well into their advanced years. Caring for their dental issues requires dentists to have an understanding of how to deliver optimum oral care to this demographic. Read More »

Elizabeth Tracy, RN, wins McHugh leadership award

This year's winner of the LeadingAge McHugh Award serves as a model for nursing leadership and resident-centered initiatives. Read More »

2014 OPTIMA Award: An engaged journey

This year’s winner of the Long-Term Living OPTIMA Award, Benchmark Senior Living, has taken dementia care programming far beyond reminiscing, brain-games and once-a-day-activities. Here's the story of how its award-winning programming got started, and how the lives of residents can be changed when engagement happens all day long instead of just during "activity hour." Read More »

Post-acute care groups applaud passage of IMPACT Act

Organizations serving older adults say they are pleased with Congress’ passing last week of the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014, which is designed to standardize data used across post-acute care settings. Read More »

When the big screen dies

Watching television programs on a big-screen TV gives residents an opportunity to share and socialize. But what happens when the set goes on the blink? Read More »

Congress: The ball is in your court

The building crisis in financing and providing effective long-term care services and supports is an ever-growing problem as discussed in a report by the Commission on Long-Term Care. Read More »

Older adults advised to get extra protection against pneumonia

While two pneumonia vaccines are recommended to seniors for optimal protection, will cost/coverage discourage them from receiving the second vaccine? Read More »

Your unused drugs can benefit your facility, those in need

Skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities seeking to improve efficiencies and finances while helping the less fortunate and contributing to sustainability efforts may find an ally in a California-based nonprofit organization.  Read More »

Group releases nursing home report card

Where do nursing homes provide the most hours of care and the highest levels of staffing? Find out what Families for Better Care says in its latest rankings. Read More »

Personal expense allowance

Living on a budget is hard for anyone. It takes discipline. Imagine if you had less than $100 a month to meet your needs, let alone your wants. Read More »

ADL difficulty points to LTSS need, researchers say

Almost half of Medicare beneficiaries aged at least 65 years, among them nursing home residents, reported trouble or the need for assistance with activities of daily living in a recent study. Read More »

One-on-one with… Robert (Robb) White

Long-term care organizations would be wise to reevaluate their dining programs to satisfy the adventurous and sophisticated palates of the new senior population. One noted chef shares his philosophy and vision of wedding good nutrition with high-end culinary options. Read More »

Comfort focus improves lives of those with advanced dementia

Prioritizing comfort in the care of residents with advanced dementia enabled one nursing home to reap many rewards for residents and their families, the community and staff members. Its innovative model was detailed in a Sept. 8 workshop convened by the Institute of Medicine. Read More »

54% of residents with advanced dementia receive drugs of questionable benefit

A new study calls into question the prescription of some drugs for nursing home residents who have advanced dementia. Read More »

Post substitute menu selections

“Choice.” It is the magic word of culture change. What happens when residents are not given enough choices, especially at mealtimes? Read More »

Fall risks vary with medications, studies find

Prescribing medication is an art form requiring the physician to weigh the delicate balance between a medication’s benefits and potential risks. Read More »

12 steps to QAPI: Step 12: Take systemic action

The final chapter in the series “12 Steps to QAPI” shows how preparation, organization, data and action can correct and improve processes to enhance the quality of care your residents receive. Read More »

Dealing with heel pain

If a resident tells you he or she is uncomfortable in a bed or chair, listen and see what can be done to remedy the situation. Long-Term Living blogger Kathleen Mears’ caregivers were on their toes and prevented a skin issue from becoming more serious. Read More »

Key protein deficiency linked to early-stage dementia

A recent study in the United Kingdom finds that a lack of MK2/3, a naturally occurring protein, can be linked to the early signs of dementia. Read More »

37% of abuse, neglect claims not handled as required, OIG report finds

Do you know what nursing facilities' obligations are when it comes to reporting and investigating claims of abuse or neglect? The Office of Inspector General has new recommendations to help ensure that you do. Read More »

Updated EHR selection tools released by LeadingAge CAST

An updated portfolio of tools from LeadingAge’s Center for Aging Services Technologies is designed to assist long-term care and post-acute providers in the market for electronic health record systems. Read More »

The case of the missing jewelry

Facility life can lead to accidental loss or damage to a resident’s personal belongings as Long-Term Living’s resident blogger Kathleen Mears recently discovered. Read More »

Joint Commission issues an alert on tubing misconnection risks

In hospitals and long-term care settings, caregivers often have to change tubing on medical equipment. A high risk of misconnection exists because of various compatible delivery systems, so the Joint Commission has issued a Sentinel Event Alert. Read More »

Direct-care worker campaign raises $3.4 million

The Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute is more than a third of the way to its $9 million goal in a campaign with the ultimate purpose of improving the jobs of nursing home assistants, home health aides and personal care aides. Read More »

RN staffing bill set to increase minimum hours

Providing 24/7 RN coverage in nursing homes is the goal of a new bill introduced July 31. Having the most highly qualified professionals available ensures that residents receive optimal care at any hour of the day. Read More »

Join us for a Twitter chat Aug. 26 at 2 p.m. ET

The interface of long-term care and home health will be the topic. Get all the details here. Read More »

Meeting the new dining standards

What’s for dinner? Are you planning and serving residents meals that are in line with the new dining standards? A new toolkit helps to implement these requirements. Read More »

Skilled Healthcare, Genesis HealthCare to merge

The 100 percent stock transaction will create one of the largest providers of post-acute care in the country, according to company executives. Read More »

12 steps to QAPI: Step 11: Getting to the ‘root’ of the problem

When a problem is identified, QAPI Step 11 shows how to perform a root cause analysis so an effective remedy can be implemented to prevent future events and keep residents safe from harm. Read More »