Trends in resident care services and infection control

The annual readership survey results are in: Long-Term Living’s readers shared their new initiatives for delivering quality resident care, controlling infections, upgrading their patient-transfer protocols and keeping their nursing staff trained to the latest care protocols. While skin and wound care are always near the top of the list, infection control expertise has seen a jump in adoption.

Multiple healthcare reform initiatives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this year spurred fresh attention to infection control, transitions of care and the reduction of hospital readmissions. 

Not surprisingly, this year’s reader respondents say their caregiver training hours have shifted toward infection control and transitions of care, although wound care, incontinence protocols and skin care training remained high priorities. One disconnect: Despite nutrition being #2 in the list of majority concerns (see lower graph), the training allotted for that factor is far lower than for other issues. Yet, almost 20% of LTC communities now report having a certified infection control staff person in-house, a notable upward shift from previous years.

When considering resident care, medication management topped the list as the #1 issue impacting the majority of residents. Nutrition, incontinence and pain management issues also remain near the top.

Long-Term Living’s annual online survey is open to all our readers, including owners, executives, administrators and directors at nursing homes, assisted living and CCRC communities, independent living and post-acute care sites.

I Advance Senior Care

I Advance Senior Care is the industry-leading source for practical, in-depth, business-building, and resident care information for owners, executives, administrators, and directors of nursing at assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities, post-acute facilities, and continuing care retirement communities. The I Advance Senior Care editorial team and industry experts provide market analysis, strategic direction, policy commentary, clinical best-practices, business management, and technology breakthroughs.

I Advance Senior Care is part of the Institute for the Advancement of Senior Care and published by Plain-English Health Care.