Hospice benefit should be redesigned with nursing home residents in mind, researcher says
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 11, 2014
Medicare policy should change to better support nursing home residents who need hospice care, say investigators at the Regenstrief Institute and the Indiana University Center for Aging Research. They have...
Will residents ‘stick it to the man’ with their choice of provider?
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 11, 2014
In the dawning age of mega-providers, smaller long-term care chains and independent owners might be inspired by the story of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
HHS gives active shooter guidance for healthcare facilities, says there is ‘no perfect response’
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 10, 2014
Federal agencies recently issued guidance for how long-term care facilities and other healthcare providers should prepare for an active shooter emergency. The 33-page document covers threat assessment,...
Many foreign-born LTC nurses report language barrier, current English proficiency test may be inadequate,...
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 10, 2014
About 15% of U.S. long-term care nurses say their English language proficiency or accent creates communication problems with residents, family members, other nurses and/or medical providers, according...
Government is lax in issuing serious citations for antipsychotic overuse, NPR claims
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 10, 2014
Only 2% of nursing home deficiencies for inappropriate medication lead to a fine or harsher penalty, suggesting that the government is not doing enough to reduce antipsychotic drugs, NPR reporters argued...
CDC: Signs point to bad flu season, nursing home outbreaks already reported
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 05, 2014
Nursing homes and other healthcare providers should prepare for a bad flu season, based on indications that this year’s dominant strain is dangerous and the vaccine might be of limited effectiveness,...
Little progress in improving nursing home worker safety, BLS report suggests
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 05, 2014
Nursing homes remain some of the most dangerous places to work in the United States, and there was little improvement in safety between 2012 and 2013, according to data released Thursday by the Bureau...
Drug combination significantly reduces inappropriate laughter, crying in people with dementia, trial...
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 05, 2014
A two-drug combination significantly reduces inappropriate laughter and crying related to dementia, according to recently presented findings from a Phase 2 clinical trial.
New ALFA leader prioritizes ‘establishing trust’ with state chapters
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 05, 2014
The Assisted Living Federation of America will be strongly focused on state-level initiatives under the leadership of its newly named president and chief executive officer, organization officials told...
Final rule expands CMS power to bar providers from Medicare
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 04, 2014
Long-term care providers that consistently submit improper claims could have their Medicare enrollment revoked, under a final rule released Wednesday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.