CMS: Pandemic relief to nursing homes tied to infection control training, weekly testing
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 24, 2020
To qualify for CARES Act funds, eldercare facilities must take part in CMS’s online COVID-19 training program. The agency also expects to require weekly staff testing in certain cases.
Watch for social vulnerability when caring for frail seniors, say researchers
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 24, 2020
Lack of social connections may lead to unfulfilled care needs and poor health outcomes in frail older adults. Investigators suggest targeted interventions.
Study reveals factors that keep the oldest adults cognitively sharp
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 24, 2020
People who keep their memory and thinking skills into their 90s and 100s have a variety of factors in common, such as healthier pulse pressure and engagement in paid work.
Clinical Briefs for Friday, July 24
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 24, 2020
Point-of-care tests offer more flexibility for facilities, but implementation may pose problems, experts warn … AMDA releases new guidance for managing COVID-19 in skilled nursing facilities … FDA...
COVID-19 cases likely 10 times higher than reported, yet immune response low, CDC finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 23, 2020
A study of more than 16,000 American blood samples found many more estimated COVID-19 infections than reported in official case counts. Antibodies to the virus were scarce, however.
Isolate for 10 days after positive COVID-19 test, health officials now say
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 23, 2020
A new symptom-based strategy aims to end “unnecessary prolonged isolation” for people diagnosed with COVID-19 — and to help relieve pressure on overburdened diagnostic labs, says the CDC.
Poor REM sleep linked to higher mortality in older adults
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 23, 2020
Clinicians who facilitate better sleep in seniors may help to improve their health, say investigators. In more than 2,600 study participants, there was a 13% higher mortality rate over 12 years for every...
Clinical Daily Briefs for Thursday, July 23
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 23, 2020
Seniors smoked, and it shows: They now suffer high rates of related chronic conditions … Hearing loss tied to psychological distress … Drugmaker to produce millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses in deal...
Antidepressant has no benefit in stroke recovery — despite high hopes, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 22, 2020
The antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac is a brand name) does not help repair the brain or improve functional abilities after a stroke, say researchers. Past research has suggested otherwise.
Blood type doesn’t affect COVID-19 severity, but it may impact diagnostic test results
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 22, 2020
Patients with types B or AB blood were more likely to test positive for COVID-19, whereas those with type O were least likely to test positive, a new study has found.