Antibiotics remain overprescribed in nursing homes — despite stewardship efforts, MDS study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 02, 2020
An analysis of Minimum Data Set assessments has found that overall antibiotic use in nursing homes did not change from 2012 to 2016. There was also an increase in use where no infection was reported.
CMS seeks to ease COVID staff testing burden on rural operators
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 01, 2020
Some nursing homes have been required to conduct staff testing at a higher frequency than necessary, the agency said in explaining recent changes to its testing methodology.
One person with COVID infects 4 to 5 others, double WHO estimates, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 01, 2020
Each person who contracted the coronavirus early in the pandemic likely transmitted it to four or five others, according to a new analysis.
Brookdale’s ‘massive’ flu vaccination push includes employees’ family members
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 29, 2020
The organization is now offering onsite, scheduled flu vaccination clinics run by Omnicare in all of its communities, home health agencies and corporate offices. Associates’ family members will be able...
Seniors are absent — but necessary — in COVID-19 vaccine trials, experts say
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 29, 2020
With older adults frequently excluded in COVID-19 clinical trials, investigators are concerned that they will ultimately be denied treatments and vaccines due to safety concerns.
FDA requires abuse warning on Xanax, Valium labels
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 25, 2020
Benzodiazepine drug labels must now display the FDA’s most serious “boxed warning” following growing reports of sedative abuse, the agency announced Thursday.
Cognitively healthy residents over-diagnosed with dementia at intake: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 24, 2020
Positive delirium screenings in new SNF residents often lead to inappropriate dementia diagnoses — even in those who are cognitively healthy, investigators contend.
Medical director shares wins, challenges of nursing home’s pandemic response
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 23, 2020
Once described as the epicenter of West Virginia’s COVID-19 outbreak, a 100-bed facility gained control of its infection and mortality rate. A new study details its most helpful strategies — and biggest...
‘Night owls’ with diabetes can improve health with earlier bedtimes, experts claim
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 23, 2020
People who go to bed late and get up late exercise 56% less than their early bird counterparts, a new study finds. A shift in sleep habits could change their health prognoses for the better, investigators...
Older people have greater functional ability than 3 decades ago, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 22, 2020
Today’s elders appear to have greater physical and cognitive function than they did in the 1990s. The consequences of this trend are a mixed bag, Finnish investigators say.