Study unveils ‘silent epidemic’ of loneliness among older women during pandemic
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 09, 2022
Data from the Women’s Health Initiative show that rates of loneliness in women aged 70 and older have increased during the pandemic, with 19% reporting severe troubles, investigators say.
Diabetes deaths reach 100,000 second year in a row, sparking calls for federal action
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 01, 2022
The news is cause for alarm, experts say. A congressional commission is calling for broad federal policy changes to tackle the swiftly growing problem.
Remdesivir cuts risk of severe COVID-19 by 87 percent in non-hospitalized patients
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 21, 2022
The results suggest that remdesivir (brand name Veklury) could be used to treat outpatients early in the disease course, researchers say. The drug currently is authorized for use only in hospitalized COVID-19...
CDC may be overestimating COVID-19 vaccination stats for older adults, state officials and experts say
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 13, 2021
The agency’s online tracker currently shows that 99.9% of U.S. seniors have been at least partly vaccinated against COVID-19. But this sky-high figure is almost certainly not accurate, observers...
Program pairs nursing students with long-term care facilities to address staffing crisis
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 01, 2021
Long-term care providers EmpRes Healthcare and Pennant Healthcare are partners in the state-funded externship program with the University of Washington School of Nursing.
Biden administration asks court to revive workplace vaccine mandate
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Nov 24, 2021
The Biden administration has asked the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate a federal workplace COVID-19 vaccine and testing mandate after the enforcement was suspended.
COVID shot boosters for all adults will help to reduce confusion, FDA says
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 22, 2021
The FDA “heard loud and clear” that a simpler booster strategy was needed, its vaccine chief says. But the action may be too late to head off a winter virus surge, observers say.
Long-term care left behind in race to nab COVID monoclonal antibodies: report
Nov 02, 2021
Delayed shipments of antibody doses are putting residents’ lives at risk after federal authorities barred direct orders of the drugs, LTC clinicians say.
FDA approves first-ever eye drop that corrects age-related vision loss
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 02, 2021
The new drug, Vuity, adjusts pupil size and corrects near vision without affecting distance vision, drugmaker Allergan says.
Brief training for LTC nurses leads to 6 months of reduced psychotropics use
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 26, 2021
Wards with trained nurses showed a significant reduction in psychotropic drug use and drug costs. Maintenance strategies may be needed, however, as the improvements had waned by 12 months, researchers...