Eliminate pathogens and pests to protect your facility’s reputation
By
Glen Ramsey
Dec 18, 2020
It’s always been critical for long-term care facilities to follow stringent infection control guidelines. Residents of these facilities often have compromised immune systems that lead to health conditions...
Employees share their pandemic experience
By
Nancy Anderson, RN, MA
Dec 11, 2020
“Although these are less than ideal circumstances, we have all pulled together as a team. That extra bit of support and acknowledgement we get from leaders makes a difference. Simple things can go a...
Make privacy regs your friend
By
Diane Evans
Dec 09, 2020
During a recent virtual conference, federal officials offered refreshing new context for why privacy regulations matter. Rules aside, privacy is fundamentally about treating people with dignity and respect....
With COVID, what’s on the surface matters deeply
By
Shula Jaron
Dec 07, 2020
More than 45% of all domestic COVID-19 fatalities have taken place in long-term care settings, and the response to outbreaks has been complicated by a lack of personal protective equipment and sufficient...
Designing a 2021 resident engagement blueprint
By
Charles de Vilmorin
Nov 30, 2020
Eight months into the global COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that residents of nursing homes and senior living communities are experiencing rapid declines in physical and cognitive health as a result of...
The tragedy of COVID-19 spousal separations
By
David Barmak, J.D.
Nov 25, 2020
Marriage vows are hard to honor when you are prohibited from being with a spouse who is dying alone in a nursing home, a victim of COVID-19. Two family friends, married for well over 50 years, endured...
Good practices keep out ‘bad actors’
By
Kevin Neudecker
Nov 10, 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, long-term care facilities must keep the ill and elderly safe even as their resources are stretched and staff turnover increases. With each new hire, there is a chance...
The what, why and how of “real” telehealth
By
Paul Knight
Nov 05, 2020
During the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Medicare 1135 waiver immediately expanded the use of telehealth and bypassed HIPAA requirements, allowing essentially any video chat application to be used...
It’s time to be #HolidayStrong
By
Charles de Vilmorin
Oct 29, 2020
The leaves have started to change, and each passing day brings us closer to the holiday season. Every year, we eagerly anticipate this time as an opportunity to be physically close to family and friends,...
Prepare now for upcoming COVID testing, reporting rules and new penalties
By
Amy Wilmot Schrader
Stefanie J. Doyle
Oct 22, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ wide-ranging rule bolstering its regulatory authority to address issues relating to the COVID-19 public health emergency contains two notable directives...