CMS: End to pandemic waivers helps nursing homes ‘redirect efforts’ to meet residents’ needs
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 08, 2022
A sweeping phase-out of early COVID-19 pandemic allowances, such as the nurse aide certification waiver, addresses concerns about SNF residents’ physical, mental and psychosocial well-being, the agency...
Providers warn of access issues as waivers near their end
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 08, 2022
Phasing out several COVID-related waivers, including one allowing temporary nurse aide training, over the next several weeks will further complicate workforce struggles, skilled nursing providers said...
Attention to staff mental health essential for excellent healthcare, pandemic or not
By
Kristy Wikum
Apr 07, 2022
The pandemic has taken a significant toll on staff mental health. Here’s how we helped our team cope.
Nursing home workers to CMS leader: Press forward on accountability, wages to transform care
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 07, 2022
Nursing home workers pushed for more accountability of owners and better wages to improve the workforce in a meeting Wednesday with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure.
Call for holistic nursing home reform a ‘wake-up’ for lawmakers, stakeholders
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 07, 2022
A landmark report on American nursing homes issued Wednesday should serve as a “piercing wake-up call,” encouraging lawmakers to invest as they attempt to fix what a National Academies committee called...
BREAKING: U.S. nursing home system ‘ineffective,’ ‘unsustainable,’ National Academies...
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 06, 2022
A long-awaited national report has found that the way the United States finances, delivers and regulates nursing home care is ineffective and unstable. Immediate action is needed to bring meaningful changes...
‘A great place to practice’: New AMDA president looks to advance medical directors’ influence
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 06, 2022
If one were looking for an opportunity to shape long-term care, there might be no better time to step into a top advocacy position than days after federal officials launch a major reform effort.
Bridging the disconnect between leaders and workers
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 05, 2022
As I reviewed the many recent long-term care happenings and articles to select a topic for this week’s blog, my mind kept returning to the fascinating column by researchers Lindsey Creapeau and Jennifer...
How to do it … Embrace what COVID taught about skin care
By
John Hall
Apr 01, 2022
The global pandemic inspired and incited nurses, aides, therapists and others to provide care on the fly. Disrupted supply chains and rigid emergency government rules forced many out of their comfort zones....
Regaining realistic workloads: Humans need maintenance and upgrades too
By
Cara Silletto
Apr 05, 2022
My seven-year-old son recently saw a pick-up truck sitting on the side of the road and asked what happened. From my view, it had clearly blown a tire, so I said, “His tire blew up while he was driving.” ...