Surgery rates fall in elders; improved screening may be reason
By
Alicia Lasek
May 11, 2021
Despite an aging population and safer surgical procedures, the frequency of abdominal surgery is decreasing among older adults — particularly in those age 85 and older, according to researchers from...
Eye drop corrects late-life vision loss in trial; Allergan reports patients’ feedback
By
Alicia Lasek
May 10, 2021
Trial participants reported significant near-vision improvements under low-light conditions — without losing distance vision, reports Allergan, which is seeking FDA approval for the drug.
CMS must refine data on antipsychotic drug use in nursing homes, OIG says
By
Alicia Lasek
May 07, 2021
The Minimum Data Set should not be CMS’ sole source for determining the number of nursing home residents using antipsychotic drugs, according to a new report from HHS’ Office of the Inspector General.
Valid dementia verdict? Nursing home and hospital diagnoses now better aligned, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
May 03, 2021
Medicare’s dementia claim measures appear to have become more sensitive in recent years, agreeing more closely with hospital-based measures overall and for certain populations than in the past, investigators...
Dementia risk rises with younger age of type 2 diabetes onset: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 30, 2021
The odds of dementia in later life are greater the younger an adult is when diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, investigators say. But prediabetes and late-life diabetes diagnoses are not linked to subsequent...
Q&A: Clinical best practices when gauging residents’ end-of-life preferences — a POLST expert weighs...
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 29, 2021
There’s a clear need to improve the quality of Physician’s Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or POLST, in nursing homes, says Susan E. Hickman, Ph.D. An expert on the subject, she spoke with...
In breakthrough, feds OK nursing home visits, group dining and activities; update infection control guidance
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 28, 2021
After nearly a year in lockdown, nursing home residents can participate in indoor visitation, communal dining and group activities — with exceptions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced...
CDC: COVID vaccines safe during pregnancy, allaying a top concern of nursing home workers
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 28, 2021
Pregnancy concerns are cited as one of the top reasons for vaccine hesitancy among long-term care workers, but there were no obvious signs of third trimester adverse events among pregnant women who received...
FDA says it’s time to move away from mask reuse
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 13, 2021
Healthcare facilities should move away from decontaminating and reusing disposable masks now that U.S. respirator supply has recovered, the agency says.
Town hall meetings reveal vaccine misinformation ‘widespread’ among SNF staff
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 29, 2021
“Outspoken” staff members from 50 skilled nursing facilities shared their vaccine concerns with investigators in a series of meetings this winter. The speed of vaccine development and infertility-...