Use of common sleep meds nosedives, with 86 percent drop in oldest adults
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 17, 2022
The use of sleep medications among Americans dropped by 31% just prior to the pandemic, with the steepest decline among adults aged 80 and older, investigators report.
EU flags severe allergic reactions to Novavax’s COVID vaccine
Jul 15, 2022
Severe allergic reactions are a new potential side effect of Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine, the European Medicines Agency reported Thursday.
Skilled nursing facility guidance part of Arizona’s revised crisis care plan
By
Alicia Lasek
May 27, 2021
The revisions include guidance on honoring care and treatment preferences in federal skilled nursing facilities. The changes follow a complaint against the state brought by national and local disability...
Forgo ‘fleeting conversations’ when changing meds during care transitions, clinicians urged
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Aug 02, 2022
Partnering with patients and families in medication decisions helps avoid the safety and quality pitfalls of disengaged clinical care, researchers contend.
California nursing home visitors must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 12, 2021
The state is requiring that all indoor visitors to skilled nursing facilities and other healthcare settings prove full vaccination or negative SARS-CoV-2 test results. Facility operators must have a plan...
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...
New law requires dementia-specific training for assisted living staff
By
Amy Novotney
Jun 17, 2022
Colorado lawmakers have passed legislation mandating dementia-specific training for professional caregivers in certain long-term care settings.
All nursing home staff in Massachusetts must get COVID-19 shots
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 05, 2021
The state is requiring staff and contract employees in all of its 378 facilities to receive a vaccination, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday.
Small building proponents embrace Biden’s nursing home overhaul plan
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 07, 2022
The proposed phase-out of multiple-occupancy rooms is crucial to helping prevent uncontrolled infectious disease outbreaks, the Green House Project says.
LTC docs urge peers to rapidly increase use of COVID-19 antibody drugs
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 03, 2021
Industry geriatricians have compiled resources for their LTC peers who have not yet come on board with monoclonal antibody treatments. Resident immunity to COVID-19 is declining, and mAbs may prevent hospital...