Focus on life safety during the management of COVID-19
By
Stan Szpytek
Mar 24, 2020
Note: This story was updated on May 12 to reflect new regulatory changes. As skilled nursing facilities around the nation rise to the challenges of managing this current infectious disease outbreak, providers...
Against Medical Advice (AMA) discharges: A multipronged approach
By
Rebekah Bray
Apr 14, 2020
“I don’t care … I’m leaving here!” “I didn’t want to come to rehab to start with.” “The hospital/doctor told me I had to come here on my insurance company wouldn’t pay for my hospital...
Breaking down the therapy changes
By
Jean Wendland Porter
Nov 08, 2021
Proposed rules almost always become final rules. On November 2, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (after threatening for four years) finalized the 15% payment reduction for outpatient...
Questions to ponder as herd immunity remains out of reach
By
Steven Fuller, Ph.D., DO
Feb 08, 2021
Experts estimate that herd immunity for COVID-19 will be reached when 75–85% of the U.S. population has received the COVID-19 vaccine. But long-term care — including nursing homes and assisted...
Sorting out the antipsychotic quality measures
By
Steven Littlehale
Mar 05, 2013
While antipsychotic measurements can vary, providers must carefully and thoroughly examine all antipsychotic medication use in their facility.
Let’s talk about sex
By
Robin Dessel
Aug 07, 2013
Sexual expression should be sanctioned and rightly belongs in residential healthcare settings. Sexual rights should not be subject to change based upon age, place of residence, sexual preference or the...
A right of passage or a risk of passing?
Apr 05, 2016
When I die, I want to go like my grandmother, peacefully in her sleep … not like the three passengers screaming in the back seat of her Buick! (OK, old joke). But what isn’t a joke is elders...
The ticklish balancing act: Resident rights vs. care quality
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
May 08, 2018
Balancing the rights and desires of residents with the need of the facility to avoid citation and litigation can be very tricky, but the payoff can be definitely worth it when done right. Here’s...
Building a resilient workforce
By
Carl Bloomfield
Siddharth Shah
Jun 19, 2019
The good news is that long-term care facilities can address the issue of toxic stress and burnout before an incident occurs. The solution lies in creating a shared responsibility approach to building a...
A hopeful day at LeadingAge 2018
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Nov 07, 2018
I headed to the 2018 LeadingAge convention last week looking for a fix of long-term care enthusiasm and that’s exactly what I got.