There is “a preponderance of evidence” that a shorter quarantine period, complemented by a COVID-19 test, could effectively prevent transmission of the disease, according to Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant...
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...
Feds uncover coronavirus’s heavy toll on assisted living
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 20, 2020
As of Oct. 15, 22% of assisted living communities in 39 states reported cases of COVID-19 among residents and staff members. Rates ranged widely, from 1.3% of communities in Iowa to 93% of Connecticut...
AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine triggers immune response in older people
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 20, 2020
The experimental vaccine was safe and well-tolerated among all 560 trial participants, including adults aged 70 and older, the company said Thursday.
COVID vaccine protects elderly; delivery program has buy-in from nearly all U.S. nursing homes
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 19, 2020
Fully 99% of skilled nursing facilities nationwide have signed on with the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program vaccine delivery initiative, HHS says. The news arrived just as Pfizer...
COVID test turnaround time tops 2 days for a third of nursing homes, data show
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 13, 2020
Among 13,000 facilities that provided their testing speed to the government, only 17% reported an average turnaround time of less than a day; and fully 29% waited three days or more on average for residents’...
AMDA to feds: Delay antibody treatment in nursing homes, engage LTC medical directors
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 09, 2020
“This is the right therapy, but it needs more study … and it needs engaged medical director oversight and supervision,” says AMDA’s Executive Director Chris Laxton. Emergency approval of COVID...
‘Massive’ lung damage found in COVID patients may explain lasting symptoms
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 06, 2020
Dysfunctional lung tissue and infection that remains detectable for weeks may explain why some patients take months to recover after the acute phase of COVID-19, a pathology analysis finds.
Clinical briefs for Thursday, Nov. 5
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 05, 2020
Friday is deadline to register for federal COVID vaccine distribution program … Facility design should balance infection control and life quality, experts propose … Survey: Senior living operators...
Don’t shelve rapid tests as COVID cases climb, advocates implore nursing homes
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 03, 2020
Industry advocates say it’s time for facility operators who have not made full use of rapid antigen tests to start doing so — before nursing home deaths begin to spike again. CMS must “take to...