COVID-19 doubles seniors’ chances of reduced mobility, physical function: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 17, 2022
The results suggest that older patients should be prioritized for rehab interventions with the goal of restoring functional mobility to pre-disease levels, investigators say.
Nursing home clinicians still overdiagnose UTIs despite antibiotic stewardship efforts: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 14, 2022
As a group, primary care providers and RNs misclassified UTIs about one-third of the time, an investigator tells McKnight’s. Nurses had greater odds of an incorrect assessment.
Study: ‘Cognitive frailty’ may be result of aging — not the brain changes found in dementia
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 11, 2022
Reduced cognitive function without substantial memory complaints may be a normal part of aging and not an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, investigators say.
Risk of COVID-19 death rare in vaccinated, even among at-risk seniors with comorbidities: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 10, 2022
Investigators drew on data from 1.2 million U.S. patients who completed a primary vaccination series by October 2021. Severe COVID-19 outcomes, including respiratory failure, ICU admission, or death, were...
With omicron spreading fast, officials implore nursing home providers to push COVID-19 booster shots
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 07, 2022
The surgeon general and CMS administrator Brooks-LaSure urged providers to “cut through the noise” about vaccines as outbreaks increase across facilities. Less than 28% of staff have gotten...
Despite outsider-driven COVID outbreaks, providers face continued demand for risky visits
By
Kimberly Marselas
Alicia Lasek
Jan 07, 2022
Multiple providers have said that they are irritated that attempts to strengthen infection control measures are sometimes being undermined by facility visitors. “Nursing homes must be allowed to...
Feds shrink Pfizer booster interval to 5 months as omicron surges
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 05, 2022
The decision is part of an effort to increase the number of booster shot recipients and build up Americans’ immunity in response to skyrocketing COVID-19 cases, officials said.
No quarantine for certain workers as CDC faces down omicron, staff shortages
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 04, 2022
Healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2 may now return to work in seven days or less — and some exposed workers may be advised to remain on the job, the CDC now says.
Antigen tests may be less sensitive to omicron, FDA says
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 04, 2022
Antigen tests may not be able to detect the omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant as well as they could previous variants, an early laboratory study has found.
HHS to LTC operators: Step up your booster clinic timelines before year ends
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 22, 2021
Long-term care operators should speed up plans to help residents boost their immunity before an expected COVID-19 surge hits, a federal official told virtual town hall attendees Tuesday.