When I first spoke with Music & Memory founder Dan Cohen last year, he had big plans for his new program that would put iPods with personalized playlists in Alzheimer’s and other dementia patients’...
Caregivers are going to need a sturdy surfboard
By
Mary Gustafson
Jul 12, 2012
The good news is that the Affordable Care Act has much to offer people with mental illnesses. The bad news is that even with the law’s policies, the U.S. health system is still woefully unprepared...
Poor outcomes linked to severe weather
By
Mary Gustafson
Dec 01, 2011
Long-term care residents who are displaced from their facility following a natural disaster are more susceptible to illness, injury and death, new study results show.
Bingo may help with cognition
By
Mary Gustafson
Feb 01, 2012
Using large, high-contrast bingo cards improves cognitive skills and visual perception, a study finds.
Memory trick: take vitamins
By
Mary Gustafson
Sep 01, 2011
Adults who took vitamin and mineral supplements for 10 years exhibited better long-term memory skills than those who took placebos, new study results show.
A survey you don’t have to worry about
By
Mary Gustafson
Mar 29, 2012
The quality of nursing home care is improving — and residents and their families are noticing. That’s the message two industry researchers want administrators and caregivers to take away from new...
Nurses key in opioid pain management
By
Mary Gustafson
Nov 01, 2011
Nurses are uniquely qualified to help control the pain of institutionalized patients undergoing pain management with opioid analgesics, according to new recommendations from a nursing panel.
Study: More RN-LPN coordination needed
By
Mary Gustafson
May 01, 2012
Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses often have interchangeable responsibilities in nursing homes, which can lead to more medication errors, according to newly announced results of a study.
U.S. adult vaccination rates lag: study
By
Mary Gustafson
Jul 06, 2012
Despite strong federal and regulatory support for mandatory vaccinations among healthcare workers — including nursing home employees — the U.S. adult vaccination rate is on the low side, according...
Disaster plans filled with holes, feds say
By
Mary Gustafson
Jun 05, 2012
While most U.S. nursing homes have adequate written plans for managing natural disasters, many have significant gaps in preparedness and response, a government report finds.