COVID-19 roundup: Ventilator use questioned, staff immunity testing, meds shortages and more…
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 08, 2020
Ventilation may be harmful for certain COVID-19 patients, say some critical care doctors. Plus: immunity testing may help staff return to work.
Nursing home COVID cases rise four-fold in surge states, resident deaths double, data shows
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 10, 2020
The rising weekly case count includes residents and staff in 20 states. Meanwhile, about one in six nursing homes did not report testing staff members in the prior week.
In breakthrough, feds OK nursing home visits, group dining and activities; update infection control guidance
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 28, 2021
After nearly a year in lockdown, nursing home residents can participate in indoor visitation, communal dining and group activities — with exceptions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced...
Specialists propose new framework for dialysis decisions in the elderly
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 22, 2022
Older, frail patients with kidney failure may benefit from a new approach to dialysis discussions that supports a deferred decision, experts say.
Nursing home residents face prolonged course of COVID, facility study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 02, 2021
Residents who develop COVID-19 may face weeks of illness, no matter how mild or severe their symptoms, according to geriatricians from Indiana University and the Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis.
Valid dementia verdict? Nursing home and hospital diagnoses now better aligned, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
May 03, 2021
Medicare’s dementia claim measures appear to have become more sensitive in recent years, agreeing more closely with hospital-based measures overall and for certain populations than in the past, investigators...
Staff support outweighs wages as turnover solution, nursing home study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 05, 2022
A people-oriented work environment with tangible staff supports is key to minimizing turnover and care disruptions in nursing homes. It’s even more important than compensation, direct care providers...
$2M virtual reality trial to gauge impact on senior living residents with dementia
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 20, 2021
The Phase II trial will evaluate how virtual family engagement affects quality of life for 400 older adults in 12 U.S. long-term care communities.
Feds wait for lowered vaccine efficacy to recommend COVID-19 booster shots
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 22, 2021
COVID-19 vaccine booster shots will not be necessary until mRNA vaccines become less effective, federal health officials say. But immunocompromised Americans are potential near-term recipients, they told...
Q&A: Are you listening? A veteran provider on fostering engagement with Black and brown staff, residents
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 26, 2021
The pandemic has trained a spotlight on numerous healthcare disparities faced by Black and brown long-term care residents. Monica Payne, a veteran clinical manager for Omnicare, says that reflecting on...