‘A long time coming’: LTC infection preventionists get new certification option
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Apr 27, 2022
A new opportunity to receive industry-specific IPC board certification is a much-needed chance for LTC workers to build and show their niche expertise, experts say.
$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.
Senior living community logs 21 breakthrough cases after being COVID-free for 15 months
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
May 25, 2021
Riverview Retirement Community in Spokane, WA, has a 98% COVID vaccination rate among residents, but an outbreak has occurred among the vaccinated. Despite varied symptoms, cases so far have not been severe,...
Seniors’ sense of smell weakens, but not their enjoyment of food, researchers find
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 13, 2021
The sense of smell declines with age, but this loss doesn’t happen across the board, a new study shows. The findings may help care providers improve the meals and dining experiences of older adults in...
FDA set to approve two COVID-19 antiviral pills this week
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 22, 2021
FDA is expected to grant emergency use authorization to two antiviral COVID-19 pills this week, possibly as early as today, according to Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Simultaneous flu and COVID shots work well in older adults, new study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 16, 2021
Given together, the vaccines are safe and spur a robust antibody response, a first-of-its-kind trial finds.
LTC residents have detectable antibodies 6 months after COVID vaccination
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 12, 2021
All residents tested in University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Senior Communities were found to have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 after full vaccination. The findings are “cautious good news,”...
APIC urges LTC industry to boost infection control capabilities with full-time, certified staff
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 09, 2022
With the lessons of the pandemic fresh in mind, now is the time for LTC administrators to commit to recruiting and training dedicated, on-site infection preventionists, experts say. Sources of federal...
Meds won’t ease seniors’ loneliness, but ‘social prescribing’ can help, geriatricians say
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 28, 2021
Some lonely seniors are prescribed psychotropic drugs at double the rate of their non-lonely peers, a new study finds. But these medications may not alleviate their problems, the researchers say.
Pfizer, Moderna vaccines recommended over Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus shot
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 17, 2021
Americans should preferably be vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines due to a rare but serious risk of blood clots and the lesser protection found with the J&J vaccine, CDC says.