‘Another layer of protection’: Senior care industry commends feds’ booster vaccine decision
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 27, 2021
Industry advocates are welcoming the decision to include residents of long-term care settings and healthcare workers in a new federal recommendation to offer COVID-19 booster shots to at-risk adults.
CDC’s refreshed COVID guidance zeros in on the vulnerable
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 15, 2022
While easing its public guidance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is emphasizing a continued focus on protecting at-risk individuals, including the elderly and ill, from infection and poor...
Feds tell nursing homes to use vaccinated staff or lose funding: Providers cry foul
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 19, 2021
President Joe Biden announced late Wednesday afternoon that U.S. nursing homes must use workers vaccinated against COVID-19 or risk losing vital Medicare and Medicaid funding. Providers immediately criticized...
Pandemic has taken significant toll on patients with dementia, geriatricians say
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jul 26, 2022
The pandemic has hastened the cognitive decline of patients with dementia in unprecedented ways, doctors confirm. Despite rising cases, clinicians must emphasize socialization, they say.
‘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.