Newly identified ‘auto-antibody’ mechanism may play key role in seniors’ COVID deaths
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 23, 2021
The finding may explain why some people — and notably older adults — suffer more severe COVID-19 illness than others. The discovery has implications for treatment timing and vaccination, investigators...
$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.
Panel on non-invasive ventilation seeks to simplify ‘maze’ of regulation for device coverage
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 20, 2021
Recommendations aimed at expediting CMS coverage determinations for non-invasive ventilation devices could help ensure that LTCF residents and others get quick access to lifesaving treatments.
Clinical briefs for Friday, Aug. 20
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 20, 2021
ANA survey: Nearly 60% of nurses support mandatory vaccination … Deborah Birx: Long-term care must prepare for, protect against, prevent COVID … Nursing homes must make ‘every reasonable effort’...
Third COVID shots ready for LTC by Sept. 20; vaccine efficacy declines in nursing homes
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 19, 2021
The U.S. government is prepared to offer COVID-19 booster shots to vaccinated Americans beginning on Sept. 20, including direct delivery to long-term care facility residents, officials announced Wednesday.
National survey tells story of COVID in assisted living
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 19, 2021
New industry data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics details how COVID-19 affected assisted living communities across the country during the height of the pandemic.
Having a good listener in one’s life may help slow cognitive decline: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 18, 2021
Older adults who have regular interactions with active listeners are more likely to have cognitive functioning that contradicts evidence of dementia-related brain changes, a new study finds.
Arthritis drug Actemra in short supply as demand for use in COVID ramps up
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 18, 2021
Demand for Actemra IV has skyrocketed due to the latest wave of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, drugmaker Genentech says. In the past two weeks alone, orders for the drug shot up to 400% of pre-COVID...
Memory loss may linger eight months after mild coronavirus infection, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 17, 2021
The results suggest that COVID-19 may not really be a mild disease, no matter its course, investigators say. They also raise the question of whether current home-treatment strategies are optimal for long-term...
Boosters on the way: LTC residents, healthcare workers may top fed’s list after CDC approves 3rd shot
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 16, 2021
The Biden administration has secured 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses as part of a strategy to provide additional shots to already vaccinated priority groups this fall, investigators have been told....