COVID vaccine protection drops by 80 percent in 6 months among nursing home residents: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 03, 2021
Vaccinated staff members had a similar six-month decrease in immunity levels, investigators say. The data may support recommendations for vaccine booster shots, they contend.
Eli Lilly aims for dementia drug candidate’s approval in 2022; wants to ‘prioritize access’
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 04, 2021
The Alzheimer’s disease-modifying drug donanemab is on track to be considered for full FDA approval by 2022, its developer said.
Falls may be an Alzheimer’s precursor, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 14, 2020
Early brain changes may be the culprit when an older person with no signs of cognitive decline has a fall, researchers say. Such falls tend to occur about five years before memory loss and confusion arise.
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...
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...
Pharmacies to long-term care: Get in front of COVID-19 vaccination questions
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 07, 2020
With vaccine approval anticipated shortly, the best communicators will have the smoothest Phase 1 vaccination process, say Omnicare and PharMerica. Community pharmacies have recommendations as well.
New cases of antifungal-resistant yeast infections in nursing homes alarm CDC
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 26, 2021
For the first time, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention has identified U.S. nursing home residents and hospital patients with candida auris yeast infections that resist all first-line antifungal...
AMDA to feds: Delay antibody treatment in nursing homes, engage LTC medical directors
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 09, 2020
“This is the right therapy, but it needs more study … and it needs engaged medical director oversight and supervision,” says AMDA’s Executive Director Chris Laxton. Emergency approval of COVID...
Cases of life-threatening ‘broken heart syndrome’ rising among older women: AHA
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 14, 2021
Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), a dangerous condition that can weaken heart muscle, has seen a steady increase among Americans, especially older women, a new study reveals.
The flu season that wasn’t: Influenza has ‘flickered out’, reports find
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 08, 2021
Overall seasonal flu activity has remained at lower-than-usual levels in the United States and globally.