New testing has found that xenon ultraviolet light — used by hospitals and some skilled nursing facilities for decontamination — does not damage N95 respirators. The announcement from Xenex Disinfection...
COVID-19 side effect: critical drugs in short supply
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 05, 2020
Demand has skyrocketed for drugs ranging from asthma inhalers and antibiotics to sedatives needed for mechanical ventilation.
Harnessing the power of virtual reality to reduce social isolation amid a global pandemic
By
Chris Brickler
Mar 17, 2020
As COVID-19, or coronavirus, continues to spread across our country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised “social distancing” and that those who are deemed higher-risk persons...
Minimizing the impact of touch starvation in long-term care residents
By
Jennifer Birdsall
Sep 09, 2020
What is touch starvation? Also known as “touch deprivation,” “skin hunger” or “hug deprivation,” touch starvation is what occurs when a person’s exposure to physical contact has been significantly...
Link Medicaid hikes to worker pay to promote staff equity, researchers say
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 08, 2022
Tying increases in state Medicaid rates to wages would be an important way to address the disproportionate representation of Black women in long-term care’s lowest paying positions, say researchers...
Dehydration plagues nursing home residents with COVID in facility study
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 16, 2021
Clinically significant dehydration is very common among residents with COVID-19 — especially those with dementia or delirium, investigators found. Care providers should be ready with IV fluids and a...
Nursing directors should process personal pandemic grief first, clinical expert says
By
Liza Berger
Nov 11, 2020
As part of dealing head-on with the challenges of the pandemic, directors of nursing in long-term care need to make sure they personally come to grips with the grief and stress they have experienced, believes...
OnPointe CEO: Pandemic should be catalyst for payment changes, shedding ‘wrong strategy’
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 29, 2021
Some look at the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and question how they can make their buildings safer. Eric Tanner, CEO of transitional and skilled care specialist OnPointe, sees the crisis as a launching point...
COVID-19 courses proliferate
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 08, 2020
As more becomes known about the coronavirus and how it spreads, online providers are rolling out additional training resources meant to buttress infection prevention efforts. Talent management firm HealthcareSource...
The top long-term care news stories of 2021
By
Danielle Brown
Dec 26, 2021
Here’s a rundown of the top stories that McKnight’s Long-Term Care News readers opened over the past 12 months.