CMS: End to pandemic waivers helps nursing homes ‘redirect efforts’ to meet residents’ needs
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 08, 2022
A sweeping phase-out of early COVID-19 pandemic allowances, such as the nurse aide certification waiver, addresses concerns about SNF residents’ physical, mental and psychosocial well-being, the agency...
Pandemic paves way for mobile dentistry, teledentistry in long-term care, experts say
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 12, 2021
Mobile dentistry for people with dementia, teledentistry, and vaccines by dentist are some of the opportunities that have arisen from disruptions to residents’ oral healthcare during the pandemic, according...
Technology helped older adults stay connected during pandemic, small study finds
By
Donna Shryer
May 18, 2024
The COVID-19 pandemic changed almost everyone’s social calendar, with meet-ups moved to video chats, office collaboration happening over communication apps, and social media replacing lunch with a friend....
Return of 3-day stay, loss of nurse aides bearing down on nursing homes with PHE’s end
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 11, 2023
Nursing homes today will mark the end of a devastating era in healthcare that nonetheless provided the sector with previously unimagined operating flexibilities.
CMS to begin audits for schizophrenia coding, says citations will affect quality ratings
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 19, 2023
The agency will start auditing nursing homes this month to determine whether residents’ schizophrenia diagnoses are accurate and appropriately coded. A pattern of inaccurate coding may result in a quality...
PPE, staff shortages unchanged: CMS data show 1 in 5 facilities ‘severely’ affected
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 24, 2020
There were notable clusters of equipment shortfalls in certain states. A quarter of U.S. counties had at least 44% of nursing homes reporting low staffing levels.
Coronavirus rates drop 96% in nursing homes, but some see first-ever cases in new year
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 31, 2021
More than 430 nursing homes saw their first-ever COVID cases in early 2021, evidence that continued infection control measures are needed, and despite phenomenal declines in facility rates, says the U.S....
GAO report links length of nursing home COVID outbreaks to 4 factors
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 20, 2022
Facilities in counties with low community spread had outbreaks that were seven days shorter than those in counties with high transmission rates, among other key factors.
Nursing homes more prepared for the coronavirus than for H1N1: survey
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 26, 2020
Despite the COVID-19 troubles currently facing eldercare facilities, things could have been much worse for some, a Michigan survey suggests.
A new study reveals top factors tied to record-setting mortality rates in Canada’s LTC facilities during the early pandemic, and a treatment that boosted survival in severely ill residents.