A first: FDA approves drug to treat agitation in Alzheimer’s dementia
By
Alicia Lasek
May 12, 2023
For the first time, the FDA has approved a drug to treat agitation related to Alzheimer’s disease dementia. Patient advocates are hailing the news, but prescribing the drug, an antipsychotic, may put...
Early screening curbs C. auris in ventilator-assisted facilities: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 02, 2023
Targeted screening for Candida auris at admission to ventilator-assisted units in nursing homes helps to identify colonized residents, physician researchers report.
Hypoglycemia frequent in LTCF residents with diabetes, large study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 14, 2023
A 35% rate of level 1 hypoglycemia in long-term care facility residents with type 2 diabetes leaves room for better clinical management, researchers say.
CDC: RSV hospitalizations soar among seniors while vaccine remains on horizon
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 16, 2022
The hospitalization rate for seniors with respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV, is 10 times higher than usual for the season, federal data show.
Dementia rates fall 30 percent, likely due to better health, higher education levels: study
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Nov 08, 2022
Dementia in older U.S. adults declined sharply between 2000 and 2016, possibly due to rising education levels, a reduction in smoking and better treatment of cardiovascular risk factors, investigators...
Medicare’s plan to cover Alzheimer’s drugs hinges on patient data registries
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 02, 2023
Medicare Part B will cover Alzheimer’s drugs with traditional FDA approval, CMS announced Thursday. Prescribing clinicians must participate in a patient data registry.
CDC: Two booster shots cut severe COVID risk in nursing home residents by 74 percent
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 03, 2022
Nursing home residents who received a second mRNA booster shot during omicron were much less likely to suffer severe COVID-19 outcomes than their peers who received only one dose, a new study shows.
SNFs have made great strides in preventing, treating COVID, docs say
By
Joe Bush
Oct 14, 2022
Nursing facilities are now highly skilled at preventing COVID-19 illness and staving off serious outcomes, said doctors in a panel discussion this week. But pandemic challenges linger.
Common medical devices ripe for cyberattack, LTC prone to security breaches
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 20, 2022
The healthcare sector is increasingly at risk of cyber crime due to unpatched medical devices with outdated software or inadequate security features, experts say.
One sick worker linked to 17 infections and $12K in treatment costs, LTC study finds
By
John Hall
Aug 26, 2022
A new study reveals how a single sick caregiver can easily infect residents and co-workers in a long-term care setting and drive up treatment costs by thousands of dollars.