Antibiotics remain overprescribed in nursing homes — despite stewardship efforts, MDS study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 02, 2020
An analysis of Minimum Data Set assessments has found that overall antibiotic use in nursing homes did not change from 2012 to 2016. There was also an increase in use where no infection was reported.
Ouch: Falls injuries continue to rise among U.S. seniors, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 24, 2022
Despite ongoing prevention efforts, falls injury rates are increasing by 1.5% annually among older adults, Medicare claims show. Limitations in long-term care coverage don’t help, investigators say.
Residents with self-care disability less likely to receive cancer treatment
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 05, 2021
Many nursing home residents do not receive cancer-directed treatment, and they are even less likely to do so if they have a self-care disability, according to a new study.
State to test nursing home residents for antibodies, weigh need for 4th vax
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 24, 2022
The state of Maryland will test nursing home residents for COVID-19 antibodies in a proactive effort to determine whether or not they should be offered a fourth vaccine dose, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced...
A nap’s benefits: Afternoon snooze tied to better memory in older adults
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 01, 2021
A new study has found significantly better cognitive function results in older adults who take a regular afternoon nap. But “unintentional” nappers didn’t perform as well on word recall,...
Nursing home clinicians still overdiagnose UTIs despite antibiotic stewardship efforts: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 14, 2022
As a group, primary care providers and RNs misclassified UTIs about one-third of the time, an investigator tells McKnight’s. Nurses had greater odds of an incorrect assessment.
Medical director shares wins, challenges of nursing home’s pandemic response
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 23, 2020
Once described as the epicenter of West Virginia’s COVID-19 outbreak, a 100-bed facility gained control of its infection and mortality rate. A new study details its most helpful strategies — and biggest...
LTC clinicians cheer pandemic milestone: Federal approval of first COVID-19 vaccine
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 24, 2021
Long-term care clinicians are embracing the FDA’s first full approval of a COVID-19 vaccine, saying the decision will support their efforts to increase vaccination coverage and reduce infections and...
Complex exercises reverse gait freezing in Parkinson’s disease study
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 18, 2020
A challenging physical exercise program helped reverse gait freezing by 60% in participants with Parkinson’s disease.
Pandemic spurs Trilogy to add discount delivery pharmacy benefit for employees
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 06, 2021
Senior living operator Trilogy Health Services has begun offering its approximately 17,000 employees and their dependents a one-source, full-service discount pharmacy benefit through its proprietary pharmacy,...