Analysis: Medication adherence spotty among U.S. diabetes patients
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 01, 2023
A sizable percentage of patients with diabetes do not consistently take prescribed medications to lower cholesterol, glucose or blood pressure, investigators say.
Palliative care study highlights importance of psychosocial support for LTC workers
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 30, 2023
Even the most confident of long-term care staff, sure of their knowledge and skills, reported “notable difficulties” providing palliative and end-of-life care during the COVID-19 pandemic, finds a...
Trauma-informed care needed for LTC residents with dementia, authors contend
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jul 18, 2022
Trauma-informed strategies are long overdue for nursing home residents with dementia and past trauma and/or PTSD, according to a new call to action.
Pandemic has taken significant toll on patients with dementia, geriatricians say
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jul 26, 2022
The pandemic has hastened the cognitive decline of patients with dementia in unprecedented ways, doctors confirm. Despite rising cases, clinicians must emphasize socialization, they say.
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.
AMDA launches ‘Moving Needles’ vaccination initiative across 3 LTC organizations
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jul 28, 2022
AMDA and the CDC are collaborating on a pilot program with 3 long-term care operators toward a goal of setting industry-wide standards for routine vaccinations in resident and staff.
FDA proposes two annual COVID shots for seniors in ‘simplified’ vaccine schedule
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 24, 2023
In an effort to streamline COVID-19 protection, older adults and others vulnerable to severe disease would receive two annual shots of an updated vaccine, according to a plan to be evaluated on Thursday...
CMS, OIG agree on increasing scrutiny of psychotropic drug use
By
Joe Bush
Nov 18, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will be increasing its oversight of the use of psychotropic drugs to pay closer attention to certain classes, warned the lead author of a federal report identifying...
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...
More U.S. prostate cancer patients choosing active surveillance over treatment
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 05, 2023
The findings highlight a growing comfort level with observation among physicians and patients, and an increase in the proportion of men who benefit from active surveillance, investigators say.