Geriatrician endorses creative steps to reduce delirium due to COVID
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 18, 2021
Early steps must be taken to detect and address delirium in older adults with COVID-19, says physician and researcher Sharon Inouye, M.D., MPH. Delirium is not included in the CDC’s case report criteria...
Sleep, not depression, may be top concern with beta blocker use: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 18, 2021
Depression did not occur any more frequently during beta blockers treatment than with a placebo, but some patients developed sleep-related symptoms, investigators found.
CMS approves contactless tracking in Kentucky nursing homes
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 18, 2021
The agency has approved a $6.7 million proposal by Trilogy Health Services for a smart-entry screening platform to be implemented across 285 Kentucky Medicare-certified nursing homes.
Clinical briefs for Thursday, March 18
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 18, 2021
Feds invest $255 million more in COVID tests for long-term care, but some say vaccines, funding are more urgent needs … PharmaCorr spin-off to expand post-acute, LTC services … FDA approves Melinta’s...
Some home care services may foster frailty, whereas PT prevents decline, data show
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 17, 2021
Frail elders who enrolled in a state Medicaid HCBS and used home nurse services were more likely to experience functional decline than those who did not. Their peers who received physical therapy were...
Nearly all seniors are now prescribed drugs tied to falls: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 17, 2021
The percentage of older adults prescribed drugs that increase falls risk shot from 57% to 94% over almost two decades, researchers say. And fall-related deaths have more than doubled at the same time.
CDC posts videos to educate staff, residents on its 2 vaccine safety systems
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 17, 2021
YouTube videos detail the VAERS reporting system for CNAs and other facility providers, plus the agency’s smartphone-enabled post-vaccination health checker, or v-safe, which can be used by residents...
Clinical briefs for Wednesday, March 17
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 17, 2021
Senior living giant sued over handling of transfers and discharges … First COVID vaccine dose 63% effective in nursing home study … FDA hedges against gene variants: Requires COVID antibody drugmakers...
Nursing home advocates urge 24-hour RN staffing, PPE mandates in sweeping reform agenda
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 16, 2021
The Care For Our Seniors Act, put forth by the AHCA and LeadingAge, seeks to address systemic issues in the nursing home sector that have been laid bare during the pandemic, including infection control...
November’s drop in COVID deaths may hint at early nursing home success, experts contend
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 16, 2021
Between spring pandemic lockdowns and November, mortality rates due to COVID-19 in nursing homes declined significantly — well before a vaccine was approved to treat the disease, according to a new study.