Social isolation in U.S. long-term care facilities associated with increased risk of 30-day mortality
By
Donna Shryer
Jun 21, 2021
U.S. long-term care facilities in socially isolated neighborhoods are associated with increased risk of 30-day all-cause mortality among residents, according to the results of a cross-sectional study published...
Early vaccination sped up decline in COVID infections, study in Genesis facilities finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 20, 2021
Nursing homes that administered shots early in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout experienced a lower rate of new infections compared to later-vaccinating sites. The results underscore the efficacy of the drugs...
Don’t lose sight of senior loneliness now that some restrictions are lifted
By
Bent Philipson
Mar 17, 2021
As we move through 2021, the loneliness posed by social distancing will likely remain a challenge for seniors. Healthcare providers should take a more proactive role in helping seniors manage their mental...
Revised CDC mask, visitation, quarantine guidance applies to staff — outside of work
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 09, 2021
People who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may now safely gather indoors and even visit low-risk, unvaccinated people in non-healthcare settings. How LTC staff members should balance the changes...
Caring and technology: Understanding the new nursing home model
By
Brian Wallace
Feb 18, 2021
Nursing homes of the future will require two major themes to be successful: caring and technology. In an age of continued lockdowns and restrictions, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel...
Older adults’ mental health is resilient during pandemic, new study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 14, 2021
Older adults say that they are no worse off on some indicators of loneliness and overall mental health than they were five years ago, though general happiness has declined. Technology has been a coping...
Managing a bah humbug holiday season
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Dec 15, 2020
By now many of us have viewed the viral video of residents gleefully shooting soft foam balls at laughing staff members dressed as reindeer dodging through a pine-tree “forest.” It’s the kind...
Elders who live alone much more likely to be hospitalized due to a fall
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 11, 2020
Congregate living may have a positive effect on fall risk, a new study finds. Seniors who live with others are much less likely to report hospital admission due to falls than their peers who live alone,...
Hungry for company: isolation and hunger trigger same brain response
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 25, 2020
After a day of total isolation, the sight of people having fun together activates the same brain region that lights up when a hungry person sees food, an MRI study has found.
Thanksgiving comfort: Phone calls, emails work best to reduce residents’ loneliness, boost spirits
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 24, 2020
According to the Yale School of Public Health, regular phone calls or emails may provide the most solace for people living in long-term care facilities. This includes remote calls, and phone calls while...