CMS seeks to ease COVID staff testing burden on rural operators
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 01, 2020
Some nursing homes have been required to conduct staff testing at a higher frequency than necessary, the agency said in explaining recent changes to its testing methodology.
One person with COVID infects 4 to 5 others, double WHO estimates, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 01, 2020
Each person who contracted the coronavirus early in the pandemic likely transmitted it to four or five others, according to a new analysis.
Delirium a telltale sign of COVID in frail older adults
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 30, 2020
Clinicians should keep in mind that delirium is an early warning sign of COVID-19 in frail, elderly adults — even when cough, fever and other classic signs are absent, physician researchers say.
The test of testing: Why is it so difficult to screen staffers?
By
Joel Landau
Sep 30, 2020
The No. 1 priority of all skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic remains resident safety. That’s not even a question, as those operating SNFs serve a population that...
Keeping workers will be biggest struggle for nursing homes as pandemic persists, national policy expert...
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 30, 2020
Workforce challenges that have plagued long-term care operators during the coronavirus pandemic will get worse as the crisis further progresses this year, one of the nation’s top health policy analysts...
Residents, staff in all long-term care facilities should be first in line for coronavirus vaccine: AHCA
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 30, 2020
The nation’s largest nursing home association is calling on state governors to prioritize residents and staff in long-term care facilities for an eventual COVID-19 vaccine as the leaders prepare to submit...
Administration’s added coronavirus tests for nursing homes just ‘a drop in the bucket,’ industry...
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 30, 2020
The federal government’s plan to ship a total of 33 million additional point-of-care tests to nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the coming weeks is just “a drop in the bucket [when] considering...
Clinical daily briefs for Wednesday, Sept. 30
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 30, 2020
Digital stethoscope helps avert resident ER visits: McKnight’s Tech Awards winner … Vaccinate nursing home and assisted living residents and staff first, AHCA/NCAL urges states … National study to...
Measuring resident engagement with the Resident Engagement Index Score (REIS) assessment tool
By
Jenn Taylor
Charles de Vilmorin
Sep 29, 2020
The pursuit of purpose is a basic human right. Older adults in senior living and long-term care communities deserve to experience meaningful engagement every day. As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded...
REIT leader: ‘Even more bullish than before’ on skilled nursing
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 29, 2020
Census pressure and uncertainties caused by COVID-19 continue to threaten the nursing home industry. But at least one major real estate investment trust CEO sees this period as a time of good opportunity...