Pandemic bump in antipsychotics use raises questions about long-term care outcomes
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 12, 2022
The findings raise questions about the short- and long-term effects on the quality of care and health outcomes for residents, the authors say.
Lawmakers want $1 billion pay raise for long-term care, other workers to address shortages
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 12, 2022
Long-term care, and other direct care workers, could be in line for a $1 billion investment to boost their pay under a proposal from Minnesota lawmakers.
Lawmakers push FDA to take swift action on OTC hearing aids
By
Diane Eastabrook
Apr 12, 2022
A bipartisan team has introduced a bill that orders the FDA to stop dragging its feet and issue a final rule making over-the-counter hearing aids available to consumers.
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, April 12
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 12, 2022
NIH: Certain arthritis drugs lower incidence of Alzheimer’s in heart patients … Undercounting may hide new COVID-19 surge; whether that’s a problem depends on whom you ask … Collaboration between...
LTC docs push for more training, competency requirements for medical directors
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 11, 2022
It’s time for Congress and CMS to take action and raise the profile and competencies of industry clinicians — especially medical directors, according to long-term care physician advocate AMDA.
MDS self-care item key to planning appropriate SNF rehabilitation goals, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 11, 2022
A self-care item recently introduced to the Minimum Data Set allows therapeutic teams to better assess a resident’s prior health status and help predict what is needed for recovery, investigators say.
COVID-19 linked to increased risk of shingles, pharma company finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 11, 2022
Older adults with a COVID-19 diagnosis are 15% more likely to develop shingles than their peers who have never been diagnosed with the disease, a study supported by vaccine-maker GlaxoSmithKline has found.
Clinical briefs for Monday, April 11
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 11, 2022
Bridge temporary nurse aides to CNAs now, before waiver ends, AHCA warns … These “good faith” efforts count in revised vaccine mandate guidance … U.S. life expectancy falls for second year...
Rise in antipsychotics prescriptions during pandemic warrant closer look, feds say
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 11, 2022
A federal study has found that prescriptions for antipsychotic medication in nursing homes and assisted living facilities increased by 7.4% during the first quarter, or first three months, of the pandemic.
Long-term care worker shortage needs better-focused approach, analysts say
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 11, 2022
The pursuit of long-term care workers requires a more targeted strategy, say researchers who completed a study showing how other healthcare sectors have started to recover from staff shortages quicker.