May 01, 2013
We've decided that next flu season we're going to mandate our staff members get flu shots. Are we on firm legal ground?
Caregivers involved in the annual battle against influenza outbreaks will get an advance peek in a webinar Tuesday at what vaccine options for the 2013-14 flu season will be. Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases will preview the possibilities. The webcast will begin at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. The presentation will include a review of vaccine effectiveness for the 2012-13 campaign.
Seniors in nursing homes are at greatest risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in the winter months, while children are at greatest risk during the summer, according to a recently released study.
February 26, 2013
On average, roughly 24,000 Americans die each flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more than half of those hospitalized are over age 65. This season's influenza virus outbreak was no exception. In fact, according to the CDC, the flu season is the most severe it has been in 10 years.
February 11, 2013
This flu season is reported to be the worst in years, with more than 40 states reporting widespread cases. Flu season lasts from September to May with peak months typically in January and February.
February 06, 2013
This season's flu strains continue to hit the senior population especially hard, with the majority of deaths and hospitalizations hitting those over the age of 65, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
February 01, 2013
New strains of genetically engineered bacteria may improve the efficacy of vaccines for diseases that include the flu and pertussis, University of Texas at Austin researchers say.
January 28, 2013
What matters most to long-term care operators? Certainly, remaining in business is a top priority. But providers are not just fixated on the bottom line. Here are some telltale signs.
January 23, 2013
In the hearty debates taking place around McKnight's stories about the flu shot, there's one angle that, quite frankly, hasn't been brought up much.
January 22, 2013
The 2012-13 flu season has been especially bad for the elderly, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday in a call with reporters. Despite this, CDC figures show about half of nursing home workers have not been vaccinated.
January 18, 2013
In the post-acute care industry, providers are reporting record number of outbreaks in skilled nursing and assisted living communities nationwide. Prevention, preparation and outbreak response are necessary steps for providers in light of continued increase of this virus.
A new type of influenza vaccine was approved Wednesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and will soon be available in limited quantities, providing another weapon against the seasonal virus wreaking havoc in long-term care settings around the country.
With widespread cases of flu being reported already in 47 states, health officials nationwide are keeping a wary eye eye on public health. Nursing homes in various pockets have reported cutting off or restricting access to visitors, with more expected to issue similar steps in the week ahead. Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised that flu activity is expected to stay high for at least several more weeks, making this part of the calendar particular crucial for long-term care givers. 'As always, vaccination efforts should continue as long as influenza viruses are circulating," CDC officials advise in today's edition of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The elderly are the typically the hardest hit group of individuals by the flu and flu complications.
January 10, 2013
Some people might dream of owning a professional football or baseball team. Right now, I'm wishing I owned a nursing home. Then I could immediately fire all the people who deserved it.
Significant increases in flu activity in the United States have occurred in the last two weeks. With the exception of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, this is the earliest that the nation has hit the influenza-like-illness baseline in nearly a decade.
December 11, 2012
I have two major deal-breakers for friends: If you have purchased a pet from a breeder, or if you are anti-vaccination, especially for your child, I am going to seriously re-evaluate the friendship.
Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas have already reported high levels of flu activity, officials said.
May 09, 2012
Just say "cheese" was my first reaction when I saw the notice.
Skilled nursing facilities in California will receive tens of thousands of N95 respirators, officials said Friday.
March 21, 2012
If you want to get a lot of attention on the big screen, an old rub goes, all you have to do is trot out some kids or a dog. In long-term care, just bring up the topic of mandated flu shots for healthcare workers.
March 21, 2012
If you want to get a lot of attention on the big screen, an old rub goes, all you have to do is trot out some kids or a dog. In long-term care, just bring up the topic of mandated flu shots for healthcare workers.
The overall incidence of influenza is on the rise in the United States — particularly in the Midwest — though it is still relatively low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Officials from Colorado's state health department have proposed mandatory flu vaccinations for all nursing home employees, regardless of religious or personal exceptions.
In what has become the latest positive news about statins, researchers have found they appear to reduce the risk of death in patients hospitalized with the flu.
Americans' life expectancy has dropped by one month, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early results of the report showed that a baby born in 2008 could be expected to live 77.8 years.
Garlic. Yogurt. Steamed pears. Not all seniors believe it's just the flu shot that prevents the flu. Many believe in various foods and treatments to stave off the seasonal bug, according to a new study.
Receiving a vaccination in the late summer or fall could help reduce the risk of a first heart attack by an average of 19%, according to a new study.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging healthcare workers to get the annual flu vaccine.
As if MRSA and the flu do not pose enough of an irritation, nursing homes may be contending with a new pest: bedbugs.
