Resident Care

Judge questions legality of nursing home management companies, but dismisses complaint against one

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Nursing home management agreements may run afoul of federal law, but it's hard to argue that having a third-party manager hurts resident care. That was the message from Judge Jon S. Tigar, who recently dismissed a complaint brought by nonprofit resident rights group California Advocates for Nursing Home Care.

McKnight's second Tech Awards program is here

McKnight's second Tech Awards program is here By

I'm not going to worry too much about the Second Annual McKnight's Technology Awards program, which kicks off this month. The first one last year was a smashing success. I have no reason to believe there are any fewer proud and successful programs out there this year.

Why do we do some of this 'stuff'?

Why do we do some of this 'stuff'? By

We do a lot of "stuff" in nursing that makes no sense (both in acute care and long-term care — I'm not singling us out here). We do a lot of things that waste precious time and are definitely not evidence based. Let's take a look at some myth busters.

CMS nursing home guidance focuses on resident quality of life, environment and choice

CMS nursing home guidance focuses on resident quality of life, environment and choice

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Friday issued new guidance for nursing home surveyors emphasizing the importance of resident quality of life and homelike environments.

CMS issues warning about Clarcon hand sanitizer products

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is warning healthcare workers to avoid using skin-sanitizing products manufactured by Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory.

Promising discovery could help prevent age-related macular degeneration

Researchers at the University of Kentucky have announced a major breakthrough in the prevention and early detection of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The condition affects between 10 million and 12 million Americans and is the number-one cause of blindness among seniors.

Number of nursing home beds, residents decreasing, report finds

Number of nursing home beds, residents decreasing, report finds

The number of both nursing home beds and nursing home residents in the United States declined between 1999 and 2004, according to the recently released results of the National Nursing Home Survey: 2004 Overview.

MRSA thriving among one-quarter of nursing home residents, study results show

Nearly one in every four nursing home residents has been colonized by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to a recently published report from Queen's University Belfast.

New report details devastating toll of chronic conditions on economy, healthcare system

The U.S. spent $1.7 trillion treating patients with chronic conditions in 2007—the equivalent of 34 million annual salaries of $50,000, according to the second annual Almanac of Chronic Disease, which was released Thursday.

WHO issues guidelines on hand hygiene for healthcare workers

The World Health Organization has released a new report, "Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care," which target administrators, public health officials and healthcare workers.

New survey shows nursing home room rates rising steadily across country

Nursing home care and assisted living care are more affordable in the Midwest than in the Northeast or West. Meanwhile, long-term care in Alaska remains the most expensive in the country, according to the results of the 2009 Cost of Care Survey from Genworth Financial.

F-tags with revisions on resident quality of life to be released in June

Eleven F-tags with revisions related to the quality of life and environment of nursing home residents will be available June 17.

Study: Hispanics receive poorer nursing home care

Nursing facilities with a primarily Hispanic resident population generally provide lower quality care than facilities primarily servicing whites, say Brown University researchers who focused on pressure ulcer care.

CMS to test cash incentives for nursing home quality, efficiency efforts

CMS to test cash incentives for nursing home quality, efficiency efforts

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Friday announced a new, four-state demonstration project to test whether cash incentives will help improve quality and efficiency in nursing homes.

Robot nurses to care for aging Japanese

Japan, like many countries around the world, is facing a serious shortage of caregivers to look after its rapidly growing elderly population. Unlike others, however, it is about to create an army of robot nurses.

Bill would grant states money to pay for background checks for nursing home employees

(Editor's note: In an earlier version of this story, we reported that providers would be responsible for paying for fees associated with employee background checks. That is not necessarily the case. A revised and updated version of the story follows.) The Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2009, which was reintroduced in the Senate this week by Sens. Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME), would expand upon a seven-state pilot program that instituted federal background checks for potential nursing home employees.

New portable device tracks hand hygiene compliance among caregivers

Technology that tracks caregivers' hand hygiene practices is proving effective at reducing costs and increasing compliance, according to the results of a recent pilot study.

Study finds home healthcare settings have many unsafe conditions

A recent study has identified a number of hazardous conditions found in home healthcare settings--conditions that are of special concern to both the elderly and their caretakers.

CMS to delay MDS 3.0 because of worries over system updates

CMS to delay MDS 3.0 because of worries over system updates

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is planning to delay the implementation of Minimum Data Set 3.0 for one year because of concerns that there is not enough time to adequately prepare systems for the start date.

Long-term care reform hearing focuses on dual eligibles, home-based services

Public and private sector officials convened Wednesday to discuss the important role long-term care reform could play in a grander, overall healthcare reform scheme.

Think happy thoughts: views on aging tied to poor health later in life

Younger people who believe negative stereotypes about aging are more prone to suffer poor health when they themselves reach old age, new research suggests.

Wound care: advanced tools and talented care teams lead to solid wound management

Wound care: advanced tools and talented care teams lead to solid wound management By

Advanced wound care tools help caregivers treat complicated pressure ulcers. But solid wound management also involves a talented care team

Ask the care expert: how to understand state deficiency scores

Ask the care expert: how to understand state deficiency scores By

Sherrie Dornberger, RNC, CDONA, FACDONA President, NADONA

Guidelines for pressure ulcer prevention to be introduced at conference

New international guidelines for performing prevalence and incidence studies on pressure ulcers will make their debut today and Saturday at the Biennial Conference of the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel.

Nursing home, assisted living costs vary widely by region, new report finds

Nursing home, assisted living costs vary widely by region, new report finds

Geography plays an important role in the cost of nursing home and other long-term care services, according to a recently released report.

Report: More seniors have three or more chronic conditions

Report: More seniors have three or more chronic conditions

The prevalence of chronic conditions among Americans is on the rise with many people now saddled with up to three continuing afflictions. Nowhere is the up-tick more noticeable than among the senior citizen population, according to a report released Tuesday.

Report: Uniform standards lacking for nursing home social workers

Inconsistent state laws and low federal standards have resulted in varying qualification and certification standards for nursing home social workers, according to a recently released report.

Medicaid coverage lapses lead to more expensive hospitalizations

Temporary lapses in Medicaid coverage can lead to higher rates of hospitalizations for diseases that can be treated in primary-care settings, according to a recent report.

Interdisciplinary care cuts death rates for chronically ill seniors, helps diabetics most

A pro-active, multifaceted approach to senior care can significantly reduce both hospitalization and death rates among seniors with multiple chronic conditions, according to a new report. People with diabetes might have the most to gain.

Iowa law could become national model for long-term care insurance disputes

A new Iowa statute that will take effect Jan. 1 will protect Iowans who are denied long-term care insurance benefits. If successful, it could be used as a model for other states, according to industry experts.

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