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Resident Security

GPS shoes under development may help locate wandering Alzheimer's patients

June 09, 2009

Shoes protect our feet, but who knew they might serve to protect seniors? A sophisticated tracking device in footwear could, one day, help locate wandering Alzheimer's disease patients, according to a news report.

Authorities looking for answers after gunman kills eight at North Carolina nursing home

March 30, 2009

A 45-year-old local man with no apparent ties to the Pinelake Health and Rehabilitation Center in Carthage, NC, walked into it Sunday morning and shot 11 people. He killed seven residents and a nurse and was shot himself before being taken into custody. A responding police officer who confronted the gunman in a facility hallway, was among those shot but in good condition, officials said.

Attorney General says more cameras will be hidden in nursing homes

October 23, 2008

New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is expanding his practice of installing hidden cameras in nursing homes to include facilities in western New York, according to local news outlets.

OIG: Nearly all nursing homes violated federal standards in 2007

September 30, 2008

More than nine out of 10 nursing homes in the United States last year were cited for violating federal health and safety standards, according to a report released Monday by the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General.

Senate introduces Silver Alert Act; president signs ADA

September 29, 2008

U.S. Sens. Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Mel Martinez (R-FL) introduced a Senate version of the National Silver Alert Act, which recently passed through the House.

New safety survey available from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

September 22, 2008

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality released a new survey to help nursing homes assess safety, track changes in resident safety over time, and evaluate the impact of safety interventions.

House passes "Silver Alert" legislation to help locate missing seniors

September 19, 2008

The U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday passed legislation that would set up a nationwide "silver alert" system to help coordinate local law enforcement officials in the event of a missing senior.

Hurricane Ike causes nursing home evacuations, power outages in Texas

September 16, 2008

Evacuated nursing home residents from Galveston, Beaumont and Houston, TX, have been wondering when they will go home after Hurricane Ike caused massive damage in and around the coastal areas of the state.

Advancing Excellence campaign receives major grant from Commonwealth Fund

August 28, 2008

The Commonwealth Fund has awarded a $474,000 grant to the steering committee of the Advancing Excellence campaign, a two-year campaign that aims to improve care in the nation's nursing homes.

Nursing homes seek solutions to sex-offender problem

July 24, 2008

The American Health Care Association asked Congress to help improve the tracking of sex offenders and develop a definition of "sex offender" in an effort to improve residents' safety.

Report: Brain injuries caused by falls killed 8,000 seniors

June 25, 2008

Falls should be a leading concern for the elderly, but not necessarily for the reason many think. The damage can go far beyond a demobilizing broken hip or other bone, researchers said this week.

Researchers: Nursing home residents attacking each other more often than expected

June 04, 2008

Nursing home residents are lashing out at each other verbally, physically and in other ways more often than previously believed, according to Cornell University-based researchers.

Nursing home evacuation guidelines unveiled at Hurricane Summit

May 09, 2008

Attendees at the Hurricane Summit in Orlando this week released new criteria for the safe evacuation of nursing home residents in the event of a natural disaster.

Study: Nursing home residents with dementia receive less pain medication

May 02, 2008

Residents with Alzheimer's and dementia in nursing homes are receiving fewer pain medications than other residents, despite having as many painful, co-morbid conditions, such as cancer and osteoarthritis, according to a new study from the University of North Carolina.

An imperfect world calls for an increase in risk management

John Andrews May 01, 2008

Falls and medication errors can lead to big problems. That is why providers need to be extra vigilant about prevention.

Pay attention: Ritalin might aid in elderly fall prevention

April 29, 2008

Ritalin, a drug commonly prescribed to improve children's concentration in school, might have a new function in preventing falls among the elderly, according to new research.

Ask the legal expert

John Durso April 01, 2008

The raiding of resident trust funds and theft of insurance checks by staff are perhaps the two most significant fraud/embezzlement problems in long-term care. What is your advice for guarding against them?

Tech toys

January 30, 2008

The nation's top lawmakers are learning more about new monitoring, personal health record and brain fitness technologies for seniors during a special briefing and demonstration today.Senators from the Special Committee on Aging; the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee; and the Medical Technology Caucus are hosting the event to discuss and explore what type of support is needed to promote technological advances that can help our nation's aging population.

Weighty matters

January 30, 2008

Tanita's PW-630U wheelchair scale is designed to make it easy for residents to get on the scale and be stable. The durable, portable unit is equipped with wheels, allowing caregivers to bring the scale wherever elderly or wheelchair-bound residents are. Other features include body mass index, an integrated thermal printer, memory, recall and RS-232 output so data can be captured electronically.

Wrist action

January 30, 2008

The new CodeWatch transmitter from RF Technologies gives residents wristwatch-like comfort. The small, lightweight device feels familiar and comfortable, which helps put residents at ease.

It's about time

January 30, 2008

Staying on top of the latest products, services and industry trends can be a time-devouring pursuit. But the job just became less time consuming, thanks to our new Web site. Eldercare pros can find many time-saving options. These include a substantially enhanced Directory that makes it easier to locate needed services, plus videos of important suppliers. The latest job openings are also available, as well as immediate access to our Career Guide. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with our new site. We think you'll find it's time well spent.

Backup generators would help prevent evacuations, fire chiefs say

January 03, 2008

Nursing homes place a major strain on the emergency medical system when they are forced to evacuate to hospitals. When winter and summer storms hit last year, facilities in the St. Louis area without backup generators turned to hospitals for shelter, according to a report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper.

Ask the legal expert

John Durso November 01, 2007

What are the most important lessons from the trial of the Manganos, the New Orleans facility owners who didn't evacuate for Hurricane Katrina and were recently acquitted of negligent homicide charges?

Nursing home owners Sal and Mabel Mangano: Not guilty!

James M. Berklan October 01, 2007

For three weeks, spanning August and September, much of the national nursing home community was glued to goings-on in a place they had never heard of before: St. Francisville, LA. Or at least they should have been.

Manganos' verdict hardly a bright shining moment

James M. Berklan October 01, 2007

Exactly six months ago in this space I wrote that the trial of Sal and Mabel Mangano could turn out to be an excellent opportunity for them, and nursing homes in general, to shine. Dire circumstances often are the best proving ground for joyous turnarounds.

Prosecutor also 'on trial' in New Orleans homicide case

James M. Berklan September 01, 2007

Many observers have questioned why government prosecutors would charge a pair of Louisiana nursing home owners for criminally negligent homicide after an unprecedented natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina.