Seniors
Governor nixes new senior agency amid political turmoil
May 13, 2015Georgia's governor went on a recent veto spree, striking down 11 separate laws, one of which would have created a separate state agency designed to serve older citizens.
New software confirms it: Getting old costs a fortune
May 08, 2015New software is helping financial advisors advise clients on their long-term care plans.
Managing managed care
April 27, 2015The common loopholes offered by the Fee for Service model made it harder for governments to maintain balanced budgeting.
Senior Comedy Afternoons releases DVD
April 21, 2015Senior Comedy Afternoons has released a new DVD titled "Puttin' on the Ritz," which was filmed last fall in California.
CA man gets 30 months in prison, hefty fine in clinic 'fraud' case
April 08, 2015A San Diego man will serve 2½ years in custody after being ordered to repay the government nearly $1 million for what prosecutors say were phony Medicare claims for medically unnecessary and unsupervised tests on unsuspecting seniors, the FBI reported.
Solutions for dehydration in seniors stump researchers
February 27, 2015Despite decades and nearly two dozen studies on dehydration in the frail elderly, very little conclusive evidence exists on its causes or solutions, a research team reported Wednesday in the Annals of Long-Term Care.
It is what it is until it isn't
February 02, 2015I first heard, "it is what it is" from a tough-as-nails corporate nurse in a meeting held some 13 years ago. The reality was that we did not have a lot of room to negotiate the terms of whatever bitter pill we, the front line soldiers in the nursing facility, were being forced to swallow.
Moderate alcohol consumption staves off dementia in seniors
October 27, 2014Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol might preserve cognition in people over the age of 60, according to recently published findings in the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias.
Oregon tops list of best states for nurses
July 01, 2014With a supportive work environment and plenty of opportunity, Oregon took first in a 2014 ranking of the best and worst states for nursing.
'2-midnight rule' is increasing observation stays, not decreasing them as hoped, Johns Hopkins director tells Congressional panel
May 23, 2014A Medicare policy change meant to reduce the number of hospital observation stays actually is having the opposite effect, a senior Johns Hopkins Medical System executive told a Congressional panel this week.
Fostering friendly skin bacteria could promote chronic wound healing, researchers say
May 02, 2014Caregivers might soon be able to heal seniors' chronic wounds by manipulating the bacteria that live on the skin, according to research out of the University of Manchester Healing Foundation Centre in England.
Miller consults with Five Star
April 22, 2014Five Star Quality Care, Inc. has joined forces with celebrity chef Brad Miller to create new dishes for residents.
Drive Medical introduces bariatric rollator
April 01, 2014A new bariatric rollator from Drive Medical has a 400-pound weight capacity.
WeMontage provides removable wallpaper
April 01, 2014A new website allows people to transform digital photos into collages that are printed on removable wallpaper. Users can upload photos from their computer and arrange in their preferred order.
CenterLight Health System expands home health
December 17, 2013CenterLight Health System, a New York-based long-term care provider, has launched CenterLight Certified Home Health Agency to provide short-term care to individuals who need skilled health services at home.
Price increases, not a larger senior population, are responsible for exploding healthcare costs: analysts
November 13, 2013Escalating healthcare costs in the United States cannot be pinned on an aging population demanding more services for chronic conditions. Instead, higher costs are primarily the result of price increases, according to a new analysis in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Premera Blue Cross will enter Medicare Advantage market
October 05, 2013Washington-based Premera Blue Cross will enter the Medicare Advantage market in 2014, the company announced Oct. 1.
Young and old flock together
October 01, 2013Autumn is a busy season at Lutheran Life Community's Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights, IL. "We see a lot of transitions from room to room, or new starts in the fall," says Assistant Administrator Sarah Kurth. But Kurth is not referring to the home's nursing and assisted living residents — she's talking about its childcare program, Shepherd's Flock.
Long-term care workers 'the worst' when it comes to flu vaccine
September 27, 2013Many employee groups achieved significant increases in flu vaccination rates last season, but nursing home workers weren't among them, according to federal officials who handed out a "report card" on Thursday.
Part Two: Have we not been through this before?
September 19, 2013Initially many thought that the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act will be a popular piece of legislation. However, while provisions were popular with providers and some seniors, many were not especially among seniors who had coverage, those who will pay more (so-called wealthy seniors), and the insurance lobby. So what has changed and what will lead us to believe that ACA will last?
Blood sugar, dementia link
September 01, 2013Seniors without diabetes but with higher than average blood sugar levels have an 18% increased risk for dementia, a new study shows.
Kitchen design assistance for facilities
August 21, 2013Whether you are just starting out in the long-term care business, building a new facility from the ground-up, or simply swapping out finishes, fixtures and furnishings in existing spaces and units, there are special considerations for catering to your unique clientele.
The need for relationships through generations: Lessons from Southern Africa
August 21, 2013Cultivating intergenerational relationships has become a top priority for senior care providers. Recent experiences in southern Africa have caused me to reexamine how we engage seniors.
The naked truth about aging is quite an eye opener
July 26, 2013The great South African golfer Gary Player has found an interesting way to gain additional media "exposure." The septuagenarian was recently seen gracing the cover of ESPN The Magazine. And by the way, a golf club was apparently the only thing he was wearing.
Aging and wellness: Why spirituality matters
July 22, 2013While an increasing number of long-term care communities have included serving the spiritual needs of residents as part of their mission, few have dedicated sufficient resources to meet the need. Research shows that when it comes to optimizing the potential for well-being, this is a missed opportunity.
New study finds the terms we use inadvertently offends seniors
July 19, 2013The terms we use to describe and communicate with seniors have either positive or negative associations. We recently conducted a new survey asking 1,114 participants their feelings and associations with the language used to describe seniors and senior living. The survey revealed certain terms and labels acceptable a generation ago, have rapidly become taboo or downright offensive.
Depressed, lonely seniors are more likely to get C. diff, researchers find
May 09, 2013People who are depressed or lonely are at increased risk of Clostridium difficile infection, according to recently published research.
The incredible shrinking industry
April 24, 2013As you have conversations about being the partner of choice to help hospitals reduce readmissions, others are having conversations about how telemedicine in the home will become the new primary care office. As you strive to drive more Medicare business, experts are saying that there is excess care for seniors.
Bloomberg ban on plastic-foam containers would cost healthcare industry millions
April 05, 2013A plastic-foam ban could have a profound impact on the healthcare industry, from nursing homes and assisted living facilities to hospitals. Polystyrene foam cups have other advantages over paper cups in settings that cater to seniors.
Intensity of activities doesn't determine level of benefits for seniors, researchers say
April 04, 2013Mental and physical stimulation improves seniors' memory and thinking skill, regardless of how rigorous the activities are, according to a recently published study.
