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Skilled Care

Satisfaction among nursing home consumers, employees continues to rise, survey finds

May 28, 2009

Nursing home consumers are more satisfied than they have been since 2005. Meanwhile, workforce satisfaction is at its highest level since 2006. That is according to a new survey by the research firm My InnerView.

Regulators delaying new MDS 3.0 nursing home payment system to 'minimize confusion'

March 06, 2009

Federal healthcare regulators on Thursday announced a sweeping round of delays for an updated tool to enhance the nursing home payment system. The rollout of MDS 3.0 is now targeted for October 2010 and other intermediary steps are being pushed back, officials with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said.

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

March 05, 2009

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.

Guidelines for pressure ulcer prevention to be introduced at conference

February 27, 2009

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.

State Medicaid cuts enacting tolls on low-income people, including elderly

January 29, 2009

Even as Congress considers a stimulus package that would increase the federal medical assistance percentage by $87 billion, half of all states have either enacted or proposed significant reductions to Medicaid services, according to recent reports.

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

December 15, 2008

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.

Providing care for ailing spouse can lengthen your life, study finds

December 04, 2008

Caring for an elderly, ailing loved one can take an emotional toll, but it also may add years to your life, according to new research from the University of Michigan.

Nursing home suicide rates have not improved in 15 years

November 24, 2008

While instances of suicide among community-dwelling seniors have fallen in recent years, the same has not been true for long-term care residents, according to a recent study.

Home care suffers as states cut into Medicaid

November 21, 2008

Budget shortfalls in at least 15 states have led to severe reductions in funding for services for low-income seniors and those with disabilities, according to a news report.

Use of advance directives increases among nursing home residents

November 12, 2008

Advance directive documentation is sharply on the rise in the nation's nursing homes, according to a recent report from the Institute for the Future of Aging Services, a research arm of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.

Survey: Average cost of private nursing home room drops in 2008

October 29, 2008

The charge for a private nursing home room in 2008 dropped about a half percentage point over a year earlier, while the national average for a semi-private bed rose just 1.1%, according to a new national survey released Tuesday.

Pennsylvania bans mandatory overtime for nurses

October 15, 2008

Pennsylvania has become the latest state to ban the practice of mandatory overtime for nurses at healthcare facilities, including nursing homes and hospitals.

Offering quality care is goal of new Golden Living CEO

October 08, 2008

Golden Living should be synonymous with quality care, Dr. Neil Kurtz, the new CEO and president of Golden Living, told McKnight's this week.

Yarwood: Five-star rating system, card-check legislation loom large

October 07, 2008

While the nursing home industry can be proud of its accomplishments in Washington over the last year, many challenges await. These include card-check legislation in Congress and a problematic five-star rating system, Bruce Yarwood, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association, said Monday at the 59th Annual Convention & Expo's Opening General Session in Nashville.

Study: Medicaid continues to underpay nursing homes

October 07, 2008

Medicaid paid nursing home operators an average of $13.72 less than allowable costs per resident day in 2006. That is a shortfall of $4.6 billion overall, according to preliminary results of an annual study released Monday at the American Health Care Association's annual conference in Nashville.

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.

Joint Commission releases new pain management brochure

September 22, 2008

The Joint Commission, a nonprofit healthcare certification and accreditation organization, has released a new brochure to help patients better discuss issues of pain management with their caregivers.

President to sign bill expanding Americans with Disabilities Act

September 19, 2008

The House of Representatives this week passed legislation to expand the definition of "disability" under the Americans with Disabilities Act, helping millions more disabled Americans receive government assistance.

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.

Job satisfaction latest nurse recruitment tool

September 16, 2008

Nursing homes may want to turn their attention to hospitals, which are trying a new method to retain and recruit nurses. Instead of offering financial incentives, they're improving job satisfaction, according to The Washington Post.

Study: One-on-one attention at mealtime reduces undesired weight loss

September 16, 2008

Extra attention at mealtime has been found to help reduce the occurrence of unintentional weight loss among long-stay nursing home residents, according to the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

New code seeks to prevent unethical treatment of foreign-educated nurses

September 05, 2008

Authors from several healthcare organizations have developed a code to protect the rights of foreign-educated nurses, including those who work in long-term care.

Study: Hurricane Katrina claims more elderly victims

September 04, 2008

The elderly were most likely to die during Hurricane Katrina, according to a new report, which comes as nursing homes were put to the test during Hurricane Gustav, the worst storm to hit the Gulf Coast in three years.

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.

Gait dysfunction an indication of cognitive impairment, study finds

August 28, 2008

Gait dysfunction, or difficulty walking, often accompanies mild cognitive impairment in older adults, according to findings published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Survey: Assisted-living costs soar 13%, while nursing-home care rises 7% in two-year period

August 20, 2008

Assisted living facilities are charging an average of 13% more than two years ago, while nursing home operators have hiked prices 7% over the same time span, according to a new nationwide survey.

CMS sets deadline of 2013 for installation of nursing home sprinkler systems

August 14, 2008

Long-term care facilities have exactly five years to fully equip their facilities with automatic sprinkler systems, according to a final rule published Wednesday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.