Culture change increased care quality, reduced rehospitalizations: study
Culture change pays off by increasing the quality of care in nursing homes, according to a new study from Brown University.
Feeding Tubes
End-of-life decisions may cause confusion, anger
When I lived in Baltimore, a stray, mangy cat adopted us. I am not trying to equate my cat with someone’s parent, but I was reminded of Minou’s last days when reading the dissertation of Mariette Klein on dementia caregivers. Specifically, how hard it can be to know what healthcare decisions to make for a loved one.
Advance directives reach record levels, but this does not lead to more hospice use, researchers find
Seniors are completing advance directives in record numbers, but this is not having the expected effect of shifting people from hospitals to hospices in their last days, say researchers from the University of Michigan and the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
Large number of hospitalizations could be prevented for cognitively impaired residents on feeding tubes, researchers find
Residents of long-term care facilities who are cognitively impaired and on feeding tubes have high numbers of potentially preventable emergency room visits and hospitalizations, according to newly published research findings.
Thomas: Additional pressure ulcer research trials a must
Nursing homes should adopt evidence-based approaches to pressure ulcer prevention and treatment, but significantly more research is needed to support this goal, a professor of geriatric medicine said in November.
F-Tag 322 (Feeding Tubes): Are our systems in order?
CMS recently made changes to surveyor guidance on feeding tubes. Nursing homes must look at their policies, documentation and education practices in order to assess whether a feeding tube is appropriate.
CMS distributes video on dining standards that encourage less restrictive diets
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently began promoting nursing home dining practice recommendations that stress resident choice and urge providers to use caution with restricted diets.
Don’t get burned! Regulatory updates you need to know
As leaders in post-acute care, we need to stay abreast of the regulatory changes and its impact on our operations. In healthcare the one thing that remains consistent is change! Effective December 1, 2012, there are a series of Survey and Certification Memorandums from CMS that affect clinical provision of care as well as survey process changes.
Peace of mind more important than aggressive treatment at the end of life, study finds
Terminally ill cancer patients had a better quality of life when they could die at home and avoid intense life-prolonging measures, a new study finds.
Feeding tubes worsen pressure ulcers in elderly dementia patients, study suggests
New research suggests that feeding tubes can cause or worsen pressure ulcers in elderly dementia patients — a finding that contradicts the commonly held belief that feeding tubes promote healing.
