COVID-19

Treating The Epidemic Of Loneliness And Social Isolation Among Seniors

One of the many lessons we should have learned from the Covid-19 pandemic is the cost to older adults of loneliness and social isolation. While nearly 900,000 older adults died from the virus, tens of thousands were sickened and may have died from the isolation the pandemic caused. But what have we learned from that tragic experience? Whether older adults [...]

By |2024-05-21T11:31:43-04:00May 21st, 2024|elder care, Health reform, Uncategorized|0 Comments

The US Predicts Big Increases In Skilled Nursing And Long-Term Care Costs

New government projections estimate significant increases in both overall and out-of-pocket costs for home care, nursing facilities, and continuing care communities (CCRCs) through this decade. The projected steep rise in costs will lead to tough decisions for both consumers and government. The latest annual projections, by analysts at the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) forecast overall health [...]

By |2023-04-04T09:59:47-04:00April 4th, 2023|Health Care, Uncategorized|0 Comments

A Way For Nursing Homes To Balance Resident Independence And Safety

The Covid-19 pandemic shined a light on how hard it is for long-term care facilities such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities to balance residents’ health risks with their desire for independence and autonomy. A few have found the secret sauce. Most have not. A new study by the RAND Corporation, a California research firm, shows how facilities can [...]

By |2022-12-01T11:13:12-05:00December 1st, 2022|nursing homes|0 Comments

How Covid-19 Affected Those Nursing Homes Residents Who Didn’t Die

We know how the Covid-19 pandemic killed older adults. We are still learning about its other effects on seniors. And the picture is both complex and often difficult to look at. A new study by Michael Barnett of the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health and colleagues (paywall) finds that residents of nursing homes with active cases of [...]

By |2022-09-15T10:00:54-04:00September 15th, 2022|nursing homes|0 Comments

Biden Proposes Major Nursing Home Reforms

The Biden Administration has proposed a wide range of changes in the regulation of nursing homes. They include efforts to require minimum staffing levels; limit shared rooms; enhance inspections, penalties, and transparency; and crack down on owners with a history of poor quality. The plan also would expand a technical assistance program to help operators improve their quality of care. [...]

By |2022-02-28T17:40:07-05:00February 28th, 2022|nursing homes|0 Comments

How Nursing Home Staff Shortages Are Hurting Hospital Care

By now, you’ve probably heard about the desperate shortage of nurses and aides in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. This workforce crisis not only hurts their residents, it also is creating severe backups in hospitals, putting both patients and the facilities themselves at risk and increasing health care costs. As those staffing shortages course through the entire health care [...]

By |2022-02-17T12:00:01-05:00February 17th, 2022|Health Care|0 Comments

Consumers Are Getting New Information About Nursing Home Staffing But Need More

With nursing homes and other long-term care facilities desperately short of nurses and aides, it is more important than ever for consumers to know about staffing levels, quality, and turnover. But it has been difficult to get some key information. Now, the government has taken a modest step to help. In January, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) [...]

By |2022-02-03T13:54:49-05:00February 3rd, 2022|nursing homes, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Even After Covid, Could Congress Ignore The Long-Term Care Needs Of Older Adults?

Is it possible that Congress will do nothing to improve long-term services and supports for older adults and younger people with disabilities or assist their families? Even after 603,000 people over age 65 were killed by Covid-19 in the past two years. Yes, it is possible. The House version of President Biden’s Build Back Better plan included many provisions aimed [...]

By |2022-01-03T12:29:47-05:00January 3rd, 2022|long term care reform|0 Comments

Staff Shortages Are Hammering Long-term Care Facilities, Home Care Agencies, and Families

The shortage of staff in long-term facilities and home care agencies has gone from a problem to a crisis. Three rural nursing homes in Maine close because they cannot hire enough staff to maintain care for patients and residents. A nursing home in Oklahoma shuts its doors due to a staff shortages. Same in Kansas. A new industry survey reports [...]

By |2021-09-22T14:28:34-04:00September 22nd, 2021|long-term care workers, Uncategorized|1 Comment

It Is Time To Mandate Covid-19 Vaccines In Long-Term Care Facilities

It is time to change the rules: If you want to work around vulnerable older adults. You must be vaccinated. For their safety. For yours. And for the safety of your own family. Eight months after the vaccine was made widely available to health care workers, only about 60 percent of nursing home staff has been vaccinated against COVID-19. We [...]

By |2021-08-12T10:44:17-04:00August 12th, 2021|long-term care workers|0 Comments