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This week’s episode of HealthCap Weekly Wrap dives into federal oversight issues, survey changes during the government shutdown, essential infection prevention tools, and new wellness insights—from nutrition and brain health to dogs detecting Parkinson’s disease.

BREAKING: Special Focus Facility program ‘not working,’ federal watchdog says — A new OIG report finds that most nursing homes “graduating” from the CMS Special Focus Facility program return to poor quality within three years.

REVISED: Contingency Plans – State Survey & Certification Activities in the Event of Federal Government Shutdown — CMS outlines which survey activities will continue and which will pause during the ongoing government shutdown, with a focus on protecting high-risk residents.

Infection Prevention Surveillance Plan Essentials for Long-Term Care — A practical guide from APIC to help long-term care communities track infections, set improvement goals, and promote staff engagement.

IMPLEMENTING THE USE OF Enhanced Barrier Precautions IN SKILLED LONG-TERM CARE NURSING FACILITIES — This APIC guide helps communities apply CDC’s updated precautions for residents with indwelling devices or MDRO risk, without disrupting care or dignity.

Summary of Recommendations: Guideline for Isolation Precautions – Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings — The CDC’s foundational infection control summary remains highly relevant, emphasizing both frontline practices and leadership responsibilities.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Older Adults’ Views on Healthy Eating — Survey findings show that older adults who believe food impacts brain health tend to eat better and perform stronger on memory tests.

Dogs Able to Sniff Out Parkinson’s Before Symptoms Appear — A UK study shows trained dogs can detect Parkinson’s from skin swabs with high accuracy, offering new hope for early, noninvasive screening tools.