People living with Dementia experience changes in their ability to comprehend and process language. Dementia may also interfere with how they understand words; which can pose challenges with daily activities and accepting assistance with routine. Comprehension versus Hearing Loss As seniors age, many times they experience a decrease in their ability to hear spoken words. This can lead to the …
In a transcript published in Medscape on August 10, 2020, Arthur L. Caplan, Ph.D., the director of the Division of Medical Ethics at New York University Langone Medical Center and School of Medicine, discussed the “warp speed” plan for developing a vaccine to fight COVID-19. Dr. Caplan discusses the process of FDA approval for vaccines and indicates that approval can …
I remember as a young child my parents would dance the “Tango” and I thought it was funny. As I got older I thought it was cute that they could still dance together and not step on each other’s feet! The Argentine Tango is a partnered dance focused on walking and balance dynamics. Partners learn correct posture and the ability …
Nurse staffing is a key contributor to the quality of care provided in nursing homes. A review conducted by the OIG (Office of the Inspector General) prior to COVID-19 pandemic, focused on staffing data from 2018 and was posted on 8-3-2020. Now, with the 2020 pandemic, it becomes more obvious that adequate staffing for nursing homes is critical as inadequate …
The CDC recently released information that seniors receiving the shingles vaccine decrease their risk of stroke by up to 20%! That’s pretty impressive when you figure most strokes occur in seniors versus younger adults and that a simple vaccine may make a difference! What their study showed was: Receiving the shingles vaccine lowered the risk of stroke by about 16% …
In an article published on July 27, 2020 in the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, they identified a reason for concern with the rapid COVID-19 tests being used in our long-term care facilities. In about 15% of tests being performed using the rapid antigen test, 15% of infected people are given a false negative result. Yes, these tests …
Despite being anong the most common infections, the diagnosis and management of urinary tract infections (UTIs) remains challenging, particularly among residents of post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) settings. Insufficient awareness of evidence-based guidelines regarding UTIs, entrenched practice partners, as well as pressure from other staff and concerned family members can all contribute to over-diagnosis and unnecessary antibiotic use for presumed …
The Agency for HealthCare Research and Quality recently published the “ChartBook on Patient Safety.” This document is part of a family of documents and tools that support the National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (QDR) which is an annual report to Congress mandated in the Healthcare Research and Quality Act of 1999. The QDR provides a comprehensive overview of the …
In a document posted online on June 1, 2020, a group of physicians provided policy recommendations for managing COVID-19. These recommendations include screening, protection of staff, screening of residents, management of COVID-19 positive and presumed positive cases, communication during an outbreak, management of admissions and readmissions and providing emotional support for staff. These consensus guidelines have been endorsed by the …
As many parts of the country are experiencing increased numbers of COVID cases, there are many people who are recovering from the virus. Our attention has been on identifying symptoms of active disease, as it should be; however the story doesn’t end there! As patients begin the recovery phase, many are experiencing ongoing symptoms from the virus. These symptoms include …
