Preventing influenza infections is a national health priority, particularly among geriatric and adults with frailty who reside in post-acute and long-term care settings. Older adults account for more than 70% of deaths from influenza, a reflection of decreased vaccine effectiveness in that age group. Per the AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine Policy Statement on Influenza …
The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine recently published an article regarding the progress and challenges in managing nursing home infections. The article states that infections are one of the leading causes of death and hospitalization for residents in post-acute and long-term care settings. With the aging population, increasing complexity of care and the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, …
Low carb, high protein diets are all the rage today, especially with 40-60 year old adults in the United States. The jury is out regarding the long-term efficacy of these diets for maintaining weight loss however in a study published in the University of Nevada news center found that “extreme diets are becoming very popular however we do not know …
We are all struggling with acquiring enough PPE to meet the needs of our residents/staff. It is not a problem that will go away anytime soon, but there are ways to conserve PPE while maintaining appropriate infection control practices. Here are a few ideas: Gloves – should be worn for any contact with a resident or their environment Gowns – …
In a recent review published on June 8, 2020 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, a three-stage classification of the impact of COVID-19 on the central nervous system was identified. The review recommends hospitalized patients with the virus undergo MRI to flag potential neurologic damage and inform post-discharge monitoring. The stages include: Viral damage is limited to epithelial cells of …
Okay so we all know those family members and friends who are always doom and gloom right? The cup is half empty syndrome! Well it may be the perfect time to talk to them about the most recent study that identifies pessimism as not only a bummer but may also contribute to a decrease in cognitive function! Not only that …
We have all been inundated with COVID-19 and the impact it has had on our country and worldwide. However, one area that has been overlooked to some degree has been the assisted living world. In a recent article published in Medscape Nurses, they discussed why more information and guidelines haven’t been available to this sector of senior living when you …
As with all science, new and old, there are flaws; there is no perfect science. While we navigate through the science of the COVID-19 pandemic, many new and exciting ideas are emerging. Of course, researching these ideas takes time, sometimes many years and we really don’t have that much time. Fortunately, breakthroughs happen every day. A few innovative technologies arising …
Social isolation has many adverse effects on people and can negatively impact seniors as well as young people. Detriments of social isolation are not picky- it affects everyone! Due to this, there has been research on the idea of “Social Bubbles;” so what is a social bubble? Here are a few key points: A social bubble is when two families …
As more states introduce universal mask requirements, there are a lot of questions on the efficacy of masks and the inconvenience of masking. When the United States first identified the risk of pandemic last winter, national experts indicated that masks were not effective. Today, however, the experts support mask mandates as a means to control the spread of infection. The …
