As we continue our journey through the COVID-19 pandemic aftermath, we need to be aware that there continues to be an uptick in cases in some parts of the country. Hospitalizations were up again this month, and we are seeing more people donning masks again as a precaution. Does it concern me? Maybe a little but then I think about …
It made my heart happy to see the Quality Award recipients honored at the AHCA/NCAL annual convention. What an honor but do you know what is involved in the award application process? It takes a very focused, committed, interdisciplinary team to focus on their goals and rally their team! What does the quality award program mean to you? “The AHCA/NCAL …
Ugh, the flu season, it is back and predicted to be a more difficult year due to last year being relatively mild. If you have never had the flu, trust me, you don’t want to experience it. The body aches, fever, chills, sore throat, cough, difficulty breathing, oh and don’t forget the possible GI symptoms some people experience! Sounds great, …
Failure to identify and treat a resident change in condition continues to be a hot spot button for litigation? It has been in the “top 3” for many years and as we promote the “aging in place” philosophy, residents may be at higher risk for experiencing changes in condition. The federal regulations are clear: A “significant change in condition” is …
We all know that “fat” is not good for us, even “good fats” in excess can cause health issues, but did you know that it may also reduce brain volume? Yikes! In a study of healthy, middle-aged adults, greater visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat predicted brain atrophy especially in women. Hmmm, that just doesn’t seem fair especially for post-menopausal women, …
They don’t play well together; however, physicians prescribe more unnecessary antibiotics during colder months than warmer months. One study found that between October and March (winter) more inappropriate prescriptions for antibiotics were written, 72.4% compared to 62% during April through September (summer). Why you ask? Well, there is likely more than one reason however, researchers found that decision fatigue could …
It is starting again. The front entrance to a skilled nursing center, posting says there is active COVID in the building. I enter, a sign in the lobby indicates that masking is recommended and there is a box of masks on the counter. There is a hand hygiene station next to the front desk, however no notice that handwashing is …
Yes, hard to believe, right? Summer flew by, lots of fun and family events, reunions, weddings, graduations, BA.2.86, Omicron, super spreaders, oh wait, not COVID! Sadly, yes, the number of positive COVID cases is on the rise again. The experts predicted there may be an uptick this winter, but no one predicted the fall? Having been touched personally by this …
Mental illness affects 65-90% of people who live in long-term care facilities. This statistic stems from deinstitutionalization, a phenomenon that occurred more than fifty years ago, where officials shuffled mentally ill patients from state run psychiatric hospitals to community-based programs. When these programs could not meet the high demands of care, long-term facilities and nursing homes experienced a surge of …
These are two words you don’t generally see together but in a recent study, it was identified that vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) may decrease the incidence of cancer. Imagine, having something as simple as this in our toolbox to help prevent cancer! The study suggests that 3-4 minutes of VILPA may be a promising intervention for cancer prevention. …
