McKnight's Long-Term Care News articles from October 2008

McKnight's Long-Term Care News archives from October 2008

Occupancy holds steady.
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The average skilled nursing occupancy rate held at 90.1% for the second quarter of 2008, compared with 90.7% for the first quarter of 2007. Meanwhile, the assisted living occupancy rate skidded from a peak of...

New plans for LTC? They're not saying.
October 1, 2008... When you think about it, long-term care is really a thorny issue--particularly the financing side of it. As Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security resources dwindle, and more people grow older and live longer, figuring out how to pay for...

Study backs private firms.(Report)
October 1, 2008... Quality of care is not necessarily a casualty when private-equity firms purchase nursing home chains, Harvard Medical School researchers conclude in a new report. Although not intended to create a shield for big-money investors, the report...

Dozing hurts rehab efforts.(NEWS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Sleep is often touted as a healing mechanism. But that turns out not to be the case with older patients undergoing physical rehabilitation. Those who slept during the day actually had less functional recovery--even up to three months...

Warnings are disregarded.(NEWS)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Even as the Canadian government issued safety warnings about antipsychotic drug use in seniors, use of the drugs among the elderly has increased. Between late 2002 and June 2005, Health Canada issued three...

Lawmakers turn focus to arbitration mandate.(NEWS)
October 1, 2008... The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved anti-industry legislation that would put an end to pre-admission requirements mandating dispute resolution agreements. Since being introduced in April, the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration...

Wary eyes watch False Claims Act.(NEWS)
October 1, 2008... Providers are keeping a careful eye on possible enactment of the False Claims Correction Act, which they strongly oppose. Although its chances appeared to be dwindling at press time, the industry remains wary of a measure that potentially could...

Nursing home residents will be included in a federal converter-box coupon program aimed at easing the national transition to digital television.(At deadline)
October 1, 2008... Nursing home residents will be included in a federal converter-box coupon program aimed at easing the national transition to digital television. Each resident may receive a coupon, which family members or the facility may apply for, according...

The American Seniors Housing Association has released a 15-page brief on the growing use of brain fitness tools in eldercare communities.(At deadline)
October 1, 2008... The American Seniors Housing Association has released a 15-page brief on the growing use of brain fitness tools in eldercare communities. They are offered to seniors housing residents as part of comprehensive wellness initiatives.

Short videos from last month's National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry conference in Chicago can be found at www.mcknights.com.(At deadline)(Conference notes)
October 1, 2008... Short videos from last month's National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry conference in Chicago can be found at www.mcknights.com. Interviews with leading industry officials are available, as well as excerpts from press...

60 seconds with ... David Stevenson, Ph.D.: Ass't Professor of Health Harvard Medical School.(NEWS)(Interview)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Note: This interview is based upon study results discussed on page 1 and also detailed in the September/October issue of the journal Health Affairs. Q: Do you feel your study has been misinterpreted by some? ...

Senate committee gives OK to background checks bill.(NEWS)
October 1, 2008... The Senate Finance Committee last month passed two bills that seek to prevent the abuse of elderly long-term care residents. Receiving a unanimous voice vote, the Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act. (S. 1577) would create a...

House approves 'Silver Alert' measure.(NEWS)(National Silver Alert Act )(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would set up a nationwide "Silver Alert" system to help coordinate local law enforcement officials when an elderly person is unaccounted for. The alert system would augment the Amber...

The Department of Veterans Affairs has overturned a ban on voter registration drives in nursings.(Regulatory update)
October 1, 2008... The Department of Veterans Affairs has overturned a ban on voter registration drives in nursings and other federally run facilities where veterans reside.

CMS released a tool to help states integrate and coordinate Medicare and Medicaid services for dual eligibles.(Regulatory update)
October 1, 2008... CMS released a tool to help states integrate and coordinate Medicare and Medicaid services for dual eligibles. It allows states to explain their arrangements with Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans that also provide Medicaid services.

The U.S. House passed a bill that expands the definition of "disability" under the Americans with Disabilities Act.(Bill Watch)
October 1, 2008... The U.S. House passed a bill that expands the definition of "disability" under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Supreme Court decisions in 1999 and 2002 limited protections for those with disabilities under the original ADA, thus prompting...

Ask the care expert.(NEWS: Resident Care)(Website overview)
October 1, 2008... Is there a Web site or any place that advises where to get new Medicare cards if they are lost in a flood or damage to the building, and answer frequently asked questions people in my position might have? Actually there is a new Web site...

Study finds hospice training improves care at end of life.(NEWS: Resident Care)
October 1, 2008... Enhancing training so that nursing staff can better recognize "terminal decline" in residents would lead to improved care, researchers say. Better recognition should lead to earlier and more frequent discussions about hospice care, said...

Depressed levels of vitamin D can raise elderly women's risks for hip fracture by more than 70%, according to University of Pittsburgh researchers.(Caregiving Update)
October 1, 2008... Depressed levels of vitamin D can raise elderly women's risks for hip fracture by more than 70%, according to University of Pittsburgh researchers. The good news is that just 10 to 15 minutes of exposure to sun per day can supply all the...

A leading Canadian researcher who first discovered problems with interactions between grapefruit juice and certain medications says he has identified problems with other fruit juices too.(Caregiving Update)
October 1, 2008... A leading Canadian researcher who first discovered problems with interactions between grapefruit juice and certain medications says he has identified problems with other fruit juices too. Whereas grapefruit juice could magnify the effects of...

Individuals 65 or older have a 52% less chance of being transported to a trauma center than their younger people.(Caregiving Update)
October 1, 2008... Individuals 65 or older have a 52% less chance of being transported to a trauma center than their younger people, apparently due to an unconscious age bias among emergency services personnel and their unfamiliarity with how to care for older...

Ask the treatment expert.(NEWS: Wound Care)
October 1, 2008... If a resident was admitted from the hospital after grafting due to a pressure ulcer on a heel, is this coded as a surgical wound on the MDS or still a pressure ulcer? If a skin ulcer is repaired with a flap graft, it should be coded as a...

Researchers find alternative treatment for burn wounds.(NEWS: Wound Care)
October 1, 2008... Researchers at Ohio State University have discovered a safer, more efficient way to heal wounds that affect burn patients. Investigators conducted a study testing the compatibility of certain topical wound dressings with magnetic resonance...

A compound in human saliva appears to greatly speed wound healing, according to a report by scientists from The Netherlands.(Treatment Update)
October 1, 2008... A compound in human saliva appears to greatly speed wound healing, according to a report by scientists from The Netherlands. This research may offer hope to people suffering from chronic wounds, they said.

A dissolvable scaffold for growing new areas of skin could provide a safer, more effective way to treat diabetic ulcers and similar injuries, British scientists have found.(Treatment Update)
October 1, 2008... A dissolvable scaffold for growing new areas of skin could provide a safer, more effective way to treat diabetic ulcers and similar injuries, British scientists have found. The ultra-fine, three-dimensional scaffold is made from specially...

ImmuneRegen BioSciences announced that its drug candidate Homspera accelerated the healing process of deep dermal excisions.(Treatment Update)
October 1, 2008... ImmuneRegen BioSciences announced that its drug candidate Homspera accelerated the healing process of deep dermal excisions. Results are based on a controlled study of Yorkshire pigs. The findings support the potential application of the...

Ask the nursing expert.(NEWS: Nursing)
October 1, 2008... I was just promoted to director of nursing and have a few staff members who are still stuck on the former director of nursing. What can I do? I have never known a building without staff who were attached to a former DON. We all form...

Study: for most CNAs, it's about answering 'the call'.(NEWS: Nursing)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Most nursing assistants in eldercare facilities enter the field to help others, according to the National Nursing Assistant Survey, a detailed sampling of their attitudes. When asked the main reason for taking jobs as nursing assistants,...

Medicare Part D drug plan sponsors are using marketing materials that fail to follow federal guidelines 85% of the time.(Medication Update)
October 1, 2008... Medicare Part D drug plan sponsors are using marketing materials that fail to follow federal guidelines 85% of the time, according to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General.

The flu vaccine does not cut overall mortality risk in the elderly, researchers from Canada say.(Medication Update)
October 1, 2008... The flu vaccine does not cut overall mortality risk in the elderly, researchers from Canada say. They reached their conclusion after studying 700 elderly patients, half of whom took a flu shot and half of whom did not.

Abusing denture cream can lead to neurological problems, according to research in the journal Neurology.(Medication Update)
October 1, 2008... Abusing denture cream can lead to neurological problems, according to research in the journal Neurology. Four patients studied with neurological problems had high levels of zinc in their systems and low levels of copper. All four had overused...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently called for stronger warnings on four medications widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other serious illnesses.(Medication Update)
October 1, 2008... The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently called for stronger warnings on four medications widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other serious illnesses. Enbrel, Remicade, Humira and Cimzia provide relief from swollen and painful...

The hormone supplement DHEA is believed to improve cognitive function.(Medication Update)
October 1, 2008... The hormone supplement DHEA is believed to improve cognitive function, but a study finds it has no effect on brain health or general well-being.

The FDA last month launched a quarterly report on drugs being evaluated for potential safety issues.(Medication Update)
October 1, 2008... The FDA last month launched a quarterly report on drugs being evaluated for potential safety issues, based on the seriousness or number of adverse event reports received by the agency.

Ask the payment expert.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
October 1, 2008... What changes can we expect to see in the upcoming MDS 3.0? The new MDS 3.0 is still in draft form and not expected to be final until March of 2009. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services continues to maintain that the MDS 3.0 will be...

Funding to direct individuals away from facilities arrives.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
October 1, 2008... More than $8 million in federal funding aimed at keeping people away from nursing homes started arriving in seven states in mid-September. Most of the money will be used to build hospital-discharge planning processes that emphasize home- and...

Regulators: MDS 3.0 crosswalk available.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
October 1, 2008... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released a draft "comparison crosswalk" to aid in the transition between MDS 2.0 and MDS 3.0. The new draft crosswalk does not contain the final list of items contained in the MDS 3.0. That...

Arcapita Inc.(Business Briefs)
October 1, 2008... Arcapita Inc. sold its 90% stake in 29 senior housing properties managed by Sunrise Senior Living Inc. for about $643.5 million. Sunrise will retain a 10% interest. Arcapita is based in Bahrain. The sites are in 12 states. The deal was subject...

Emeritus Corp.(Business Briefs)
October 1, 2008... Emeritus Corp. the nation's largest chain, filed an application to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange. The assisted living company expected to begin trading on the exchange on Sept. 17 under the symbol ESC.

Brighten Health Group LLC.(Business Briefs)
October 1, 2008... Brighten Health Group LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, along with five of its nursing homes. The Bryn Mawr, PA-based company said it had up to $50,000 in assets and up to $100,000 in liabilities, with fewer than 49 creditors, according to...

Metro monitor.(NEWS: Companies)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Metro Monitor The average occupancy growth year-over-year (from second-quarter 2007 to second-quarter 2008) for skilled nursing facilities Leaders Rank Metro Change 1 Portland, OR 3.0% 2 ...

Skilled Healthcare carves niche as therapy provider.(NEWS: Companies)
October 1, 2008... It's no secret at this point that short-stay rehabilitation residents have become big business for nursing homes in recent years. But one company has been particularly successful with this concept, according to analysts. Skilled Healthcare...

Sunrise posts loss in 2Q, continuing slide.(NEWS: Companies)(Financial report)
October 1, 2008... Sunrise Senior Living Inc. lost $31.8 million in the second quarter, its second quarterly loss of the year. The company attributed its six-month fall into the red to increased losses from operations, including a $27.7 million write-off of...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services hopes that a new online guide for Medicare beneficiaries and healthcare providers will be a "one-stop shop" for information on coverage, coding and payment.(IT Update)
October 1, 2008... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services hopes that a new online guide for Medicare beneficiaries and healthcare providers will be a "one-stop shop" for information on coverage, coding and payment. The Innovator's Guide to Navigating CMS is...

Federal officials still have not issued any fines for violations of new medical privacy rules first issued five years ago.(IT Update)
October 1, 2008... Federal officials still have not issued any fines for violations of new medical privacy rules first issued five years ago. This, despite 38,000 individuals having filed complaints with the Department of Health and Human Services' Office for...

Where should researchers seek new information on chronic conditions?(IT Update)
October 1, 2008... Where should researchers seek new information on chronic conditions? Cardiovascular disease and neurology are the two strongest candidates, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. An agency report also lists cancer,...

A study from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality finds that telemedicine improves care quality and team-based care in low-income rural areas with high rates of chronic illness.(IT Update)
October 1, 2008... A study from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality finds that telemedicine improves care quality and team-based care in low-income rural areas with high rates of chronic illness. However, many patients experience technical difficulties...

People are increasingly relying on the Internet to seek information about personal health concerns, according to a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change.(IT Update)
October 1, 2008... People are increasingly relying on the Internet to seek information about personal health concerns, according to a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change. Last year, 56% of American adults, or more than 122 million people, sought...

Key to gaining independence may be at tip of the tongue.(NEWS: Technology)(Tongue Drive system)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta have devised a Tongue Drive System that turns a human tongue into a joystick or computer mouse. As a result, disabled users may soon be able to control their wheelchairs, computers...

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS: Technology)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Falls in a nursing home are a big problem for many residents, patients, nurses and administrators. Floor mats can help reduce injury from a fall, but some are bulky, inconvenient, difficult for residents to walk on...

Minimum impact.(NEWS: Technology)
October 1, 2008... MINIMUM IMPACT: The Landing Strip from Comfortex has the ability to minimize impact forces to protect patients from bedside injury should a fall occur. FOR MORE INFO: (800) 445-4007 WWW.COMFORTEXlNC.COM

Legislature settles budget impasse.(WEST)
October 1, 2008... CALIFORNIA -- After two-and-a-half months, the state Legislature resolved its budget impasse--the longest in the state's history. It approved a roughly $145 billion spending plan that is expected to close a $15.2 billion deficit, It was not...

Sighs of relief after Hurricanes Gustav, Ike.(LOUISIANA)
October 1, 2008... Nursing homes along the Gulf Coast drew praise last month for conducting smooth evacuations in anticipation of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which posed the first major threats to the region since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit three years ago....

Smoke detector mandate rejected.(MIDWEST)
October 1, 2008... MISSOURI -- Legislators have to draft new fire-safety rules in long-term care facilities after a committee unanimously rejected proposed rules in late August. The proposed rules required that facilities install smoke detectors in every...

Abuse of deceased spurs response.(MIDWEST)(Obituary)
October 1, 2008... MICHIGAN -- Lawmakers were working on legislation, as of press time, that would prevent the abuse of dead nursing home residents, Prompting the legislation was a court ruling that found that because a dead body is not a person, it is not...

Pressure ulcer initiative begun.(MIDWEST)
October 1, 2008... INDIANA -- The University of IndianapoLis Center for Aging & Community is coordinating the Indiana Pressure Ulcer Reduction Initiative, a statewide campaign to reduce the incidence of bedsores. Staff members from 200 long-term care...

Inspection program scrapped?(MIDWEST)
October 1, 2008... OHIO -- The Cincinnati Health Department had been considering, as of press time, whether to sideline its inspection program for nursing homes and residential care facilities due to dwindling funding and manpower. Budget cuts and...

Facilities ask for slice of budget.(MIDWEST)
October 1, 2008... WISCONSIN -- As the state was putting together requests for its 2009-2011 biennium budget bill, one nursing home association in the state offered one of its own. The Wisconsin Association of Homes and Services for the Aging asked the Doyle...

Law to shift funds to home care.(SOUTHEAST)
October 1, 2008... TENNESSEE -- A new state law is expected to steer more funds to home care for low-income elderly residents and away from nursing homes. Under the Long-Term Care Community Choices Act, TennCare (or state Medicaid) funds earmarked for...

Federal funds solve deficit.(SOUTHEAST)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MISSISSIPPI -- The state resolved its $90 million Medicaid deficit through reimbursement by the federal government, Gov. Haley Barbour (R) said last month, Mississippi is receiving the reimbursement after...

Budget cuts target nursing homes.(NORTHEAST)
October 1, 2008... NEW YORK -- Gov. David Paterson (D) and the state Legislature reached an agreement in late August that is expected to have a major impact on nursing home Medicaid funding. The agreement calls for a $430 million cut to this year's budget....

For-profit chains dominate market.(NORTHEAST)
October 1, 2008... CONNECTICUT -- For-profit nursing home chains own the majority of facilities in the state and these chains provide less adequate care than small chains and independently owned homes, according to a news organization's analysis. Chains...

Caregiver is actually African king.(NORTHEAST)
October 1, 2008... PENNSYLVANIA -- How would you like to be king for a day? How about just a king? That turned out to be the case with a nurse's aide who worked at Spring Creek Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Harrisburg. Former employee Charles...

Ask the legal expert.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
October 1, 2008... With all the reports about bills to outlaw advance arbitration agreements, we're having trouble getting them signed. Any suggestions for making them more attractive or persuading residents and their families these are legal and can be helpful...

Judge says patient hoarding is both expensive and illegal.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
October 1, 2008... A federal trial court has ruled that Michigan's limit on swing-bed stays does not conflict with rules governing the Medicare program. At issue was a Michigan rule that limits to five days the amount of time a resident can stay in a...

Lawsuit rejects cut in hospice payments.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
October 1, 2008... A leading hospice group has filed suit to stop the federal government from slashing Medicare reimbursement rates. The Bush administration proposal would irreparably harm hospice programs nationwide, the National Hospice and Palliative Care...

Election 2008: long-term care? Huh? Long-term care is an increasingly important issue--just not on the campaign trail.(NEWS: Analysis)
October 1, 2008... As time winds down to the 2008 presidential election, it's fair to ask which candidate would best improve the lives of those in the long-term care field. Lots of luck. With Nov. 4 just days away, candidates Barack Obama and John McCain...

Medline Industries.(Company Briefs)
October 1, 2008... Medline Industries has purchased DelSite's Carrington Wound Care division, according to announcements from both firms. Under the terms of the agreement, trademarks and related patents for DelSite's wound care products will be transferred to...

Premier.(Company Briefs)
October 1, 2008... Premier will require manufacturers to support global supply chain standards enabling the identification and tracking of medical products. The GS1 standards are likely to spawn the use of more radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology.

General Electric.(Company Briefs)
October 1, 2008... General Electric will buy Vital Signs for $860 million, both firms announced, The purchase expands GE's portfolio of monitoring, respiratory and anesthesia products. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year,

GE Security.(Company Briefs)
October 1, 2008... GE Security has announced that it is discontinuing CareGard, its personal emergency response product line. The firm said it plans to focus more on "visionary products and technology-leveraged solutions."

American Dryer Corporation.(Company Briefs)
October 1, 2008... American Dryer Corporation announced it had recently secured up to $300 million in capital funding. The infusion will help the firm make strategic improvements, including possible acquisitions.

Signature Healthcare.(Company Briefs)
October 1, 2008... Signature Healthcare has announced plans to launch a post-acute care division. The new unit will align with urban-based hospital markets with high chronic disease utilization. The firm will focus on heart disease, trauma, cancer, pulmonary and...

AARP.(Company Briefs)
October 1, 2008... AARP will bring more hearing assistance to its 39 million members as part of a new partnership with HearUSA. The new program will encompass a wide range of products and services for members, many of whom reside in long-term care settings....

Robust crowds predicted for AHCA and AAHSA meetings.(NEWS: Vendors)
October 1, 2008... The nation's two leading long-term care organizations--which collectively account for more than 16,000 providers--will begin their annual conferences on consecutive October weekends this year. Pre-event estimates indicate vendor attendance...

Lawmakers challenge CMS fraud efforts.(NEWS: Vendors)
October 1, 2008... Many lawmakers are outraged after allegations surfaced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services misled Congress into thinking it had significantly reduced the number of fraudulent claims for durable medical equipment (DME). In...

How to do it ... therapy.(Business & Marketing)
October 1, 2008... Rehabilitation can be good business for long-term care providers, especially at the new, highest levels of reimbursement. But only if it's done right. In this special "How To" article, experts advise providers on how they should position...

It pays to go green: a Texas facility thinks environmentally, even enlisting the help of its residents. Savings on energy costs are now on track to reach 15%.(Business & Marketing: Design)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Austin, Texas, is a national leader when it comes to advancing the cause of the green movement, and The Querencia at Barton Creek, a continuing care facility, is a perfect example. The Querencia was built using...

Inspiration for the future.(LEADING BY EXAMPLE)
October 1, 2008... It's been a year since the inception of "Leading by Example," and looking back, we are amazed at the innovative practices taking place in nursing homes across the United States. Despite the negative stories that have been reported in the...

New president soon? Big deal.(THE BIG PICTURE)(Essay)
October 1, 2008... With less than a month before Election Day, the fight to determine our next president has hit a fever pitch. By that, I mean both sides are working as never before to smear the other guy. Negative campaigning has become an essential...

Today is parents' career day!(Cartoon)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "My dad is a nursing home administrator, and I asked him to be here today, but he wouldn't return my calls."

Take a look at how we are improving news coverage.(Editor's DESK)
October 1, 2008... In the beginning, there was--and let me emphasize up front still is--the printed page. Ever since Gutenberg invented the first printing press hundreds of years ago, things have been humming along on the communications front. But the world...

"How does your facility make use of its outdoor spaces?".(Reader Poll)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Buttonwood Hospital is located on a beautiful stretch of grassland, surrounded by pleasant scenery. Visible on McGowan one side is a tree-lined grassy parcel of land leading to a tree-shaded area where we conduct...

An opportunity for change.(HAVING MY SAY)(Essay)
October 1, 2008... Among issues facing the next president is an incredible opportunity to improve how we live, receive care, and pay for the quality of life we desire when we experience disability as an older or younger adult. The opportunity is long-term...