Contemporary Long Term Care articles from July 2003

Contemporary Long Term Care archives from July 2003

Through the maze.(Perspective)(memory skill retention tips)
July 1, 2003... One of the best things you can do to help your Alzheimer's residents maintain sharper memory skills is to encourage them to use their brain by reading books, taking classes, doing crossword puzzles and joining discussion groups. ...

Well-nurtured: New York Congregational's intergenerational horticulture program really brings participants back to earth.(Community Spotlight)
July 1, 2003... Every week, 25 of the New York Congregational Nursing Center's long term care residents get together with roughly 30 students from local elementary school PS 235 to participate in "Nurture Your Nature," a program that uses horticulture...

'Crankshaft' brings back Alzheimer's theme.(Community Spotlight)(raising public awareness of Alzheimer's disease)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... One of the most engaging--and heartbreaking--storylines of recent years recently returned when the nationally syndicated comic strip "Crankshaft" revisited a story line about a character's descent into Alzheimer's disease, Entitled "The...

Assisted living heroes.(Honors And Awards)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) handed out ALFA Hero Awards at the spring 2003 National Conference & EXPO to four industry professionals who personify ALFA's philosophy of care:

Administrator 2003 ALFA Hero Award.(Honors And Awards)(Assisted Living Federation of America)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Administrator 2003 ALFA Hero Award--Stephanie Hoff serves as administrator of Madison House in Kirkland, Wash. Hoff is credited with increasing occupancy rates with the many improvements she has bring about.

Staff member 2003 ALFA Hero Award.(Honors And Awards)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Staff Member 2003 ALFA Hero Award--Robert Holloway, director of food and beverage for Forum at The Woodlands in Woodland, Texas, has saved lives of several residents who had difficulty swallowing food.

Caregiver 2003 ALFA Hero Award.(Honors And Awards)(Assisted Living Federation of America)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Caregiver 2003 ALFA Hero Award--Debbie Mullins, a personal service assistant at River Bend House in Wheelersburg, Ohio, frequently goes above and beyond the call of duty during her free time to run errands for residents who cannot leave the...

Volunteer 2003 ALFA Hero Award.(Honors And Awards)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Volunteer 2003 ALFA Hero Award--Seventeen-year-old Amber Necole Rogers volunteers her time as activity director at Lakeland House in Athens, Texas.

Salute to scholars.(Honors And Awards)(graduate fellowship competition)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Ziegler Capital Markets Group and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging are offering the Ziegler-AAHSA Graduate Fellowship Award in Strategic and Financial Planning to all senior executives. The fellowship provides...

Precyse Solutions.(Corporate Ladder)(corporate vice president selected)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Beth A. Kost was promoted to corporate vice president of Strategic Business Development at Precyse Solutions from her previous position of corporate vice president, Professional Services and chief compliance officer, a position she held since...

LarsonAllen.(Corporate Ladder)(LarsonAllen Health Care Group selects financial executive)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... LarsonAllen hired Robert D. Armitage out of a three-month retirement to offer additional depth and leadership to LarsonAllen Health Care Group's senior living practice. Armitage will bring experience in strategy, operations and finance. ...

California Association of Health Plans (CAHP).(Corporate Ladder)(president and chief executive officer selected)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Steven D Tough has been appointed the new President and Chief Executive Officer for the Board of Directors of the California Association of Health Plans (CAHP). Tough spent nearly 20 years at Foundation Health Corporation where he was...

Health Care Property Investors Inc. (HCP).(Corporate Board)(president and chief executive officer named)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Health Care Property Investors Inc.'s (HCP) board named James Flaherty III president and chief executive and extended his board term by two years. He replaces Kenneth Roath, who remains chairman. Flaherty was most recently president,...

State medicaid gets $10 billion boost.(Front Page)(federal aid to nursing homes)
July 1, 2003... The long term care industry received a much needed economic boost from a bipartisan amendment to the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act, which President Bush signed into law. The amendment ensures $10 billion in state relief to...

Bad budget, bad news for Medi-Cal.(Stateside)(state budget deficit results in reduced Medicaid reimbursements)
July 1, 2003... While the federal government pumps $10 billion into states' Medicaid programs, the state of California may be putting in less than ever. Staring at a projected $$8 billion budget deficit, California is facing massive government spending...

Nursing home industry disputes results of Gannett violations study.(Front Page)(Gannett News Service)(evaluation of nursing home care quality)
July 1, 2003... More than 500 nursing homes nationwide have repeatedly been cited within the past five years for life-endangering violations, according to a recent study by Gannett News Service. In the study, which reviewed inspection results at 16,000...

House delays vote on comp time for overtime bill.(Front Page)(overtime compensation laws)
July 1, 2003... A proposal on Capitol Hill designed to "improve working conditions for hourly wage earners," including nurses in the nation's long term care facilities, has nurses' unions up in arms. HR 1119, known as the Family Time Flexibility Act,...

Report suggests National Assisted Living Center is needed to manage growth.(Front Page)(evaluation of medical care quality regulations)
July 1, 2003... A new federal study on quality standards for assisted living facilities suggests that the industry should be overseen by a national guidelines center to manage its rapid growth. "Assuring Quality in Assisted Living: Guidelines for Federal...

Study finds governments Medicaid fraud collections efforts lagging.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Federal officials recovered more than $1 billion from Medicare fraud in 2001-20 times more than the $43 million it collected for fraudulent activities involving Medicaid that year, according to a government study. From 1997 to 2001, the...

Dementia drug costs are pricier.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Persons with Alzheimer's and other dementias spend three times more on prescription drugs than other Medicare beneficiaries, according to a new study from the Alzheimer's Association. On average, Alzheimer's patients pay almost $3,000 per...

Lousiana nursing home ban remains.(new nursing home construction prohibited to reduce health care costs)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Louisiana lawmakers agreed to extend until 2008 a 6-year-old ban on new nursing homes and mental health facilities, saying the state still has enough to meet current needs. In 1997 the legislature imposed a moratorium on new nursing...

2003 NIC Conference set for Oct. 15-17.(National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing and Care Industries)(Calendar)
July 1, 2003... The 13th Annual Conference for the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industries (NIC) will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., from 7 p.m. Oct. 15 to 1 p.m. Oct. 17. This year's theme...

View From the Hill.(legislation on Alzheimer's disease research and mental health finance)
July 1, 2003... Editor's Note: For this special theme issue only, View From the Hill focuses on Alzheimer's disease and Dementia issues. These bills were making their way through Congress as of June 11, 2003. Bill: H.R. 1138 Title: Alzheimer's...

Ventas exits Florida, then Kindred says buy, bye to senior health.(Market Watch)(Ventas Inc.)(Kindred Healthcare Inc.)(Senior Health Management L.L.C.)(nursing home acquisitions)
July 1, 2003... In a case of in-one-hand-out-the-other, long term care facility management firm Senior Health Management has purchased 18 nursing and assisted living centers in Florida from Kindred Healthcare Inc. for $65 million--shortly after Kindred...

GE Healthcare Financial provides $60m to Youth and Family Services.(Transactions ...)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Chicago-based GE Healthcare Financial Services recently announced that it has completed a $60 million loan to Youth and Family Services Inc., a private healthcare company based in Austin, Texas, that provides behavioral, educational and...

Lancaster Pollard Mortgage loans $5.2m for Crown Pointe refinance.(Transactions ...)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Lancaster Pollard Mortgage Co. has completed a $5.2 million loan fop the refinancing of Crown Pointe Care Center, LPM announced. Both firms are in Columbus, Ohio. Crown Pointe, built in 1984, is a 100-bed nursing facility owned by OPUS...

MDM Group acquires SI Inc.(Transactions ...)(Solutions International Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Dallas-based MDM Group Inc. has acquired Solutions International Inc., a provider of HIPAA compliance services for the healthcare industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. MDM Group sells high-assurance security systems and...

SeniorsFirst founder Hanson to buy back company from UICI.(Transactions ...)(Scott Hanson)(SeniorsFirst LLC)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... To prevent closure of his company, Scott Hanson, founder of Dallas-based SeniorsFirst LLC, has agreed to buy back the 50 percent controlling share held by North Richland Hills, Texas-based UICI. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. ...

Lifeline acquires ERS businesses.(Transactions ...)(Lifeline Systems acquires ERS business unit of March Networks Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... In a merger of two of the leading personal emergency response services in North America, Lifeline Systems announced it has acquired the ERS business unit of March Networks Corp. The transaction includes March Networks' emergency response...

ElderTrust votes to sell company.(Transactions ...)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Shareholders for ElderTrust, a real estate investment firm specializing in senior housing and senior living facilities, have voted to immediately pursue a merger or sale of the company. According to a company release, ElderTrust's Board...

New name but business as usual for Sunrise long term care firm.(Market Watch)(Sunrise Senior Living Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... It's official: Don't call it Sunrise Assisted Living anymore, As of May 30, the McLean, Va., firm has changed its name to Sunrise Senior Living Inc. Sunrise first announced plans to change its name in December 2002 while it was acquiring...

Market leaders.(high-performing stocks )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Market Leaders The top-performing stocks among the long term care industry's publicly traded companies during the past two months: New York Stock Exchange Symbol Closing Closing Net Price...

Deeply affected: as the nation ages, Alzheimer's will strike more people close to us.(Overview & Treatment)
July 1, 2003... It's a simple message, really: Alzheimer's kills and the number of people affected by the disease will grow to epidemic proportions unless something is done. How bad could it get? About 350 percent worse, according to Dr. Dharma Singh...

By the numbers.(Overview & Treatment)(Alzheimer's disease statistics)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Alzheimer's Disease, the most common form of dementia, has a wide-ranging economic impact on families and the nation: * 4 million: Number of Americans with Alzheimer's today * 14.3 million: Number of Americans who will have the...

New horizons: early diagnosis of Alzheimer's means new implications for care.(Overview & Treatment)
July 1, 2003... During the past decade, a dramatic shift has occurred in diagnosing and treating people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias. People with AD are now receiving medical attention much earlier in the disease process. As a result,...

'Sea-ing' results: an aquarium can help boost Alzheimer's patients' appetites.(Research)
July 1, 2003... Moviegoers aren't the only ones "Finding Nemo" this year--two Purdue University professors found that placing aquariums in long term care facilities prompt Alzheimer's patients to eat more, curbing weight loss--a significant symptom of the...

How 'sweet' it is: a holistic approach to Alzheimer's nurtures patient and caregiver.(Design)(Sweet Life nursing home)
July 1, 2003... Take an idyllic English village and drop it in the middle of a luxurious bed and breakfast inn, and you've got the beginning of a formula for success in treating the whole person with Alzheimer's. In fact, you might even say the residents...

Making connections: Silverado builds relationships with residents, relatives and staff.(Caregiving & Training)(Silverado Senior Living)
July 1, 2003... Several state surveyors were leaving a Silverado Senior Living community following a deficiency free survey. As they approached the exit, the surveyors stated that they had one more pressing question for the administrator: "Why does everyone...

New age care: it's time to focus on the need-driven, market niche of Alzheimer's and Dementia specialty care.(Sales & Marketing)
July 1, 2003... "We're getting into full-service assisted living, but we don 't plan to deal with either incontinence or dementia." Oh really? Astute sponsors and owner/operators now know that they must deal with special care Alzheimer's in order to...

Ezy Dose[R] and Ezy Care[R].(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(patient medication management equipment from Apothecary Products Inc. )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Apothecary Products Inc. (API), founded in 1975, is a leader in the medical compliance and first aid markets with the Ezy Dose[R] and Ezy Care[R] product lines. API carries a full line of products to help patients manage their medication and...

Parker Bath.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(therapeutic bath for dementia patients from Arjo Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * The American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease recognizes the quiet and relaxing Parker Bath for patients with mid- to late-stage dementia. * Since 1979, more than 28,000 units sold worldwide. * Cost-saving full warranty...

Dementia Care Documentation for Long Term Care (7014R).(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(from Briggs Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * Provides direction, instruction and tools needed in a special care unit. * Offers a standardized process for documenting care and service provided * Built upon current federal regulations and JCAHO standards for long term care ...

Rolling aquariums and aviaries.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(Blue Lagoon offers new line of quality, life-enhancing products for long term care patients)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Blue Lagoon announces is new line of quality, life-enhancing products. Studies have shown that rolling aquariums and aviaries improve the life and health of residents. Filled with colonial finches and canaries, the rolling aviary makes a...

Security Escort.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)
July 1, 2003... Security Escort is a wireless help-call system designed with the needs of both patients and staff in mind. This system works over multiple buildings and floors, indoors and outdoors. The SE88 Watch/Pendant Panic Transmitter can be placed on...

Beaufort Range.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)
July 1, 2003... Beaufort Range represents a harmonious blend of classic style, timeless designs and advanced manufacturing technology. Easy to clean and maintain. The product is waterproof, scratch-resistant and fire retardant. Fully customizable to suit...

Momentum motion chair.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(Duraframe by Kwalu)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Specifically designed to meet the needs of residents with Alzheimer's. Backed by our 10-year warranty on frame and finish, this seating range is waterproof, fire-retardant and scratch-resistant. Available as non-motion, motion and motion with...

Wireless resident monitoring system.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(wandering alerts from HomeFree Inc. )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * Single wireless platform integrating advanced wandering alerts with resident and nurse call solutions * Comprehensive, cost-effective communication platform * Performs real-time wireless monitoring of residents in various...

FarSight: solutions for long term care.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(long-term care staff training program from Fox Learning Systems Inc. )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * Trains staff 24/7 * No overtime costs * Shows documentation and training * Provides 14 hours of nursing CEUs and comprehensive education on topics such as dementia care, pressure ulcers, elder abuse, and restraints and falls...

RoamAlert Plus.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(Alzheimer's patient monitoring equipment from eXI Systems)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Wandering residents can be a challenge in today's nursing homes and assisted living facilities, eXI's RoamAlert Plus systems automatically contain potential wanderers by locking doors or holding elevators until the wanderer leaves the alarm...

Reminiscence Bingo[TM] board game.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(therapeutic game from Maddak Inc. )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * Improves social interaction, orientation, concentration and self-esteem * Instead of numbers, games use everyday topics such as work, recreation, family, weather and holidays to help players recall past events * Can be used in any...

MemoryLifter[TM].(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(Flashcard system from LearnLift)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * Helps improve memory of facts, information and vocabulary words * Flashcard system is based on famous Sebastian Leitner box system * Has many clever, scientific and intelligent features to help enhance learning and memory process...

Alert-Mate II Fall Monitoring Alarm.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(from the Personal Safety Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... PSC is pleased to introduce the patented Alert-Mate II Fall Monitoring Alarm. The alarm features two alarm tones, two pin positions and a three-decibel adjustable volume switch. This feature-rich alarm is only $19.99. Compare to other alarms...

Alzheimer's disease resident care program.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(from PharMerica)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * Multiple assessment tools increase staff awareness of disease and enhance resident care * Educational resources and in-services assist staff in improving resident quality of life and reduce risk of patient injury *...

Secure Care Software.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(from Secure Care Products Inc. )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... * Provides staff with a clear graphical display of your floor plan and all Secure Care Products' devices within your facility * Provides detailed alert or alarm information about residents and their locations * Logs and achieves...

The Rolling Sea.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(automated aquariums from Some Things Fishy L.L.C. )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... A recent Western Journal of Nursing Research study documented savings of $400/month of nutritional supplements in Alzheimer's wards that used The Rolling Sea. The specilized automated aquariums focused residents' attentions while they were...

Affordable anti-wandering monitoring system.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(Smart Door Monitoring system from Smart Caregiver Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The Smart Door Monitoring system is affordable to the average LTC facility and it operates with batteries or AC power, making it easy to install anywhere. Caregivers can track multiple residents accurately and quickly from the same system....

WanderGuard[R] departure alert system.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(Stanley-Senior Technologies)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The WanderGuard[R] departure alert system helps create s*-afer environments for wandering residents by preventing elopements before they occur. The addition of WanderGuard Locks can provide a selective locking system protecting monitored...

WatchMate[R] wander prevention system.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(WatchMate System from XMark Systems)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The WatchMate System from Xmark provides comprehensive protection for Alzheimer's sufferers or others at risk of wandering. Only WatchMate offers essential features such as individual identification of each alarm, resident ID display, and...

Tempur-Pedic Seal of Care.(Alzheimer's Products & Services)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Tempur-Pedic Medical is honored to sponsor the Seal of Care for skin care and pressure ulcer prevention. Seal of Care is a voluntary cooperative of long-term care providers committed to skin care excellence and subscribing to a philosophy of...

Remember me: Alzheimer's disease may slow him down, but Les Dennis isn't ready to be forgotten.(The Last Word)
July 1, 2003... There once was a time when Les Dennis stood in front of a room of college students and confidently imparted his knowledge to their willing minds. Now, the retired University of Loyola professor quietly watches his mind come apart as...