ADVANCE Perspective: LTC : Assisted Living

ALFA-Backed Amendment Passes Senate Finance Committee

Heather Simons — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:11:00 GMT

A press release from ALFA today announces that the Senate Finance Committee accepted an amendment by Senator Bill Nelson to Senator Max Baucus' health care reform legislation that would eliminate prescription drug co-payments under the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program for all dual eligible residents in assisted living waiver programs. This legislation could benefit up to 650,000 low-income seniors nationwide, 75,000 of whom reside in assisted living communities.

ALFA will continue to work very closely with Senator Nelson's office to eliminate co-payments for all dual-eligible residents in assisted living and other home and community-based settings. We thank Senator Nelson for his leadership on this issue and will continue to work with him and other members of Congress on this and other critical issues on behalf of America's seniors.

Click here to read the full release. Then leave us a comment and let us know what you think.

Hospice in long-term care

Maureen Salera — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:31:00 GMT

A little more than a year ago, I wrote an article about integrating palliative care into nursing homes. My research and my sources seemed to agree that end-of-life care wasn't anywhere near where it needed to be in long-term care. In fact, in some long-term care organizations, palliative care had no place at all. Others were trying, but there was still a lot of work to be done.

I'm now writing another story on hospice for an upcoming issue of ADVANCE so I was eager to see if this has changed. I started out by looking for long-term care providers who have somehow integrated hospice services into their continuums of care. My preliminary research indicates that an increasing number of senior living providers across the country are somehow getting involved in hospice.

I have a lot of questions for these providers so keep your eyes out for their answers in an upcoming issue of ADVANCE. In the meantime, feel free to comment on your experience with hospice.

Boost Morale Now

Adkins-Ali Carrie — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:05:00 GMT

In the current job climate, many companies are using the climate of fear to cut back on morale-boosting costs and activities. Employees don't need morale to stay with your company, the thinking goes, because they have no choice.

But in the article "Employee Engagement - How to Navigate the Most Difficult Economic Times since the Great Depression," Sonya Sullins, founder of Human Capital Management Institute LLC, explains that boosting morale right now is vital.

"It is clear that disengaged and actively disengaged employees pose a risk to any employer, negatively affecting nearly every facet of your organization, including occupancy, resident care, customer devotion and, of course the bottom line," she writes.

Read the article here.

ALFA - Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Liz Rosto — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:41:00 GMT

If you're reading this blog, you're probably already pretty plugged in to the Internet and everything it has to offer. For those who are still catching on, ALFA presenters discussed innovative ways to use technology for success on day two of the conference.

In the new world of Web 2.0, providers heard about a litle bit of everything-- from designing quality Web sites, to search engine optimization, to tracking sales leads.

"If you learn one thing, it's that you have to measure your marketing efforts," said Dan Hobin, CEO of G5 Marketing. "If you don't measure, you're going to waste money."

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Over in the exhibit hall, attendees got to see how some of this technology works, in addition to the many other vendors showcasing everything from bathing equipment to alarm systems.

Attendees enjoyed playing PLINKO at the ADVANCE booth. Congratualtions to Gretchen Nolte of Human Capital Management in Ft.Lauderdale, Fla., winner of the $250 grand prize!

ALFA - Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Liz Rosto — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:22:00 GMT

If there's one big thing everyone's talking about at ALFA, it's how to survive through turbulent times. ALFA leadership, attendees, presenters and exhibitors are abuzz about how to keep business healthy during this difficult economy.

With the swine flu also on people's minds, one presenter offered this universal advice: "Have a focused sense of urgency, but don't panic," - Joseph Mikalajunas, president of Bell Senior Living.

Five senior living professionals (out of more than 450 nominees) were also honored at the annual Hero Awards luncheon. This year's winners are:

ALFA Nurse Hero: Curtis Bond, LPN, Southerland Place Midlothian, Midlothian, Va.

ALFA Executive Director Hero: Joan Carney, Hoffman SummerWood Community, West Hartford, Conn.

ALFA Staff Member Hero: Kasey Gobin, dir. of dining services, Emeritus Senior Living, South Windsor, Conn.

ALFA Caregiver Hero: Amparo Machuca, reminiscence care manager, Sunrise Senior Living at Cinco Ranch, Katy, Texas.

ALFA Volunteer Hero: Ricky Fox, Morningside of Sumter Five Star Senior Living, Sumter, S.C.

ALFA in Philly!

Liz Rosto — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:03:00 GMT

If you're at the ALFA conference in Philly, stop by the ADVANCE booth (#328). We'd love to meet you in person!

Check back for more from the conference throughout the week.

Mice-on-Resident Violence

Adkins-Ali Carrie — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:11:00 GMT

A news item about a mouse-on-resident attack in an Australian nursing home is hitting the U.S. media. Tales of mice chewing off residents' ears are, we can only hope, extremely rare, but certainly stir up a lot of attention and fear.

Do you think the U.S. long-term care community should respond to this news report on a national level? How about a local level? Have you heard from any of your residents' families inquiring about your rodent control program?

Active Aging Week 2008

Liz Rosto — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:10:00 GMT

The International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) is sponsoring Active Aging Week September 22 - 28. The theme is "Choose an Active Life!" This annual health promotion event is dedicated to introducing older adults to a healthy and active lifestyle.

Get in on the fun by planning some events in your community that encourage physical, intellectual and social well-being. Some of the plans other facilities have in the works include:

Dances
Wii tournaments
Games for physical and mental agility
Open houses, free classes and demonstrations
Fitness classes, yoga, tai chi, bicycling, walks and hikes
Bowling, billiards and paddle ball
Treasure hunts, tournaments
Health fairs, seminars on health topics, screenings

For more resources, see the Active Aging Week site.

The Forgetting

Liz Rosto — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:59:00 GMT

While it is a few years old, I urge everyone to watch the PBS documentary on Alzheimer's: The Forgetting. This powerful and touching program follows the lives of several families coping with the disease, and the work of scientists searching for a cure.

PBS has been re-airing it recenlty, but you can also order the DVD or watch it online. It only serves to reinforce the devastation of the disease, the important work long-term care providers do to help these residents, and the hope for future generations.

Falls Cause More Than Broken Hips

Maureen McAndrews — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Fall-induced traumatic brain injuries caused almost 8,000 deaths and 56,000 hospitalizations in 2005 among Americans 65 and older, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the June issue of the Journal of Safety Research.

In 2005, TBIs were responsible for 50 percent of unintentional fall deaths and 8 percent of nonfatal fall-related hospitalizations among older adults.

"Most people think older adults may only break their hip when they fall, but our research shows that traumatic brain injuries can also be a serious consequence," Dr. Ileana Arias, director of CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, said in a press release.

This study analyzed 2005 data from the National Center for Health Statistics' National Vital Statistics System and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

HHS to Help Medicare Beneficiaries and Providers in Iowa and Indiana

Maureen McAndrews — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:36:00 GMT

Acting under his authority in the Public Health Service Act, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today declared a public health emergency in the flood-stricken states of Iowa and Indiana. The action gives CMS Medicare beneficiaries and their health care providers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs, according to an HHS news release.

Because of flood damage to local health care facilities, many beneficiaries have been evacuated to neighboring communities, where receiving hospitals and nursing homes may have no health care records, information on current health status or even verification of the person's status as a Medicare beneficiary.

CMS is assuring those facilities that in this circumstance, the normal burden of documentation will be waived and that they can act under a presumption of eligibility.

CMS will make certain that health care providers that provide items and services in good faith are exempt from sanctions from noncompliance with otherwise applicable requirements, provided there is no fraud or abuse.

For more information ,visit CMS online.

The Move to Retirement Living

Maureen McAndrews — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:35:00 GMT

The Washington Post puts an interesting spin on an article about the decision to move into a retirement community. Instead of telling the story from the oft-used angle of those who work in the retirement living industry, the article is written by a 79-year-old woman who recently made the move from her home into retirement living. She explores the way her and her husband came to terms with their idea of "aging in place." She concludes that this decision was best made on their own terms, when they were ready. She talks about timing being everything.

In an accompanying article, the writer's daughter shares her thoughts on coming to terms with her parents' move to a retirement community. While she originally felt some guilt, she says it was assuaged by witnessing her mother making many new friends and starting a new phase of life.

Is this general feeling shared by most people who move into retirement living? In your experiences of dealing with residents, what do you find? Are most ready? If they're not ready, are they glad once they've made the move? What role do adult children play in the process?

These two unique perspectives can give you some idea of just exactly what's going through the minds of your potential residents.

Connecting With Residents Who Have Dementia

Maureen McAndrews — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:27:00 GMT

A recent article in the Washington Post explores how certain games and other activities can help family members form more meaningful connections with loved ones who have dementia.

Researchers conducted a study on 33 families, and found that satisfaction was higher after playing one of the new board games with a relative with dementia than after a visit that involved no game-playing.

The article also indicates that memory books and scrapbooks can be helpful for those who live in nursing homes and similar settings, providing a method for staff and volunteers to get to know residents.

Look for more on this in the future: The National Institute on Aging supported the study and the researchers have submitted it for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Presidential Candidates Health Care Plans

Adkins-Ali Carrie — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:18:00 GMT

I recently heard a comment that when the Clintons tried to reform health care, it had an unforseen negative impact on nursing. Hospitals, my source noted, were laying off nurses because they did not think they were going to have enough money to pay them because of the cuts. Many nurses left the profession and others decided against nursing careers.

How do you think the presidential candidates stated plans will affect the industry? Which candidate's plan, of any, do you support?

The Value of an Apology

Maureen McAndrews — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:49:00 GMT

Over the summer I made a major purchase at a home improvement retailer. To make a long story short, the vendor: lost my order data due to a computer power failure, delayed product delivery, ordered the wrong size product, forgot to collect payment from me while I was in the store (which meant I had to make an extra trip to the store), allowed the product installer to cancel several appointments that I’d rearranged my schedule to accommodate and ultimately sent me a product that was drastically different from the one I’d seen in the store and ordered.

Throughout this entire process, which went on for several months, no one from the store ever once apologized. In fact, during one of my visits to the store, after I learned from the representative that the product measurements were inaccurate, I became very exasperated and said something to the effect of "This entire process has been such a hassle. I don’t know if I can keep going like this." The rep simply stared back at me and offered no apology. At that point, that store should’ve lost my business, but I elected to keep going because I didn’t want to forfeit my deposit and start all over again with another retailer.

But it would’ve made a difference if someone had said just once that they were sorry. Since my experience was with a retailer, it was simply a hassle. But when facility managers make mistakes, there are often far greater consequences. Even though the stakes are higher, an apology can still make a difference. As Loretta G. LeBar, JD, CHC, writes in her September/October 2007 article "Saying You're Sorry," "Today's culture discourages apologizing to victims and their families for fear of it being seen as an admission of guilt. We need to change this."

If you’re concerned about the legal ramifications of an apology, ask your attorney for more information on how you can effectively communicate when something goes wrong. If nothing else, at least start a conversation about the value of an apology. If the "carefully planned apology can prevent litigation, restore trust and build stronger employee infrastructure centered on quality of care for the residents," as Le Bar writes, wouldn’t it be well worth it?