Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer most often caused by a long-ago occupational exposure to asbestos, typically striking those in the retirement stage of life. Although there is no definitive cure — and a diagnosis is met with considerable gloom and doom — recent therapeutic advances have begun extending lives significantly, raising the importance
Learn What Fall Prevention Can Do For You
Imagine it: you’re a caregiver in a nursing home facility, administering medication to one of your patients. It’s evening and the building has quieted down for the most part; many residents have already turned in for the night. As you finish with your patient and are gently closing the door behind you, you hear it.
The Effects Of Falls – And How Plans Can Work to Prevent Them
As healthcare providers in the geriatric field well know, falls sustained by the elderly are extraordinarily hazardous. The CDC has actually reported that between 50 percent and 75 percent of residents in nursing homes fall every year – a staggering percentage. Not only do these statistics mean horrible things for elderly residents: they can also
Remembering To Remember: Caring For Patients With Alzheimer’s
Both the holiday season and the transition into a new year tends to revolve around nostalgia and fondly reminiscing on the seasons of our past. But what if you had no recollections of these previous periods? What if these warm memories simply eluded you? This is the tragic state of affairs for nearly 50% of
6 Fun & Seasonal Activities for Assisted Living (That Your Staff Can Plan!)
The day-to-day responsibilities of operating an assisted living facility can sometimes feel more burdensome than rewarding – particularly if the facility is understaffed. As a staff member, it’s easy to get dragged into an unstimulating routine of caring for your patients. Now that the holiday season is here, though, our traditions of decoration and celebration
4 Ways To Give Your Facility A Competitive Edge
Operating a nursing home facility is a complex business. Staying compliant and cost-effective is a challenge in itself, particularly when combined with the need to remain patient-focused. It can be a difficult balancing act to ensure you are running a successful business – which includes keeping your staff happy – while still providing high quality
Why They Care: What Motivates Nursing Home Staff Today?
Working in a care facility today is growing more and more difficult for the caregivers and nurses who have risen to meet the challenge of providing care for an aging population. Right now, nursing homes must prepare for the day when the Baby Boomers require the help of professional caregivers. At the same time, ongoing
Call Systems Are Out, Modern Tech Is In! – Preventing Falls In Care Facilities
Has your facility ever used resident-activated call systems? If so, you’re not alone. Many long-term care facilities were once likely to invest in call systems to increase safety and elevate consumers’ opinions of their operations. Today, however, nurse call systems have proven to not always be the most effective and practical tool for residents. Many
What Matters to Families in an Assisted Living Community
Choosing a long-term care facility for aging loved ones isn’t easy. Consumers need to know that their needs are being met and that the potential resident will be able to enjoy good quality of life at your community. Although nursing home ratings may help families see how you stack up against your competition’s staffing levels
How to Improve Nursing Home Skincare
Did you know that preventable bedsores are one of the most common sources of lawsuits against nursing homes? As a health care provider for the elderly, it’s your responsibility to ensure that your residents don’t develop bedsores or pressure ulcers on your watch. Yet, every nursing home or long-term care facility must deal with these
What to Do After a Resident Falls
What do you think the top cause of nursing home injuries is? If you guessed falls, you guessed correctly! When an elderly resident in your community falls, the severity of the injury can range from minor scrapes to serious head trauma and even death. Even more worrying is that you can have the most effective
5 Things that DON’T Prevent Nursing Home Falls…and One That Does
Every year, a typical 100-bed nursing home reports 100-200 falls, according to the CDC. Of course, those are only the ones that get reported. And these falls are not just a “nuisance” — nearly 2,000 nursing home residents die from falls annually. And 10 to 20 percent of all nursing home falls result in serious