On April 22, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting final rule. The rule’s proposed minimum nurse staffing requirements generated significant discussion among the senior care industry. The finalized rule requires nursing homes to provide at least 3.48 hours ..read more

Today’s seniors crave a lifestyle experience that extends beyond basic necessities. This includes their bathrooms, particularly the bathing space — often an overlooked opportunity to create a spa-like haven. By designing or renovating senior living shower enclosures, you can transform the bathroom into a tranquil escape, rather than a sterile medical facility. Doing so has ..read more

A diverse workforce brings many advantages to senior care communities, including enhanced creativity and innovation, varied perspectives, improved problem solving, and more. But managing a diverse workforce also brings some unique challenges. Grant Harris, a Certified Diversity Executive, (CDE®), consultant, speaker, podcast host, and autistic author, shared advice and insights about diverse workforce management with ..read more

With the staffing challenges facing the senior care industry, senior care community human resources (HR) departments face unprecedented challenges regarding staff recruitment and retention. Absenteeism, such as when staff must take time off because of a workplace injury, further strains HR departments. Our previous article highlighted how improving dining room chairs could reduce maintenance and ..read more

On June 30, 2024, South Dakota Senate Bill 209 will go into effect. The bill appropriates $5,000,000 in federal funds for grants to nursing homes and assisted living centers. Recipient facilities will be able to use the grants to buy and install telemedicine technology and infrastructure. It’s evidence of the growing importance of telemedicine in ..read more

The case for supporting family caregivers as an integral part of the care team, with examples of innovation from Geisinger, Rush University Medical Center, and Duke University School of Nursing. Almost 48 million adults in the U.S. care for another family member — an estimate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) closely tracks ..read more

Our aim with this report is to help you and your organization discover new ways to think about senior care practices and continue to improve operations and conditions in your facility for both residents and staff. Download now ..read more

The Alzheimer’s Association released its 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report in March. The special report, Mapping a Better Future for Dementia Care Navigation, explores the challenges that dementia caregivers and healthcare workers face in navigating dementia care. The report includes some surprising data and highlights the need for more care navigation services nationwide ..read more

Dining rooms are the heart of senior care communities. They are where residents, friends, and family members gather and connect, and meals provide valuable socialization opportunities. But the traditional dining room chairs used in so many communities today pose numerous problems. Something as simple as chair choice has the potential to reduce administrative and maintenance ..read more

Given the ongoing staffing challenges that senior care communities face, as well as the cost of training new staff, many communities simply can’t afford to lose staff. Investing in staff satisfaction not only helps senior care communities improve their employee retention rates, but also plays an important role in the quality of care they provide. Fortunately ..read more