Antibiotics are among the most frequently prescribed medications in nursing homes, with up to 70% of residents receiving 1 or more courses of systemic antibiotics in a year. Forty to 75% of antibiotics prescribed in nursing homes may be unnecessary...
Many older adults would like to remain at home as they age. Many of these older adults have dementia and behavioral health challenges. Psychoactive medications such as antipsychotics and anxiolytics are prescribed to manage these behaviors and...
Given the growing older population, chronic disease management will continue to be a major focus of the government, health insurers and providers. Historically, the care system consisted of multiple silos with minimal integration, leading to...
Antibiotic treatment for asymptomatic bacteriuria is one of the key contributors to antibiotic overuse in long-term care. The guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) suggest that antibiotic treatment of asymptomatic...
The assisted living memory care (ALMC) population presents with specific needs and challenges. Recognition that inadequate hydration and nutrition intake is associated with numerous common quality indicators such as falls and re-hospitalization...
A systematic review by Seitz showed the median prevalence of dementia in nursing homes was 58%, and the median prevalence of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) was 78%. This study highlighted the need for staff to be able to...
Behaviors and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are problematic to caregivers. The Adaptive Behavior Assessment and Intervention Tool (ABAIT) is a BPSD management algorithm and personalized intervention program on an electronic platform that...
Since 1997, Medicare has implemented a Prospective Payment System [PPS] for a covered Skilled Nursing Facility service using a prospective, case-mix adjusted per diem payment rate. This methodology has evolved to capture compensation for staff,...
Pain identification and management for patients with dementia can be a challenge given difficulties with communication and atypical presentations. Recent review of the CIHI data for this LTC site showed a trend towards an increase in the QI...
Falls have been an ongoing and reportable problem in long-term care (LTC) facilities. Moreover, falls can lead to serious physical, psychological and financial consequences for residents, their families and the staff. Each resident has individual...
