This week is Careers in Aging Week (CIAW), a week dedicated to bringing greater visibility and awareness to the wide-ranging careers in long term care and aging services and to celebrate current employees in the profession. A perfect way to celebrate Careers in Aging Week is to amplify your hiring efforts!
https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/It%E2%80%99s-Careers-in-Aging-Week!.aspx
Implementing a Tech-Plus-Touch Approach
In building a prevention-focused mindset surrounding falls amongst elderly residents, long term care and assisted living communities can benefit from establishing a tech-plus-touch approach. This type of approach leverages technology and digital means to nurture genuine human connections. Tech-plus-touch can radically improve the mobility and health status of seniors while increasing their emotional well-being and confidence. This, along with the ability to monitor functional mobility in real-time and identify changes early can greatly decrease the risk of falling and the number of adverse events.
Read more at https://www.providermagazine.com/Articles/Pages/The-Winning-Combination-of-Tech-and-Touch.aspx
The American Health Care Association (AHCA) is excited to announce that the 2023 National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW) Planning Guide and products are now available at www.nsncw.org.
NSNCW will begin on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 14th through Saturday, May 20th, 2023.
Skilled nursing care staff, residents, families, and members of the local community are encouraged to participate in activities that cultivate and spread kindness in honor of the annual observance.
The 2023 Planning Guide offers ideas that can be incorporated into new or planned activities. Download for activity and media tips and to explore an exclusive selection of NSNCW gifts and products.
To find out more and to download the planning guide, please go to https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/2023-NSNCW-Planning-Guide-and-Products-Now-Available.aspx
HealthCap® is hosting a free webinar titled OIG Recommendations: More Than Just Smoke? on Tuesday, March 7 at 2 p.m. EST. This program will assist providers in identifying areas of risk related to the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) recent focus on infection control issues.
A recent OIG study found that nursing homes were not prepared for the sweeping health emergency that COVID-19 created. The OIG said that “significant changes are needed to protect the health and safety of residents and better prepare nursing homes for current and future health emergencies.”
Yesterday, the Biden Administration announced its plans to end the Public Health Emergency (PHE). This administration guidance meets the Administration’s promise of 60 days’ notice of the end of the PHE. Based on the guidance, the PHE will end on May 11, 2023.
Read more by going to https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Public-Health-Emergency-Ending-May-11.aspx
Data shows that fall risk peaks between 6-9 pm and again from 3-6 am, when senior care staffing is reduced. What’s more, 50 percent of residents who fall overnight will have another overnight fall. These statistics become even more critical as they are applied to those living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia—as the sun goes down, these residents are at even greater risk for falls as they experience sundowning, increased restlessness, anxiety, and disorientation—all of which can become more intense as the diseases progress.
Read more at https://www.providermagazine.com/Articles/Pages/4-Ways-To-Reduce-Fall-Risk-in-the-Most-Vulnerable-Hours.aspx
With increasing cases of respiratory disease, including COVID-19, this winter, it is imperative to encourage residents, staff, and family members to receive the updated (bivalent) COVID-19 boosters.
Find out more by going to https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CDC-Provides-New-Initiative-to-Increase-COVID-19-Vaccination-in-LTC-Settings.aspx
