Get Involved in Careers in Aging Week!

Save the date for Careers in Aging Week (CIAW), March 26-April 1, 2023​

People are living longer, and the demand for caregivers in our profession is growing rapidly. As our sector continues to face a historic workforce crisis, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to participate in CIAW and raise awareness about the incredible opportunities available. CIAW is dedicated to bringing greater visibility to the wide-ranging careers in long term care and aging services and to celebrate current employees in the profession. Join us in celebrating, starting March 26 through April 1 — to find out how you can participate and spread the word during CIAW go to https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Get-Involved-in-Careers-in-Aging-Week.aspx

Free HealthCap® Webinar Will Examine Emerging Infection Control Risks

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.”

Learn more at https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Free-HealthCap%C2%AE-Webinar-Will-Examine-Emerging-Infection-Control-Risks.aspx

2022 Worldwide Pressure Injury Prevention Day – Thursday November 17, 2022

The objective of Worldwide Pressure Injury Prevention Day is to increase awareness about pressure injury prevention and to educate the public on this topic. NPIAP has developed an extensive media materials package, appropriate for all healthcare settings and organizations, which is available at https://npiap.com/page/2022WWPIPD

CMS Releases Revisions to the Special Focus Facility Program

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a revised Special Focus Facility (SFF) Program policy memo QS0-23-01-NH and updated the monthly SFF posting​. These revisions are meant to increase the requirements for completion of the program and enforcement for facilities that do not demonstrate improvement.

Read more at https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CMS-Releases-Revisions-to-the-Special-Focus-Facility-Program.aspx

A Simple Fall Prevention Strategy Comes to Light

Reducing the number of falls in long term care facilities is a goal for everyone. Current strategies to reduce falls typically include complex, multicomponent interventions requiring significant resources, staff time, and resident education. To be sure, these measures help mitigate the risk and reduce the number of falls at nursing homes and senior care facilities; but there is one novel approach that has been theorized over the last decade that has been recently validated through research and come to light.

Read more by going to https://www.providermagazine.com/Topics/Guest-Columns/Pages/2022/A-Simple-Fall-Prevention-Strategy-Comes-to-Light.aspx

Gero Nurse Prep will be at the AHCA/NCAL Convention!

We are exhibiting at the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo, October 10 – 11, 2022, at the Music City Center in Nashville. Come visit us at booth 516 and find out how Gero Nurse Prep can help you demonstrate gerontological nursing competency.

Want to know more now? Visit our website at https://www.geronurseprep.com/

Provider shares ‘telewellness playbook’ to address resident mental health

As resident mental health and well-being top the list of challenges for affordable senior housing providers, one operator is sharing its playbook on a successful telewellness program.

Davis Park, vice president of the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing, shared the success of the organization’s technology-based behavioral health program  on Wednesday during a LeadingAge membership call.

Read more at https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/home/news/provider-shares-telewellness-playbook-to-address-resident-mental-health/

CDC Program Expands Free COVID-19 Testing to Assisted Living, SNFs, and ICFs

Skilled Nursing Facilities, intermediate care facilities (ICFs) and assisted living centers can access free COVID-19 testing for staff and residents through December 31, 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Operation Expanded Testing (OpET) program expanded access to free testing nationwide to now include skilled nursing facilities, ICFs and assisted living communities, which previously targeted schools, shelters, and correctional facilities.​

Read more at https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CDC-Program-Expands-Free-COVID-19-Testing-to-Assisted-Living-SNFs-and-ICFs.aspx