by the numbers

a fitter less disabled cohort with more money and care options according to this USA today article.

Fewer seniors live in nursing homes

OT

In todays BMJ a systematic review of 9 RCTs found that OT was an effective intervention after stroke improving performance and protecting against poor outcomes.


Occupational therapy for patients with problems in personal activities of daily living after stroke: systematic review of randomised trials

staffing

"86% of workers work short staffed between 1 and 20 times a month........'

Seniors getting 'assembly-line care' at facilities: CUPE

margins before care

Large Wall St investment firms have taken over thousands of homes in a worrying trend that is reflected in poorer care or so says this article in Sunday's New York Times...

At Many Homes, More Profit and Less Nursing

doctors orders

16% refusing to follow doctors orders, I thought it was more......

Study says elderly may dismiss doctors’ orders

zoledronic acid

another positive for hip fracture prevention

Zoledronic Acid and Clinical Fractures and Mortality after Hip Fracture

tai chi

falls reduced to 0.72 ( hazard ratio) after 16 weeks , mean age 69

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of tai chi for the Prevention of Falls: The Central Sydney tai chi Trial

adverse drug events

The rate of reporting was found to be disproportionate to the increase in drug prescriptions between 1998 and 2005 and safety withdrawls accounted for a small number.

Adverse drug events reported to FDA appear to have increased markedly

C difficile

Symptomless carriers of C. diff may pose infection risk to other patients

up to 50% of the LTC facility population in this study were asymptomatically shedding spores in their stool........

Falls

Patient with dementia sues facility after fall and fracture.
Of course I don't have the details but with a fall rate of 1.5 falls per resident per year this remains one of our most challenging clinical areas.

Patient with dementia sues nursing home after fall