Not only is it important for residents in long-term care facilities to have the power to make their own decisions in daily living for their well-being, the ethical and legal protection of their autonomy to make these decisions is imperative. Many nursing home residents’ ability to make their own decisions…
Physical frailty is prevalent among older adults living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, as well as in the community. It is a medical syndrome with a variety of causes and contributors that is characterized by a decrease in strength, endurance, and weakened physiologic function that enhances a person’s…
Dementia is prevalent among older adults and requires expert care and decision making that draws from sound evidence. Evidence-based practice (EBP) is strongly established in health care and aims to ensure the best outcomes by implementing what is shown to be effective from research in clinical practice and service delivery.…
To assess and honor the preferences of older adult residents is a fundamental aspect of person-centered care in long-term care facilities. Although researchers and practitioners have initiated the development of measures to assess nursing home residents’ everyday preferences, not much is known regarding how residents interpret and conceptualize their preferences…
Patients with dementia are often burdened by their symptoms, while adequate symptom control is crucial to maintain or enhance quality of life. Most Americans with dementia eventually become admitted to, and die in long-term care facilities. Prevalent and important symptoms at the end of life are pain, agitation, and shortness…
In the United States, over 15, 500 nursing homes that are Medicaid or Medicare certified or both provide care to approximately 1.3 million people. Nursing homes must meet federally mandated minimum standards as a requirement of Medicare and Medicaid payment. Many concerns regarding the quality of nursing home care and…
Far too many nursing homes are experiencing an extreme shortage of staff that has diminished the quality and safety of care for their elderly and disabled. Frailty and dependency on nursing home staff is prevalent among residents who not only need assistance in performing basic activities of daily living, but…
Hip fractures (HFs) are highly prevalent among older adults and are a major cause of severe, often constant functional impairment. Those with HFs have diminished self-care abilities, causing increased disability and significant loss in independence and quality of life. Although there are those who are able to obtain complete functional…
A recent study exploring the effectiveness of twenty-four-hour reports in infection prevention and control showed that they are essential components. Infections are known to be highly prevalent among nursing home residents and can lead to morbidity and mortality. This fact is unsurprising, considering that residents are constantly clustered in constrained…
According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, there are a total of 16,100 nursing homes in America with approximately 1.5 million patients residing in these facilities. Due to the rapidly growing baby boomer generation, the number of patients residing in these facilities is bound to increase. Although a…