News and Commentary

There are 14.9 million people enrolled in Medi-Cal. This program is California’s version of Medicare but acts as a supplement to Medicare for senior citizens, especially those who live in long-term care facilities. There are lots of rules and regulations surrounding Medi-Cal, one of which was set to expire at the end of 2026. Governor […]

Much of nursing home safety revolves around prevention. Creating safe environments, using bed rails properly, monitoring medications, using lifts, and more are all part of nursing home safety policy. And there’s nothing wrong with these rules. In fact, many go a long way to keep residents from experiencing potentially fatal falls and other injuries which

Imagining life in a nursing home can often conjure visions of dreary long days with only something like a game of Bingo to break up the monotony. And while that’s not the reality, it certainly can feel that way for residents who don’t have activities that interest them on the schedule. While this may not

Beyond Awareness: Elder Abuse Awareness Day Every day is the best day to raise awareness of elder abuse, but the United Nations has set aside a single day as Elder Abuse Awareness Day. This year’s theme is Beyond Awareness, focusing on a more holistic approach to addressing not only the abuse, but conditions that lead

Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) employ some of the most hardworking nursing staff. Caring for the elderly is not an easy job and there are many factors working against staff. The desire to improve nursing home and long-term care staffing and address vital needs is not a new topic. We have talked extensively about the attempts

Our focus is almost completely absorbed by legal nursing homes and long-term care facilities. These residences have their own huge issues, like staffing shortages, hidden abuse, and neglect. But it’s stories like the one we saw recently that make us turn our attention to the potential of illegal facilities and the massive damage they can

Caring for the aging is not an easy job. Those who can no longer care for themselves are experiencing a myriad of emotions, setbacks, illnesses, and other challenges. Not to mention conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s that have common presentations of anger, aggression, and depression. As a result, long-term care residents can experience high levels

COVID shed a harsh light on the nursing home industry’s worst failings. One of those failings was how unprepared they were for a pandemic. And even worse, how unprepared they were for meeting the social and mental health needs of residents during a time of isolation. The response was the Essential Caregivers Act (S.3492). Today,