Monitoring & Improving Quality of Your Loved One's Care at a Care Facility

The February, 2013 issue of the journal HealthAffairs features several studies addressing how more active engagement of patients in their own health and health care can affect health care outcomes and costs of care. “Studies show that more informed . . . → Read More: Patient Engagement Improves Healthcare Outcomes and Lowers Cost, New Studies Find

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Thursday awards of funding to seven organizations selected to partner with CMS and 145 nursing homes in seven different states in a new pilot program aimed at improving . . . → Read More: New Program to Improve Quality of Care for Nursing Home Residents in 7 States Announced by Medicare

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Thursday that it has updated and re-designed its Hospital Compare and Nursing Home Compare websites, which provide tools and quality measures to help consumers find hospitals and Medicare-Certified nursing homes . . . → Read More: Medicare Announces Updated Hospital Compare & Nursing Home Compare Sites

At a June 5 conference sponsored by the journal Health Affairs, in Washington D.C., experts in care for the elderly and disabled presented findings on how better coordination of care across the “Care Span” for the elderly and disabled . . . → Read More: Health Affairs Conference Focused on the Care Span for Elderly & Disabled

The National Parkinson Foundation (NFP) has announced that it will hold a Free online webinar on how to get the best care for those with Parkinson’s disease when they are hospitalized. The Webinar will take place on April 5, . . . → Read More: Free Webinar on Parkinson’s Hospital Care Offered by National Parkinson Foundation

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new initiative on March 15, 2012 aimed at reducing avoidable hospitalizations among nursing home residents who are dual Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries. “The initiative aims to reduce costly and avoidable . . . → Read More: Medicare-Medicaid Announces Initiative to Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations among Nursing Home Residents

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), has recently announced changes to its Nursing Home Compare tool which will take effect in 2012. The current nursing home . . . → Read More: Medicare Announces Changes to Nursing Home Compare Tool

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced on Friday that they have launched new online tools for patients and caregivers to “empower consumers to make informed choices about their health care,” as well as other initiatives . . . → Read More: Medicare Adds New Online Tools to Help Health Care Consumers

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released an investigation report on May 4, 2011, finding that among elderly Medicare patients in nursing homes, dangerous antipsychotic drugs are being given predominantly . . . → Read More: Govt Finds Dangerous Antipsychotic Drugs Given 95% “Off Label” in Nursing Homes

This checklist by the American Health Care Association (AHCA), a non-profit organization, helps seniors and family caregivers with making and coping with the transition to nursing facility life. It provides tips on planning ahead, and a checklist of what . . . → Read More: Making the Transition to Nursing Facility Life: Coping with the Transition

Article by the Mayo Clinic Staff.  As stated, “the reality still exits that there will continue to be inferior care facilities across the county. Given that reality, the best gift a family member can give is to be an . . . → Read More: Give the gift of advocacy for loved ones

by Rose Halas, essortment.com.  Six tips for caregivers on how to help your loved one get quality care in a nursing home. http://www.essortment.com/family/helplovedoneq_syah.htm

Family Guide Series by the Huntington’s Disease Society of America.  Excellent 23 page booklet on skilled nursing facilities, their services, how to choose a facility, and how to pay for care.  See particularly pages 18 through 23, discussing “The . . . → Read More: Long Term Care

supported by a grant from the Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.  Provides links to the Ombudsman services in each of the 50 States, which serve as publicly paid advocates for residents of nursing homes, . . . → Read More: National Long Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center

From the National Institute on Aging, U.S. National Institutes of Health.  Hiring a Geriatric Care Manager to visit your loved one and help monitor your loved one’s care may be very helpful and necessary, particularly if you live . . . → Read More: What is a geriatric care manager and how can I find one?

From Helpguide.org.  What is geriatric assessment?  When is a geriatric assessment needed?  Who performs a geriatric assessment?  Finding a geriatric care manager.  Costs of geriatric care management. http://www.helpguide.org/elder/geriatric_assessment.htm#online

A checklist of questions developed by The Consumer Consortium on Assisted Living (CCAL) dealing with activities & socializing, meals, safety, and other issues to consider when visiting an assisted living facility. >> View Info

From FamilyCare America, Inc. Basic nursing home questions to consider concerning quality of life and care as well as nutrition and safety >> View Info