Knowing who is legally authorized to make decisions for a resident diagnosed with dementia can be confusing. Assisted living and residential care providers may find themselves trying to understand a resident’s wishes, while balancing requests from family members or responsible parties.
When residents take antibiotics they are at risk for developing C. difficile (sometimes called “C. diff”) infections that can cause diarrhea serious enough to kill. According to the CDC, “C. difficile is a germ that causes diarrhea and other intestinal problems linked to 14,000 U.S. deaths annually.”
The use of atypical antipsychotics for residents with dementia is under increased scrutiny–including drawing the attention of the U.S. Senate Special Committee in Aging. The increased focus is due in part to studies that have shown increased health risks and unnecessary expenses from overuse of these newer medications. Fortunately, assisted living providers can take steps [...]
Residents who require the use of an indwelling catheter can be admitted to and retained in a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly. According to regulation 87612, catheter care is a “restricted condition” which basically means the condition can be cared for if additional requirements are met. The additional requirements for catheter care are explained [...]
The CDC has published a reminder that insulin pens must never be used for more than one person. The notice was published in response to an increase awareness of improper use of insulin pens, and included the following safety tips:
This week’s tip is our favorite type of tip to share; it is in response to a question received from a Tuesday Tip subscriber: “We have a small dementia care community. Can we have half rail beds in this setting or do they have to have quarter rail?”
This week’s Tuesday Tip comes in response to a question posted on our blog. “Is a resident with dementia allowed to be retained in an RCFE when she requires her medications to be “fed” to her?”
A Tuesday Tip subscriber recently emailed us to ask if he/she can charge residents in an RCFE for the cost of long distance phone calls. California RCFE regulations clearly allow for reimbursement for long distance calls from private pay residents, however it is important that this is clearly stated in the admission/residency agreement. Here are [...]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported skyrocketing increases in deaths from overdoses of prescription pain killers. According to the CDC, 15,000 people die every year from overdoses of these medications – more than those who die from heroin and cocaine combined.
This week’s Tuesday Tip comes to us courtesy of Sandi Flores Consulting Group, and is in response to a question often asked by new medication aides/techs: “If a medication label only has a month and year listed for the expiration date, does it expire on the first day of the month listed, or the last [...]