Sensory impairments, such as loss of vision, hearing, taste, smell, or touch, are common among older adults, and significantly affect their quality of life. These impairments often go unnoticed or may be mistaken for cognitive decline, leading to missed opportunities for interventions, or worse, a decline in function. Residents with …
The nurse leader plays an integral role in the disciplinary process in a home health agency. Managing employee performance can be challenging, but it is necessary. Failure to address employees’ negative behaviors and actions can destroy morale among the staff. Knowing when and how to discipline is key. However, the …
The staffing crisis is an ongoing dilemma for home care. To combat its effects, nurse leaders in home health agencies may be asked to find creative solutions. These professionals often focus on the lack of potential candidates and the difficulties related to hiring. But staff turnover is a large part …
The director of nursing services (DNS) received a call in the middle of the night that a resident with a diagnosis of dementia had eloped, and it appeared she had been missing for several hours—a conversation no DNS wants to have. She immediately enacted the missing resident protocol. Luckily, staff …
Many residents take opioids to relieve pain, and each of these residents is at risk for overmedication, overdose, or even death. According to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), by 2021, 1 in 370 senior deaths stemmed from overdoses. Seventy-five percent of senior overdose deaths involved opioids, and this …
Fall is here, and respiratory virus season is around the corner. Nursing leaders must take proactive steps to protect residents from these viruses, which carry the potential for serious illness and can lead to hospitalization. This article will spotlight areas to focus on for respiratory virus prevention and control, as …
The facility has a high number of discharges to the community every month, and the director of nursing services (DNS) feels the discharge process is a good one, as she has received no complaints from residents or staff. However, a review of the facility’s Quality Measures (QMs) tells a different …
Over 1 million people aged 65 and over live with substance use disorders (SUD) (Alliance for Aging Research, 2022). As with most trends, what is prevalent in the community will also be prevalent in nursing homes. Therefore, the director of nursing services (DNS) should understand the nuances of this disorder …
Everyone loves a good mystery. Many like to watch their favorite mysteries on television or read a good thriller. However, mystery and suspense should not be a part of the facility assessment review. The final staffing rule released in April 2024 requires all facilities accepting Medicare and Medicaid payments to …
Dementia robs our loved ones of precious memories and their ability to communicate. My 82-year-old stepfather has Alzheimer’s disease and has had a steady decline. My 80-year-old mother, who is also a nurse, has been his primary caregiver in their home. When they had to go through a major transition, …
