January is National Blood Donor Month January is not just the start of a new year; it’s also a time for giving, gratitude, and saving lives. It’s the month when we celebrate National Blood Donor Month. This month holds a special meaning for millions of people around the world. It helps raise awareness about the…
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November is National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM), a time dedicated to acknowledging and supporting those providing care to family members. Of the 53 million family caregivers in the U.S., many of them are providing support for older adults. Whether it be an aging parent, spouse, or loved one, the changing dynamics and increased commitment that…
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Residents’ Rights Month is an event celebrated annually in October to honor all residents living in long-term care communities. The theme of the year 2023 – Amplify Our Voices – emphasizes a community of long-term care residents coming together to make their voices heard. Nursing home residents have rights guaranteed by the 1987 Federal Nursing Home Reform…
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On September 1, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), which aims to establish minimum staffing standards to address the safety and quality concerns for the 1.4 million residents receiving care in Medicaid and Medicare certified long-term care (LTC) facilities. As written in the summary…
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In May 2023, the Missouri legislature approved the FY24 budget, which included a line item of $2.2 million in enhanced funding for the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. This funding was intended to hire around 25 new ombudsmen across the state, doubling the program’s capacity and bringing the program in line with national standards. Twelve…
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Causes and factors worsening staffing shortages across the continuum of care Healthcare staffing shortages are a significant and undeniable issue affecting patients and workers, especially in long-term care. Fewer women having children and longer life expectancies have created a circumstance in which more of our population is growing older than is having children. It is…
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