The mental health toll of COVID-19 — and what you can do about it
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jul 13, 2020
It should come as no surprise to anyone reading this column that the pandemic has had mental health effects on workers. Recent research on the topic may surprise you, however.
LeadingAge on Wednesday urged federal policymakers “to address the needs of older adults living in other congregate and community-based settings” in addition to the needs of nursing home residents...
HHS changes rules for distribution of relief funds to Medicaid providers
By
Lois A. Bowers
Aug 13, 2020
The Department of Health and Human Services has reversed its position and now says that Medicaid providers who previously received a payment from a general distribution of funds from the Coronavirus Aid,...
Affinity COVID-19 response efforts include a place to stay for at-risk staff
By
Lois A. Bowers
Mar 13, 2020
Affinity Living Group is closing its more than 160 communities to all visitors and vendors to protect the health of its more than 7,000 residents as U.S. cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) proliferate....
May 28, learn how to help residents combat loneliness and boredom
May 18, 2020
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, residents of senior living communities and skilled nursing facilities are even more at risk than usual for social isolation, loneliness and boredom. In a May 28 webinar,...
COVID caregivers, don’t forget to take care of yourselves
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jun 29, 2020
Results of a new survey bring potentially troubling news for those in senior living employees and the companies for which they work: Personal exposure to the coronavirus is linked with poor mental health....
421,000 COVID tests headed to assisted living communities from the federal government
By
Lois A. Bowers
Nov 17, 2020
The federal government will send more than 421,000 rapid-results antigen COVID-19 tests to assisted living communities this week, Admiral Brett P. Giroir, M.D., assistant secretary for health at the U.S....
Limit visitors to address ‘significant challenge’ of COVID-19, AHCA / NCAL says; Argentum, Brookdale...
By
Lois A. Bowers
Mar 11, 2020
Assisted living communities should limit access to only those individuals who are critical to the operational or care needs of their buildings in order to prevent “dire consequences” that could result...
COVID testing program uses artificial intelligence to maximize limited resources in senior living
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jan 12, 2021
A somewhat rare use of artificial intelligence in senior living is helping an operator maximize limited resources by predicting the severity of COVID-19 symptoms in residents to determine who should be...
Court says OSHA can enforce vaccinate-or-test mandate for large companies; opponents appeal to Supreme...
By
Lois A. Bowers
Dec 20, 2021
The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration can enforce its COVID-19 vaccinate-or-test mandate for employers with 100 or more workers, at least for now, after a three-judge...