The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that all nursing homes will be required to have automatic fire sprinklers by 2013.  Newer nursing homes typically have sprinkler systems, but many older homes do not.  Overall, the government estimates that about one out…

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will soon rate nursing homes using a five-star rating system.  CMS will likely use staffing levels and the results of federal and state inspections to rate nursing homes.  The American Health Care Association — the trade group that represents the interests of…

Nursing home patients who take antipsychotics are hospitalized and die up to 2.4 times more often as patients who don’t receive antipsychotics, according to research published in the May 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine periodical.  Antipsychotic drugs like Zyprexa (olanzapine) and Risperdal (risperidone) have…

Twenty-nine nursing home patients were recently evacuated from the facility by ambulance when air conditioning problems created “oven-like” conditions that sent indoor temperatures soaring well above 80 degrees.  Patients were described by their families as “just hanging on wheelchairs,” “sweating,” “wiping their brow,” “wiping their mouth,” and…

Oklahoma will begin creating separate nursing homes for convicted sex offenders who require long term care.  The facilities will provide additional security and surveillance measures to protect non-sex offender patients.  Oklahoma only has 30 known sex offenders living in state nursing homes at present, but that number is…

An assisted living facility in Washington is reportedly evicting a 99-year-old patient whose life savings have been depleted and who now depends on Medicaid.  The 99-year-old woman has been a patient at the facility for 10 years.  The facility claims it can make more money…