This week's episode of HealthCap Weekly Wrap takes a deep dive into six stories shaping care delivery in post-acute settings. We explore a new study on enhanced barrier precautions in ventilator units, a federal initiative to crack down on healthcare fraud, and the ethical challenges around admitting aging individuals on sex offender registries. We also review updated CDC guidance for the 2025–2026 flu season and examine a prescribing cascade that could be putting residents at unnecessary risk.

We close with a powerful reminder that how care ends matters just as much as how it begins. A new opinion piece spotlights the overlooked importance of "the goodbye" in shaping resident satisfaction, trust, and even payment outcomes. From clinical communication to warm send-offs, it's a timely reflection for everyone working in post-acute care.

In this episode of HealthCap Weekly Wrap, we cover key topics impacting senior living communities, including infection prevention, food safety, and resident wellness. We highlight two APIC guides focused on reducing bloodstream and urinary tract infections through team-based strategies and standardized care. We also discuss an article from McKnight's on F812 food safety compliance and how small changes can help avoid costly citations. New diabetes guidelines put lifestyle changes front and center, offering actionable ideas for community-based wellness programs. Plus, we review the National Council on Aging's fall prevention plan and how the Healthy People 2030 initiative can guide long-term care strategy. For full details and links, visit Angie's blog at healthcapusa.com/angies-blog.

In this week's episode of the HealthCap Weekly Wrap, we're diving into five timely stories that impact senior living professionals across clinical, operational, and wellness domains.

We start with a major new study from NIC and NORC that confirms what many in senior care already believe: residents in senior living communities experience better outcomes, including fewer hospital visits, improved preventive care, and enhanced mental health. From there, we dig into AMDA's updated Choosing Wisely guide, which challenges 20 routine clinical practices in post-acute and long-term care that may no longer serve our residents' best interests.

We also revisit a foundational compliance topic—Medicare signature requirements. A CMS resource offers straightforward reminders on proper documentation that can help communities avoid costly claim denials. Next, we discuss two new observational studies examining associations between multiple COVID-19 vaccine doses and certain health patterns. While the findings are nuanced, experts agree the benefits of vaccination remain clear.

Finally, we spotlight a practical infection control tool from the CDC: a measles assessment checklist designed to help long-term care communities evaluate readiness and strengthen outbreak response planning.

Whether you're leading a team, supporting care plans, or overseeing compliance, this episode brings thoughtful, actionable content to support the work you do every day.

You can find links to all the articles we discussed in the Weekly Round Up on Angie's blog at https://www.healthcapusa.com/angies-blog.

This week on HealthCap Weekly Wrap, we tackle what happens when senior living professionals skip the small but critical steps in care. From a powerful STAT News story about providers omitting the suicide question on the PHQ-9 depression screen, to the latest 2024 ACC/AHA blood pressure guidelines and how they tie into dementia prevention, this episode explores the intersection of liability, best practices, and resident well-being.

We revisit Mather Institute's 2021 Stumbling Blocks report on the real barriers older adults face with physical activity, and highlight their more recent mindful eating flyer—just in time for Thanksgiving. Plus, we explore trends from Mather's NEXT Volume III report and legal risk insights from LW Consulting's latest white paper. We wrap with the 2024 Innovative Research on Aging Awards, which showcase practical, resident-centered solutions that are already making a difference.

For full links to everything we discussed, head to Angie's blog at healthcapusa.com/angies-blog.

In this week's episode of HealthCap Weekly Wrap, we cover five important stories for senior living professionals. We start with new voluntary compliance guidance from the Office of Inspector General, as reported by McKnight's Long-Term Care News. Though labeled voluntary, it's already shaping how audits and investigations are conducted, making it essential for leadership and compliance teams to review.nursing communities

Next, we discuss a study featured in McKnight's that links higher frontline staff wages to better CMS Five-Star Quality Ratings. Even small pay increases, like $1 per hour, were tied to meaningful improvements in care quality and staffing stability.

We also highlight a study from Cureus that identifies daily energy and protein intake levels needed to prevent weight loss in older residents. These findings give care teams specific nutrition targets to help protect resident health.

From PharMerica, we look at the clinical use of oral phosphate binders in residents with chronic kidney disease. The guide offers strategies for choosing the right binder and improving adherence. We wrap up with an overview of biologics and biosimilars, including how substitution works and the role of the FDA's Purple Book in guiding pharmacy decisions.

For more details, visit the Weekly Round Up on Angie's blog at healthcapusa.com/angies-blog.

In this week's episode of HealthCap Weekly Wrap, we explore six timely stories impacting senior living communities. We start with a look at fall risks during autumn and a new approach called FLIP, which focuses not only on fall prevention but also on reducing injury severity using tools like the Tango Belt. From there, we discuss the Sitting-Rising Test, a mobility assessment linked to long-term health outcomes, and how it relates to resident wellbeing.

We also highlight two important studies showing that while palliative care use is growing, most Medicare seniors with advanced cancer still aren't receiving it. We talk about the role senior living professionals can play in improving access and communication. Another story focuses on future nurses and how fear of death may affect their readiness to deliver hospice care, reinforcing the need for emotional preparedness in caregiving roles.

Finally, we review a recent CMS memo outlining which survey activities will continue during a federal shutdown, helping communities plan ahead. For more on these stories, visit Angie's blog at healthcapusa.com/angies-blog.

In this episode of HealthCap Weekly Wrap, we cover a wide range of timely and essential updates for senior living professionals. We start with breaking news from the Office of Inspector General, which found that the CMS Special Focus Facility program is failing to drive long-term improvements in care quality. With the federal government shutdown currently underway, we also walk through CMS's revised contingency plan and what it means for survey and certification activities. Infection control takes center stage as we explore two detailed resources from APIC—one on building effective infection surveillance plans, and another on implementing Enhanced Barrier Precautions in skilled nursing settings. We also revisit the CDC's core recommendations for isolation precautions, a foundational document that remains highly relevant today. On the wellness side, we highlight new research from the Mather Institute showing how older adults connect nutrition with brain health, and how that belief influences their dietary habits and cognitive performance. Finally, we close with groundbreaking science out of the UK, where trained dogs are now detecting early Parkinson's disease with surprising accuracy. It's a packed episode full of insights, practical tools, and emerging innovations that can help every senior living community continue to lead with care and purpose.

n this shorter episode of HealthCap Weekly Wrap, we're back from the AHCA/NCAL Annual Expo in Las Vegas and sharing a few powerful stories that impact senior living communities. We kick things off with an uplifting look at how trained dogs are helping detect Parkinson's disease through scent, an exciting development in early diagnosis. We then dive into the latest guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America on treating complicated urinary tract infections, with practical takeaways on antibiotic use and care decisions. From there, we explore Argentum's push for clearer, more unified emergency preparedness guidelines across assisted living, and why provider feedback matters. To support your planning efforts, don't miss the link to HealthCap's free Emergency Preparedness Manual: https://riskmanagement.healthcapusa.com/files/9e4a52b6-2dbc-404b-9677-875666b1b2b9. Finally, we spotlight the work of the Crisis Prevention Institute and how their training can support safer, more compassionate care for residents experiencing behavioral challenges. Whether you're clinical, operational, or leadership-focused, these stories offer insight and resources to help your community stay informed, prepared, and resident-centered.