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.

In this week's HealthCap Weekly Wrap, we dive into five impactful stories shaping the senior living landscape. We start with a bold call from PALTmed, highlighted in McKnight's Long-Term Care News, urging providers to stop using routine PCR testing for UTIs in long-term care. That leads us into a deeper look at a new consensus statement published in JAMDA, which outlines the risks, limitations, and lack of outcome data tied to urine PCR testing—recommending a return to clinical criteria and standard cultures.

Next, we turn to reimbursement trends with a report from McKnight's on a spike in PDPM coding for conditions like schizophrenia and cognitive impairment. Is this better clinical recognition or a compliance risk? We unpack what providers need to watch for. From there, we move into practical strategy with a new guide from PharMerica on strengthening pharmacy contracts. With advice on clarifying service expectations, pricing structures, and quality metrics, this one's a must-listen for administrators and DONs.

Finally, we wrap up with a valuable resource from APIC—their updated 2024 toolkit for infection preventionists in long-term care. It includes CDC-aligned checklists, outbreak protocols, and staff training tools designed specifically for the challenges senior living communities face. For links to all the stories we discussed, head to Angie's Blog at healthcapusa.com/angies-blog. Thanks for listening!

This week on HealthCap Weekly Wrap, we explore how sensory therapy is making a meaningful impact for residents with dementia, and review the FDA's approval of a first-of-its-kind vagus nerve stimulation device for rheumatoid arthritis. We also break down a bipartisan bill that could eliminate the 3-day hospital stay requirement for Medicare SNF coverage—a change that would significantly affect care transitions and resident access.

We then turn to regulatory updates, including CMS audits tied to data accuracy and a deep dive into the SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program's data validation process. With the federal government currently shut down, we also discuss how survey and certification activities are being affected, what the CMS contingency memo outlines, and how communities should stay prepared. For all links and more details, visit Angie's blog at healthcapusa.com/angies-blog.

In this episode of HealthCap Weekly Wrap, we cover the latest developments impacting senior living communities, with a special focus on workforce funding, infection control, and clinical guidance. We begin with the recent announcement from CMS confirming the launch of a $75 million nursing home training fund, a major federal step toward addressing ongoing staffing challenges. We then contrast that momentum with the still-unresolved funding issues surrounding the WisCaregiver Careers program in Wisconsin, highlighting the importance of advocacy at both state and national levels. Next, we explore new guidance from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which advises against routine screening of older adults for caregiver abuse due to insufficient evidence—raising important questions about best practices and frontline training. We also dive into practical resources for infection prevention, including APIC's 2024 toolkit and the CDC's latest LabID Event Protocol, both designed to support long-term care professionals. Plus, we look at Argentum's newly released 2024 QALC-IPC Guidelines and the forward-thinking 2025 Technology Report, which showcases how emerging tools are reshaping the future of senior living. Tune in for thoughtful analysis, practical takeaways, and meaningful stories that help you stay connected and informed.

In this episode of HealthCap Weekly Wrap, we explore new tools and insights shaping care in senior living communities. We start with updated infection prevention resources from APIC and Argentum, including practical guides designed to help communities implement stronger, more resident-centered infection control practices. We then shift to an innovative study out of Stanford, where researchers are using gait tracking to predict fall risk with impressive accuracy—opening doors to earlier interventions. Next, we highlight a powerful study focused on improving transitions from long-term care to hospital settings, co-designed with residents and care partners to create practical tools like decision-aid flowcharts and hospital-ready lanyards. We also break down the upcoming 3-day rule waiver under CMS's new TEAM model, which could significantly change how Medicare supports skilled nursing admissions. With emergency preparedness top of mind, we review Argentum's latest white paper on scalable planning strategies for communities facing natural disasters and public health events. Finally, we reflect on how language impacts care culture, drawing on ASHRM's guidance to avoid "never" words in healthcare communication. It's a packed episode with practical takeaways you can bring back to your team this week.

In this week's episode of HealthCap Weekly Wrap, we cover a wide range of stories shaping the senior living industry. We begin with a major policy development out of Oregon, where lawmakers have passed the first-in-the-nation bill to block corporate takeovers of medical practices, a move that could have far-reaching implications for provider relationships in senior living communities. From there, we turn to new research in JAMA showing that hospitalizations—even routine ones—are linked to an increased risk of long-term cognitive decline, highlighting the importance of care coordination and post-hospital support for older adults. We also review APIC's newly released 2025 implementation guide for preventing catheter-associated bloodstream infections, a practical resource filled with checklists, tools, and strategies for infection prevention teams.

Balancing the clinical with wellness, we share nine mindful eating tips from the Mather Institute, a simple yet powerful resource that can enhance mealtime experiences and promote resident satisfaction. For those focused on team development, we highlight the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing's NextGen Aging learning hub, which offers training modules and educational resources to strengthen staff skills in age-friendly and dementia-friendly care. Finally, we close with an inspiring workforce story from Arkansas, where the state's Health Care Association has launched its first of three planned schools to help caregivers advance into med-tech and LPN roles, offering a promising model for "growing your own" workforce in long-term care.

Tune in for insights, resources, and practical takeaways to help you support your residents, strengthen your team, and stay ahead in the ever-evolving senior living landscape.

In this week's episode of HealthCap Weekly Wrap, we take a closer look at the growing wave of oversight and accountability in skilled nursing, including new CMS audits of MDS data and an OIG evaluation of medical directors. We also unpack the latest Liberty Mutual Senior Care Claims Study and reporting from McKnight's, which reveal liability claim costs have doubled over the past decade, with the steepest risks for skilled nursing communities. But it's not all heavy news—we highlight a practical communication strategy from the CALTCM blog that helps providers stay aligned and strengthen trust with families. Finally, we share two important clinical updates: a CDC report on shifting norovirus strains and a Medical Journal of Australia study on smartphone-activated volunteer responders improving cardiac arrest survival.