Each year, more than 700,000 people in the U.S. suffer a stroke, and about one-third of that number lose their lives. Strokes are the fifth-leading cause of death in the nation and the third-leading cause of disability. Also known as “brain attacks,” strokes occur when the blood to the brain becomes blocked. Brain cells begin to die, and abilities controlled …
Infectious disease can be deadly, especially for seniors. From the flu to bacterial pneumonia, these diseases account for 40 percent of deaths in older adults. They are caused by microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites, and can rapidly spread from person to person. Some infections, such as MRSA – the so-called “superbug” – are resistant to many antibiotics, …
Historically, meal service in the senior living industry has fallen short. Fresh, great-tasting, made-from-scratch cuisine – coupled with a five-star resident dining experience – has been the exception, not the rule. But today paints a different picture. An industry transformation is in the works, with a focus on offering maximum nutrition, mealtime flexibility, and a memorable social experience. Changing the …
“Use it or lose it,” the saying goes. These words of wisdom are true in many areas of life, but particularly for our bodies as we age. Staying fit helps to lower blood pressure, decrease the risk of falls and injuries, and slow the body’s loss of muscle tone and bone mass. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends …
For today’s seniors, diabetes has rapidly become an epidemic. About one in four people over 60 in the U.S. has diabetes, a condition in which the body does not properly process food for use as energy. If diabetes is not adequately managed, it can lead to serious health problems, from stroke and heart disease to kidney failure, hearing loss, blindness, …
If you or your loved one has been discharged from the hospital, ensuring a continued high level of care is key to regaining health, strength, and mobility. Short-stay transitional care facilities provide medical follow-up for patients in their first days after a hospital stay – and can make all the difference between a successful return to home or a rebound …
Part 2: The patient’s perspective Chronic, non-healing wounds have been called a “silent epidemic.” As we explored in our previous blog, problem wounds are often found in post-acute care (PAC) patients. Many PAC patients have chronic conditions such as diabetes and vascular disease that weaken their immune systems and complicate wound healing. If these wounds aren’t properly treated, they can lead …
Part 1: The physician’s perspective About 6.5 million Americans suffer from chronic, non-healing wounds—at an annual cost of $25 billion. Problem wounds are particularly prevalent among patients in post-acute care (PAC) facilities, many of whom have chronic conditions that compromise their immune systems and make healing difficult. “The most common wounds encountered in post-acute care are pressure sores, vascular ulcers, …
It’s a shocking statistic. Worldwide, every 3.5 seconds, someone dies from sepsis. This fast-moving medical complication sets in when the body tries to fend off an infection but attacks instead its own tissues and organs. Today, sepsis is the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals and the tenth-leading cause of death throughout the country. Determining the risk “Patients at …
It’s been called the “boomerang effect”—patients discharged from the hospital who bounce right back for readmission. Almost 20 percent of discharged Medicare patients are readmitted within 30 days at an annual cost of $15 billion to $20 billion. Often the cause of readmission is patients being discharged before they’re ready or transitioning to an environment, such as the home, where …
