John O'Connor

The nursing home industry is anxiously waiting for the federal government to release a first-ever staffing mandate. Yet less than a month ago, the US State Department issued a visa freeze that will absolutely...

We can thank researchers at the University of Chicago for the latest whack at the piñata better known as the nursing home industry.

For more than three years, the pandemic has treated long-term care like a punching bag. And it appears the beast has punched itself out. Well, almost.

With Labor Day upon us again, I think it’s as good a time as any to offer a suggestion that might fuel improvement.

A few lawmakers broke out the hitting sticks during a union-backed event Thursday. And the target was pretty clear from the get go.

The government’s promise to impose federal staffing standards could happen any day now. This pending mandate has the provider community on edge.

It’s probably safe to say very few long-term care operators want to see staffing mandates.But the time has come to face an unpleasant truth: They are coming.

Ask why long-term care employees do what they do and you’ll almost always hear it’s to make a difference.

A major union made its long-term care strategy pretty clear in a recent blog. It wants more women to sign up. But one of the piece’s assertions is unlikely to help much.

As crazy as this sounds, the daily personal needs allowance residents receive has not been raised a dollar since 1987. So the federal minimum remains at $30 a month.