July 7, 2026
Constipation is pretty common in older adults, ranging from 24 to 50 percent. Up to 20 percent of community-dwelling older adults and 74 percent of nursing home residents use laxatives on a daily basis. Age, immobility, comorbid conditions, polypharmacy, eating less and inadequate hydration are all risk factors for constipation. Chronic constipation is defined as…
May 12, 2026
About PALTmed’s Clinical Practice Guideline onFalls and Fall Prevention Falls are ever-present in the post-acute and long-term care continuum, and PALTmed’s newly revised Clinical Practice Guideline on Falls and Fall Prevention in the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Setting provides clinicians and community leaders with a practical, evidence-informed, and implementable resource tailored to the specific challenges…
April 27, 2026
Pharmacogenomic Testing in LTC Facilities What is Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing and how can it benefit LTC communities? PGx is a rapidly evolving science focused on how an individual’s genes may affect his or her response to medications. While many patients may metabolize a medication appropriately, others may metabolize it too quickly, too slowly, or not…
April 9, 2026
Parkinson’s Disease Overview Parkinson disease (PD) is an adult-onset progressive neurodegenerative disorder, first described as “Shaking palsy” over 200 years ago by James Parkinson. While traditionally considered a motor system disorder based on the hallmark features of tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia, PD is now recognized to be a complex disorder involving a wide range of…
November 17, 2025
Antibiotic Offending Medication Recommendation Mechanism All quinolones(Ciprofloxacin,Levofloxacin,Moxifloxacin) – Iron and Calciumpreparations (Includingmultivitamins thatcontain iron and/orcalcium, dairy products) If the combination cannot be avoided, administration of Quinolones should occur at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after Iron/Calcium. Note: Moxifloxacin does not interact with Calcium like the other Quinolones and no adjustments are recommended. The…
November 4, 2025
IMPORTANT: Vaccine Update(s) The CDC recently issued important vaccination guidance updates.NOTE: Our 2025-26 Vaccination Program Administration Guidelines have been revised to reflect these updates*. ➀ COVID-19 Vaccine COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months and older following shared medical decision-making between the individual and their healthcare provider(s). Vaccination is especially important for people at…
September 16, 2025
Circulating Respiratory Viruses Circulating respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are more common in fall and winter, and can lead to significant illness and disease in the community care setting. Vaccines remain the safest way to build immunity to these viruses and reduce their impact. Older adults, young children…
June 30, 2025
CMS Announces Significant Updates to Nursing Home Care Compare and the 5-Star Rating System The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued QSO-25-20-NH, outlining substantial updates to the Nursing Home Care Compare website and the Five-Star Quality Rating System, to start July 2025. The changes are consistent with CMS’ overall strategic goals of heightened…
May 6, 2025
About Pneumococcal Infection and Disease Pneumococcal disease is a term used for a wide range of infections caused by bacteria called Streptococcuspneumoniae (pneumococcus). Ear and sinus infections are examples of mild infections these bacteria can cause. The following types of pneumococcal disease can be very serious, even deadly: Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) means the bacteria…
April 8, 2025
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)Considerations for Older Adults Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) results from the reflux of gastric contents (regurgitation) into the esophagus due to dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and/or impaired esophageal clearance. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common upper gastrointestinal disorder seen in the elderly, and affects around 20% of…
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