Even as people age, lifestyle and other changes can still positively impact outcomes, well-being, and longevity. So, it’s not surprising that functional medicine, which involves a holistic, person-centered approach to health care that focuses on root causes of illness instead of just treating symptoms, is ...
As the Foundation for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine begins its 30th year, we are reflecting on the remarkable impact made possible by the generosity and commitment of our national community.
It was wonderful to connect with many of you at last month’s PALTC26 Annual Conference. Our post-acute and long-term care community is truly special, and I look forward to this event every year. This year’s conference was especially meaningful for me, and I am honored to begin my term as president of PALTm...
One of our highlighted articles for the current issue of JAMDA is the brief report by Dr. Deardorff and team, Can I Stay, or Must I Go Now? A Cohort Study of Discharge Appeals in a Post-Acute Skilled Nursing Facility.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced a new investigation examining possible opioid overuse, misuse, or diversion in nursing homes. While federal scrutiny of psychotropics in long-term care is familiar terrain, this initiative signals renew...
Suzetrigine (brand name Journavx) is a recently approved, first-in-class, oral, non-opioid analgesic indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain in adults. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2025, it represents the first novel mechanistic class of oral analgesic in ...
Chronic subclinical hypohydration in SNF residents is real, measurable, and consequential — and the clinical and regulatory framework for addressing it already exists. This article is a response to Nursing Home Parenteral Therapies: Clinical Guidance and Payment Considerations in last month’s Caring for th...
Endless research has been done to evaluate the factors that initiate and lead to smoking addiction. The teenage years are usually the starting point for most smokers. It begins as a cool thing when company and peer pressure persuade them to perform certain acts. Rationalization and introspection are not th...
For many young people, nursing homes are invisible—rarely discussed and often portrayed as symbols of decline. A Gallup/West Health poll found that nearly 70% of Americans feel uncomfortable at the thought of being admitted to one. Younger generations often imagine these places as sterile, sad, or even fri...
The most fundamental principle in geriatric and long-term care medicine: ensure every treatment order aligns with the resident’s values and goals of care—eliciting these is a core skill for long-term care physicians. Many residents have multimorbidity, and a substantial proportion are at the end of life. E...